Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c12.s3.12

v1.c12.s3.12

Ayā Mal, with a large force of Marātha allies, returned to Jaipur. On the way, he bombarded Kotā and plundered much of its territory for being his enemy’s chief supporter (end of January, 1745.) Meantime, the Mewār army had marched into Jaipur territory and halted at Todā, waiting for Holkar. Here Ayā Mal’s Marātha associates surprised the Mahārānā’s camp at midnight, fired into it, and put the Mewār troops to flight at the return of daylight. The Mahārānā could escape only by promising to pay 22 lakhs. The victorious Ishwari Singh marched on Bundi, which was surrendered by its Kotā qiladār. A large Marātha army, guided by a Jaipur baron, then attacked Kotā and bombarded it for two months, during which Jayāppā received a bullet wound in his arm. At last Durjan Sāl saved his capital by ceding the fort and district of Kāprāni to the Marathas, to be divided into three shares and held for Holkar Sindhia and the Peshwā (early April 1745.) [Vam. Bh. 3374-3384.]