Balaji Vishwanath: Encyclopedia II - Balaji Vishwanath - Ascent to Peshwa

Balaji Vishwanath - Ascent to Peshwa

In the next few years, Balaji transitioned to an able commander. Balaji is recorded as having participated in the 1708 invasion of the then Mughal city of Ahmedabad [1].

During the Maratha civil war (1707-1713), Maratha Senapati (Marathi for general) Chandrasen Jadhav, who led the Tarabai faction (his predecessor Rajaram's widow who opposed Shahuji), ravaged the Southern provinces but was defeated by Balaji after a prolonged war.

In 1713, Shahuji was attacked at Khed by forces loyal to Tarabai. To face this attack, Shahuji appointed Balaji as Senakarta (Marathi for Army Commander).

This increased the confidence Shahu had in him, and he appointed Balaji as his representative to negotiate with Kanhoji Angre, the Admiral of the Maratha Navy, who was allied with Tarabai. Before Balaji could take up this assignment, he requested Shahuji to appoint him as a Peshwa. Shahu conceded this request, and Balaji became the Chattrapati's first Peshwa on November 16, 1713. Kanhoji agreed to become the Sarkhel (Marathi for Admiral) of Shahuji's navy.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Ascent to Peshwa", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki