Battle of Satara (1798)

Battle of Satara
Date 1798-1799 Location Satara, Maharashtra Result Chhatrapati victory
Belligerents
Chhatrapati of Satara Chhatrapati of Kolhapur Gwalior State	Peshwa fraction
Commanders and leaders
Chhatrapati Shahu Chhatrapati Shivaji III Chatursingh Sharaji Rao Ghatage	Baji Rao II Bapuji Ghokale Parshuram Bhou  (POW)  Madhav Rao Raste

Battle of Satara was fought between the Chhatrapati fraction and the Peshwa fraction of Maratha Empire due to the ill treatment of Peshwa Bajirao II towards the Chhatrapati of Satara.

Background

On December 31, 1797, Daulatrao Scindia invited Nana Fadnis to dinner at his camp. After the meal and some discussion, they separated to different tents. Unknown to Nana, Shinde had stationed soldiers in his tent who attacked and captured him as soon as he entered.

Nana Fadnis, who had managed the Maratha Empire's administration for twenty-five years, was betrayed by Shinde and the Peshwa. However, the ambitious Bajirao, facing administrative challenges, eventually freed Nana Fadnis to gain his support and offered him the position of Karbhari. Nana Fadnavis served in this role for two years before dying at fifty-eight on March 13, 1800.

During this period, Pune was plagued by the chaotic rule of Peshwa Bajirao II and disputes involving Daulatrao Scindia and his family. To restore order, the Satara court intervened to stabilize the administration. Amid these events, a notable sardar emerged during Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj II's reign: Chatursing Raje Bhosale, the younger brother of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj II. Distinguished by his bravery, diplomatic skills, and administrative acumen, Chatursing Raje made an important impact during the Maratha Empire's final years. He moved to Satara with his brother and remained there, proving himself to be more perceptive and adept than Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj II.

Chatursingh was deeply troubled by Nana Fadnis's policies, which undermined the dignity of the Chhatrapati. His revolutionary spirit resented the control exerted by Nana Fadnis, a subordinate to the king, over the Chhatrapati. The situation worsened during Peshwa Bajirao II's reign, when the Chhatrapati faced unprecedented humiliation. Peshwa Bajirao II lacked loyalty to the Swaraj and the Chhatrapati, and both Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Chatursing Raje Bhosale sought to break free from his dominance.

While the Chhatrapati was respected during Peshwa Narayanrao's reign, severe restrictions were imposed during Sawai Madhavrao and Nana Fadnis's tenure. Peshwa Bajirao II's actions reached new heights of disrespect towards the Chhatrapati. Chatursingh aimed to restore the lost dignity, prestige, respect, and importance of the Chhatrapati. Once, the Chhatrapati held all the power in the Maratha Empire, but by the 1790s, central authority had diminished, with real power residing with the sardars in Poona. The Chhatrapati's role had become limited to bestowing robes of office upon individuals chosen by the sardars, often without regard for the individuals' qualifications for the positions.

Battle

Three widows of Mahadji Shinde—Laxmibai, Yashodabai, and Bhagirathibai—incited Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj against the Peshwa and Daulatrao Scindia. Recognizing the Chhatrapati’s precarious situation, clever Chatursing Raje sought assistance from the Chhatrapati of Kolhapur. Peshwa Bajirao II, having imprisoned Nana Fadnis and dispatched his men to suppress Nana’s supporters in Satara, provided a prime opportunity for the Chhatrapati. Seizing the moment, the Chhatrapati attacked the Peshwa’s men and imprisoned them, freeing himself from the Peshwa’s restrictions. Fearful of the Chhatrapati’s actions, the Peshwa requested that the Chhatrapati detain Nana’s loyalists. Instead, the Chhatrapati imprisoned the Peshwa’s own men. Confronted with this challenge, the Peshwa dispatched Madhavrao Raste to capture the town and fort. However, Madhavrao faced strong resistance from Chatursing and his forces, leading to his defeat and expulsion from Satara. This marked the second defeat of the Peshwa by the Chhatrapati.

