Siege of Barabati fort
| Siege of Barabati fort | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Maratha Invasions of Bengal | |||||||||
 Image of Barabati fort in Cuttack | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Bengal Subah | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Dulabram (POW)Mir Abdul Aziz  |
 Raghuji INilo Pant | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Unknown | 14000 troops | ||||||||
Raghuji besieged the fort held by Durlabhram, who, fearing for his life and influenced by sanyasis, chose to surrender despite opposition from Abdul Aziz and others who wanted to continue defending the fort. Abdul Aziz took command and resisted fiercely for over a month. Meanwhile, Maratha raiding parties occupied large areas of Orissa. The Nawab, unable to counter the Marathas due to threats from Mustafa in Bihar, sought peace, but Raghuji demanded an excessive ransom. Peace talks stalled until Mustafa’s death in late June, after which negotiations ceased. When provisions ran out, Abdul Aziz surrendered the fort on May 12, 1745, securing his safety. Raghuji then advanced into Birbhum and extended Maratha control over parts of Orissa, including Midnapore, Hugli, and Burdwan.[1][2]
Prelude
[edit]To exact revenge on Nawab Alivardi Khan, Mustafa Khan enlisted Raghuji's help to invade Bengal. Raghuji, still seething from the treacherous death of Bhaskar Ram, eagerly seized the opportunity. In March 1745, he led a force of 14,000 cavalry, bypassing Sambhalpur and crossing the mountain tracts to reach Orissa. There, he swiftly captured the city of Cuttack without encountering any resistance. At this time, Raja Durlabhram was preoccupied with the Sanyasis on the banks of the Mahanadi River and was unaware of Raghuji’s approach. When news of the invasion reached Katak, chaos erupted, and the inhabitants fled in panic. Raja Durlabhram, caught off guard and dressed only in his undergarments, hurriedly sought refuge in the Barabati Fort, which was nearby.[1][2]
Siege
[edit]Soon, Raghuji arrived and besieged the fort. Durlabhram, recognizing that no reinforcements were likely due to Havab Alivardi Khan's ongoing expedition, was primarily concerned for his own life. Influenced by some sanyasis and a few of his officers, he decided to surrender, despite strong opposition from Abdul Aziz and others who believed that surrendering would dishonor their master, Havab Aliverdi Khan, and disgrace themselves. They preferred to fight and defend the fort. Ultimately, Durlabhram, swayed by the sanyasis, agreed to surrender.[1][2][3][4]
After numerous conferences, Raja Durlabhram emerged from the fortress to visit the Maratha Prince, accompanied by his commanders and officers, but they were imprisoned in the Maratha Camp. Upon learning of this treachery, Abdul Aziz assumed command of the fortress and prepared to defend it. It proved difficult for Raghuji to capture the fort due to Abdul Aziz's determined resistance. Raghuji sent his own men and some of Durlabhram's followers to persuade Abdul Aziz to surrender, but he refused, declaring his loyalty to Alivardi Khan and pledging to defend the fort to the last breath. Consequently, the siege continued for over a month with vigorous resistance.[1][2][3][4]
During this time, Maratha raiding parties occupied much of Orissa, including areas like Midnapur, Hugli, and parts of Burdwan. The Nawab, preoccupied with threats from Mustafa in Bihar, could not launch a campaign in Orissa and decided to seek peace. He sent Hunsanaly Khan, an eloquent envoy from Delhi, to negotiate with Raghuji. Seeing this as a sign of weakness, Raghuji demanded three crore rupees for peace. The Nawab, unable to meet this demand, prolonged the negotiations for two and a half months. When Mustafe died in late June, the Nawab broke off the talks.[1][2][3][4]
Upon learning of Durlabhram's captivity, the Nawab sent Sarmast Khan to negotiate his release. Raghuji sent Nilopant as his envoy, but the matter remained unresolved. When provisions ran short, Abdul Aziz was forced to surrender the fort on May 12, 1745, after a two-month defense. The terms of surrender ensured his personal safety, the safety of his baggage and people, and that none would be compelled to join the Marathas.[1][2][3][4]
Following the surrender, Raghuji advanced towards Birbhum and established his quarters. From there, his army occupied various parts of Orissa, extending control as far as Midnapore and Hugli, and a significant portion of Burdwan.[1][2][3][4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Shanta Aathana (1978). Life & Times Of Raghuji Bhonsle I Of Nagpur. pp. 171–173.
- ^ a b c d e f g Ray, Bhabani Charan (1960). Orissa Under Marathas 1751-1803. pp. 12–14.
- ^ a b c d e A Comprehensive History of India: 1712-1772, edited by A. C. Banerjee and D. K. Ghase. People's Publishing House. 1978. p. 186.
- ^ a b c d e Sardesai, Govind Sakharam (1948). The expansion of the Maratha power, 1707-1772. Phoenix Publications. p. 223.