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'''Jawji Babaji Gawli''' ({{langx|mr| जावजी बाबाजी गवळी }}) was also referred to as Jauji Gauli ({{langx|mr| जाउजी गवळी }}) or Javji Gauli ({{langx|mr| जावजी गवळी }}) or Jivaji Gauli ({{langx|mr| जिवाजी गवळी }}) was a Sardar (Chieftain) in the [[Peshwa]]'s army during the reign of [[Balaji Baji Rao]].

==Family background==
Born to Babaji Gawli, he had a brother named Maloji. He was a resident of Khare Patan, a village in the [[Sindhudurg]] district of [[Konkan]], Western [[Maharashtra]].

==Historical role==
Jawji Gawli's major historical role was during the Anglo-Maratha-Angre wars of 1755 and 1756. He fought in the Battle of [[Suvarnadurg]] [[Kharepatan]] and [[Vijaydurg]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/RATNAGIRI/his_english.html#:~:text=the%20fort%20surrendered%20on%20the%203rd%20april%201755%5Bsurendra%20nath%20sen%3B%20the%20military%20system%20of%20the%20marathas%2C%20p.%20205.%5D%2C%20when%20the%20peshva's%20generals%20jivaji%20gavli%20and%20khandoji%20mankar%20supported%20the%20operations%20from%20the%20land. |title=The Gazetteers Department – RATNAGIRI |publisher=Cultural.maharashtra.gov.in |date= |access-date=2021-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Osmania University Library|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.366729|website=ia801607.us.archive.org|year=1940 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sardesai|first=Govind Sakharam|url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.57070/2015.57070.New-History-Of-The-Marathas-Vol-2_djvu.txt#:~:text=on%20the%2012th.-,Javji%20Gauli,-and%20Khandoji%20Mankar|title=New History Of The Marathas Vol 2|publisher=Phoenix Publications|date=1946|edition=1|location=Bombay, India|access-date=2021-07-31}}</ref>

This period was during the reign of Peshwa [[Balaji Baji Rao]], popularly known as Nanasaheb Peshwa. The relations between Peshwas and Angres were not the best. Tulaji Angre was a source of worry for the [[English East India Company|English]], [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] and also the Peshwas. Tulaji was ambitious and capable and did not wish to be subordinate to the Peshwa. He plundered the ships of the English, Portuguese and began to levy contributions from the Peshwa's own territories.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/anglo-maratha-struggle-for-empire-the-importance-of-maritime-power/ |title=Anglo-Maratha Struggle for Empire: The Importance of Maritime Power |publisher=Indiandefencereview.com |date=2017-08-14 |access-date=2021-05-15}}</ref>

The Peshwas took the help of English to wage a war upon Tulaji Angre who was one of the sons of [[Kanhoji Angre]]. Peshwas and English jointly attacked [[Suvarnadurg]]. The joint siege of the fort lasted from 25 March to 2 April 1755. On 12 April 1755, [[Sir William James, 1st Baronet]] captured the fort and formally handed it over to the Peshwas.<ref>{{cite web|author=AlexAitken |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofmaratha03kincuoft/page/24/mode/2up |title=A history of the Maratha people : Kincaid, Charles Augustus, 1870- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming: Internet Archive |date= |access-date=2021-05-15}}</ref>

==Role in key battles==
=== Battle of Kharepatan (1755) ===
In December 1755, during the Peshwa's offensive to consolidate power in the Konkan, Jawji Gawli led a decisive engagement at Kharepatan. When [[Tulaji Angre]]'s trusted commander, Rudraji Dhulap, arrived with reinforcements, Jawji and Anandrao Warge led a charge of cavalry and "horse-musketeers." In the ensuing battle, Jawji's forces successfully wounded and captured Rudraji Dhulap and a Portuguese chief, effectively breaking the land-based resistance of the Angre forces.<ref name="NDH">"Tulaji Offers Truce", NDHistories, [https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/09/26/tulaji-offers-truce/ ndhistories.wordpress.com]</ref>
[[File:Dominic Serres, the Elder - The Capture of Geriah, February 1756 RMG BHC0377 (L6228).jpg|thumb|The Capture of Geriah, February 1756]]
Jawji Gawli fought along with Khandoji Mankar on behalf of the Peshwas. He represented the Peshwas during negotiations and was associated with the Konkan Governor of Peshwa – [[Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar]]. He negotiated with Tulaji Angre prior to the commencement of the English-Peshwa attack on [[Vijaydurg]] fort. His significant historical role has been provided in great details in the book 'Peshwaiche Divya Tej' authored by Vithal Waman Hadap published in 1940.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hadap|first=Vithal Waman|title=Peshwaiche Divya Tej|publisher=Parchure Puranik ani Mandali|date=1940|edition=1|location=Bombay, India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Apte|first=B.K.|url=https://sahitya.marathi.gov.in/scans/A%20history%20of%20the%20maratha%20navy%20and%20merchantships.pdf#page=131|title=A History of the Maratha Navy and Merchantships|publisher=State Board of Literature and Culture – Government Central Press|date=January 1973|edition=1|location=Bombay, India|access-date=2021-05-15}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web |last=Talekar |first=Uday S. |title=Tulaji Offers Truce |url=https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2024/09/26/tulaji-offers-truce/ |website=NDHistories |date=September 26, 2024 |access-date=December 27, 2025}}</ref>

