Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c44.39

v4.c44.39

When Ghulām Qādir was captured at the end of 1788, people naturally thought that Mahādji Sindhiā would once again become the supreme controller of the Delhi Empire that he had been before the Ruhela's usurpation. But in truth Sindhia's position had been very much weakened during the four years that had passed since the Emperor created him Regent in December, 1784. First and foremost, his financial distress had been greatly increased in the meantime. His ill-judged invasion of Jaipur in 1787, ending in the retreat from Lālsot and the overthrow of his power in Hindustan had dried up his revenue and stopped his tribute collection. At the same time, his army expenditure had been more than doubled in effecting the reconquest of Agra and Delhi which filled the year 1788. Thus, the beginning of 1789 found him owing three years' pay to his Deccani troops, and they refused to set out on any new campaign unless their arrears were paid. But no money was within sight; the vast areas of Upper India and Rajputana had been devastated in consequence of long years of war and plunder by rival armies and robber bands. The effect of anarchy was aggravated by a drought and famine which raged in Rajputana and Western Hindustan throughout the years 1790 and 1791.