Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c54.s4.1

v4.c54.s4.1

When on 3rd May 1801, Lakhwā Dādā and Mahādji’s widows were driven out of Seondhā, the civil war in Daulat Rao’s family ended, but within two months of that date another war burst upon him which was destined to shatter his power and destroy Maratha hegemony. Jaswant Rao Holkar after withdrawing from Ujjain on 15th November 1800 had taken to plundering Sindhia’s possessions north of that city, especially Bhansodā and the Mandesor district, in reprisal for the exactions of Daulat Rao’s troops from the Holkar villages in Malwa and Khandesh. Daulat Rao had opened negotiations with him for a compromise, but as Jaswant demanded the handing over to him of Khandé Rao (the heir of Malhar Holkar II) and the freeing of every village ever held by the Holkar family from Sindhia’s control, peace between them proved unattainable. Jaswant then swiftly turned to show what he was capable of doing.