Battle at Vena

Baji Rao II was concerned about the prolonged resistance from Satara. Parashuram Bhau, who was a state prisoner at the time, offered to subdue the Raja of Satara. He was permitted to gather troops and proceed to Satara on the condition that he would pay twenty lakhs for his freedom, while remaining technically under arrest until then. In Satara, Raja Sahu did not receive the expected support from Sindhia or the Raja of Kolhapur. Though the Raja of Kolhapur had started marching towards Satara and reached Islampur on June 21, his advance was halted at Karad, where he was denied passage. Consequently, the Kolhapur Raja began plundering neighboring districts and collecting contributions instead of advancing further. The Raja of Satara's position was further weakened by a change in ministry at Poona. By late July, Sarje Rao Ghatge was imprisoned and Nana Fadnavis was released. With Sarje Rao’s arrest, Sahu’s hope of aid from Sindhia’s forces was dashed, leaving him to fend off Parashuram Bhau’s assault alone.

In early August, Parashuram Bhau arrived near Satara and crossed the river Vena. The subsequent battle broke the Raja’s resistance and scattered his army. The Raja took refuge in the fort, while his brother, Chatur Singh, fled to Kolhapur, pursued by part of Parashuram Bhau’s forces. Satara was plundered, and the Raja’s position quickly deteriorated. By early September, he surrendered, and Madhav Rao Rastia’s men took control of the fort. From then on, the Raja was held prisoner once again. In December 1798, Baji Rao II ordered the attachment of properties belonging to several individuals who had supported the Raja's rebellion against the Poona Government.

Battle of Pattankudi

Simultaneously with the disturbances in Satara, Chhatrpati Shivaji III, the Chhatrapati of Kolhapur, was engaged in his own conflicts, primarily targeting his old adversary, the Patwardhans. He raided Parashuram Bhau's capital, Tasgaon, burning his palace and seizing Chikodi and Manoli while capturing the fort of Bhudhargarh. In October 1798, Kolhapur's forces under Ratnakar Pant Rajagna were decisively defeated by the Peshwa's general, Dhondo Pant Gokhale. An attempt to mediate peace between the Patwardhans and the Raja of Kolhapur in November proved unsuccessful. Early in 1799, Parashuram Bhau assembled his army to counter the Chhatrapati's advances. On September 17, 1799, a battle took place at Pattankudi between Parashuram Bhau and the combined forces of the Chhatrapati of Kolhapur and Chatur Singh, resulting in Parashuram Bhau's defeat and death.

Aftermath

Following Parashuram Bhau's death, the Poona Government took strong actions to reduce the Raja of Kolhapur's influence. In December, several sirdars, including Manaji Fadke, Maloji Ghorpade, Vinchurkar, and the Pratinidhi, left Poona with five battalions of Sindhia's troops under Major Brownrigg, beginning operations in January. They fought two battles against the Raja of Kolhapur, both resulting in the Raja’s defeat. The Raja then retreated to Panhala, while the Peshwa’s forces besieged Kolhapur. The Raja's troops suffered another defeat at Panhala, this time from the combined forces of Ramchandra Appa and Brownrigg.

The Chhatrapati of Kolhapur sought British assistance, appealing to Bombay for help and requesting the prompt dispatch of Captain Wilson. However, before the British could respond, they were already negotiating with the Peshwa over Kolhapur and showed little interest in intervening. On March 6th, the Governor of Bombay informed the Raja that discussions could not proceed until he complied with the terms of a previous treaty with Sir Robert Abercrombie and directed him to Colonel Palmer in Poona for further assistance.

Hostilities resumed after an alleged plan by the Raja to attack the Peshwa's forces during the armistice was discovered. The Raja was forced back into the fort of Panhala, which was soon besieged by the Peshwa's troops. Just as his situation seemed dire, the death of Nana Fadnavis created turmoil at the Poona Durbar, leading to the recall of the troops besieging Kolhapur and halting the campaign against the Raja.Thus campaign ending with no results.