History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c75.s6: § 8. Civil war between Santa Ghorpare and Dhana Jadav.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c75.s6
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§ 8. Civil war between Santa Ghorpare and Dhana Jadav.
v5.c75.s6.1
Flushed with his far-resounding victories over two first-rate Mughal generals, Santaji went to Jinji to wait on Rajaram (March 1696). He seems to have claimed the office of Senapati, contrasting his own brilliant performances with Dhana's poor record of victories. Hitherto Prahlad Niraji (the *Pratinidhi* or regent) had, with great tact and diplomacy, kept peace between the two rival generals and taken great pains to show in all the acts of government that the king treated the two as absolutely equal. But he was now dead, and his successor in the king's council was less clever and could not keep the balance even. [Sardesai, i. 661.] Santa's vanity, imperious temper and spirit of insubordination, roused to an inordinate height by his recent triumphs, gave great offence to the Court at Jinji and the result was an open rupture near Conjeveram (May 1696). [Z. S.] Rajaram sided with Dhana and placing Amrit Rao Nimbalkar in the Van of his army, attacked his refractory general. But Santa's genius again triumphed; Dhana was defeated and driven precipitately to his home in Western India; Amrit Rao fell on the field.*
v5.c75.s6.2
* Z. S. But K. K. wrongly gives the victory to Dhana.
v5.c75.s6.3
This encounter is thus graphically described in *Masir-i-Alamgiri*, which wrongly places it in October 1689:—"On the way to Jinji, this wretch had a fight with Dhana Jadav, who was escorting Rajaram there, on account of an old quarrel. Santa triumphed, and caused Amrit Rao, the brother [-in-law] of Nagoji, the comrade and assistant of Dhana, to be crushed to death by an elephant. He also captured Rajaram, but Dhana escaped. The next day Santa appeared before Rajaram with his wrists bound together, saying—'I am still the same loyal servant [as before]. My rudeness was due to this that you wanted to make Dhana my equal and to reach Jinji with his help. I shall now do whatever you bid me.' Then he released and conducted Rajaram to Jinji." (401.)
v5.c75.s6.4
Bhimsen is more accurate:—"A quarrel had broken out between Santa Ghorpare and Dhana Jadav. Dhana convinced Rajaram that Santa had seized too much power and being a good soldier was trying to found an independent State, and therefore he ought to be killed. Rajaram and Dhana with a large army, placing Amrit Rao Navalkar in command of the Van, attacked Santa. Amrit Rao was slain by Santa's men, and a civil war ensued." [Dil. ii. 122 a.]
v5.c75.s6.5
Santa's doings in the Eastern Karnatak this year have been fully described in Chap. LI.