The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c7.58

c7.58

It may be noted here that most of Baji Rao’s wars could be invested with a religious character. In the conquest of Malwa he had secured the alliance of the Hindus, in his war against the Sidis he was avenging the desecration of Hindu temples; in his war against the Portuguese he was undoubtedly fighting for Hinduism, in as much as the Inquisition in Portuguese India made it impossible for Hindus to profess their faith in peace. And when the Bundela chief Chhatrasal found his principality threatened by the Pathan Nawab of Farrukhabad, he turned for protection to Baji Rao as the acknowledged leader of the Hindus in India. The lover of Mastani knew well how to appeal to the religious sentiments of his co-religionists although he could scarcely be considered an orthodox Brahman.