The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c7.52

c7.52

More than once attempts were made to reduce recalcitrant chiefs to submission, but beyond obviating one or two more salient shortcomings, they failed of effect and tended rather to establish more firmly the fundamental error of the system. Baji Rao I fought against Trimbak Rao Dabhade and defeated him, thus affording the strange spectacle of two servants of the same master engaged in mutual hostilities. The Senapati’s power collapsed not so much by reason of that single defeat as from the fact that he had no able successor. Yet it was not possible to take full advantage of the victory by depriving the Dabhades of their extensive fiefs immediately after the battle of Dubhoi. Similarly Damaji Gaikwad was defeated by the Peshwa’s forces when he hastened to the support of Tarabai; yet it was found impracticable to crush the Gaikwads as the Dabhades had been. In his conflict with these old Sardars or military chiefs the Peshwa relied on the support of his own adherents. These in their turn were rewarded with rich fiefs and became the founders of new families. At first their gratitude held them steadfastly to their master’s side, but the baneful example of the master himself was too tempting for the next generation. The Peshwa continued to multiply fiefs unchecked, and fired by his example, the rulers of various Maratha principalities introduced widespread sub-infeudation by rewarding their own immediate adherents and followers in the same manner.