The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c7.12

c7.12

In theory the Senapati still continued to be the Commander-in-Chief, but in practice he was supplanted by the Peshwa. Under Shivaji’s scheme the Peshwa had to lead expeditions and to render military service like the Dalwai¹ of the old Vijayanagar kingdom; but during the reign of Rajaram the chief command was conferred on able generals, such as Shantaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav, whose military reputation was so high that no Peshwa could think of disputing their authority. Shahu appointed Chandrasen Jadhav to the office of Senapati on his father’s death; but when Chandrasen joined the Nizam, the office was conferred on Khande Rao Dabhade.² His son Trimbak Rao, a military officer of high reputation, was defeated and killed by Baji Rao at Dubhoi, and thereafter the Senapati hardly played any part in Maratha history, although the Dabhades still continued to enjoy their *jahgir*. When the family was at last deprived of its hereditary office and *jahgir*, the Peshwa simply legitimised an accomplished fact by granting Gujarat to the Gaikwads with the office of Sena Khaskhel. The office of Senapati was on different occasions offered to Ramchandra Jadhav and Murar Rao Ghorpade, both of whom had hereditary connection with the office; but by that date it had become an empty honour.