Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c53.s3.39

v4.c53.s3.39

During the first four months of 1800, Lakhwā carried on a most successful campaign in Rajputana. With the help of Pohlmann's brigade of De Boigne's army, he besieged and reduced the strong fortress of Jahāzpur belonging to the baron of Shāhpurā in Mewār; his loss was two European officers and five hundred sepoys killed and wounded. The Mahārānā paid him five lakhs out of the contribution due. Lakhwā then entered Jaipur territory to extort the arrears of tribute. Rajah Pratāp Singh of Jaipur had taken advantage of the Widows' War and the departure of De Boigne to stop the payment of his dues and to make preparations for expelling the Marāthas. He persistently demanded the return of Tonk Rāmpurā, which had been ceded long ago to the Holkar family. About the 13th of March, Lakhwā took this fort from its Sikh collector Kirpāl Singh and handed it over to Chevalier Dudrenec, the agent of Kāshi Rao Holkar. At this stage, Daulat Rao Sindhiā fearing that the death of Nānā Fadnis (at Punā on 12th March) would involve him in serious disputes with the Peshwā's new ministers, wrote to his officers in North India to refrain from all aggressions against his tributaries there. But they did not mind his letters; Ambāji renewed hostilities against the Rajah of Datiā and Lakhwā struck a decisive blow at the Jaipur army.