Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c52.s5: § 5. Chimnāji made Peshwā. Daulat Rao supreme in Punā (May 1796)
Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c52.s5
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§ 5. Chimnāji made Peshwā. Daulat Rao supreme in Punā (May 1796)
v4.c52.s5.1
At last, Parashurām Bhāu forced the late Peshwā’s widow to adopt Chimnāji Apa as her son (25th May) and had him invested in the Peshwā’s robes on 2nd June, while Bāji Rao was kept a close prisoner in Daulat Rao’s camp. By this coup, Sindhia became the dominant factor in the Peshwā’s Government. Nānā Fadnis could not bear to part with a power which he had enjoyed for twenty years, nor was he sure that when shorn of power he would be able to save from the grasp of his successor his hoarded treasure, which rumour had swollen to nine krores of Rupees. "He now directed all the engine of his wealth and diplomacy to escape from Sindhia's clutches.... From (his refuge in) Mahād, for full five months (June-November 1796) he exercised all his diplomatic skill and spent much of his treasure not only in keeping back Sindhia's forces from approaching him, but (also) in enlisting the support of several outside Powers."
v4.c52.s5.2
Daulat Rao Sindhia's threat of attacking Nizām Ali to exact payment of the Khardā indemnity was Nānā Fadnis's opportunity. He made a secret pact with Mushir-ul-mulk (the Nizām's agent in Punā),* most selfishly bartering away all the national claims on the Nizām in exchange of his armed aid against Sindhia. He also formed a faction at home, among the jealous rivals of the house of Sindhia, such as Tukoji Holkar, Raghuji Bhonslé II, the Rajah of Kolhāpur, and Bābā Phādké. "But more than all else, Nānā managed to win over Bāji Rao himself to his plan. Bāji Rao was now a prisoner closely watched by Sindhia, who was going to deposit him as a life-prisoner in the fort of Asirgarh. To avoid such a fate, Bāji Rao readily listened to Nānā's overtures and the two became temporarily reconciled to each other."