==Letters from Nanasaheb Peshwa==
The famous historical archives in [[Pune]] – Peshwa Daftar – Part 24 has letters which provide references
[[File:PeshwaLetter JawjiGawli 156.png|thumb|Peshwa's Letter To Jawji Gawli #156]]

a. Letter no 142 – Jawji Gawli Kharepatankar

b. Letter no 152/153 – Maloji Gawli

c. Letter no 156 – Letter from Peshwas to Jawji Gawli

==Other letters which mention Jawji Gawli==

In addition to above mentioned letters, Peshwa Daftar Part 24 lists additional letter where Jawji Gawli has been mentioned in G S Sardesai's book - Indexes To The Selections From The Peshwas' Daftar

Page no 121, lists letter numbers 44, 111, 120, 121, 131, 137, 138, 139, 141, battle of Kharepatan 142, 143, 144, 146, 148, 150, 151, 154, 155, 156, 163, 164, 175, invited to meet Tulaji Angria 177, 178, 179.

<ref>{{cite book |last=Sardesai |first=Govind Sakharam |title=Indexes To The Selections From The Peshwas' Daftar |url=https://ia601505.us.archive.org/18/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.63379/2015.63379.Indexes-To-The-Selections-From-The-Peshwas-Daftar.pdf |publisher=Government Central Press |location=Bombay |year=1934 |access-date=December 27, 2025}}</ref>

==Significance of Battle of [[Vijaydurg]] (Gheriah)==
[[Vijaydurg]] Fort was called the "Eastern [[Gibraltar]]", as it was virtually impregnable. The British failed to take this fort from 1718 till 1756. The taking of Vijaydurg was amongst the most significant battles and a defining moment in Maratha Naval history. The Angres held sway from [[Surat]] in the north to Konkan in the south severely affecting British trade interests. The British-Peshwa joint victory over Tulaji Angre therefore paved the way for unhindered access for British ships on India's western coast, which was hitherto denied by the Angres. A different outcome of this battle could have changed the course of British rule in India or at least postponed it. An author cited has said that the Battle of Vijaydurg (1756) was perhaps the maritime equivalent of the [[Battle of Plassey]] (1757).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grandeurmaharashtra.com/vijaydurg-fort-maharashtra/|title=Vijaydurg Fort Maharashtra |date= 18 May 2012|access-date=2021-06-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Dhabu|first=Damodar Gopal|url=https://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BB06688603|title=Kulabkar Angre Sarkhel |date=1939|location=Alibaug, India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/travel/revisiting-the-konkan-sentinels-suvarnadurgvijaydurg-sindhudurg/articleshow/73165968.cms?from=mdr|title=Revisiting the Konkan sentinels -Suvarnadurg,Vijaydurg & Sindhudurg|newspaper=The Economic Times |date= 9 January 2020|access-date=2021-06-27}}</ref>

Historical archives in the ''Peshwa Daftar'' (Part 24) contain significant correspondence regarding his role:
* '''Diplomatic Intermediary:''' In January 1756, Tulaji Angre attempted to negotiate a truce specifically through Jawji Gawli, proposing a meeting at the village of Anasure to mend relations with the Peshwa.
* '''Command of Nana Saheb:''' Despite the ongoing negotiations, Nanasaheb Peshwa issued strict orders (Letter No. 156) to Jawji to cease all talks and launch an immediate assault on the fort.<ref name="PDT">Hadap, V.W. (1940). ''Peshwaiche Divya Tej'' (Correspondence Archive Letters 152, 156).</ref>

==Migration of descendants==
The descendants of Jawji Gawli and Mahuji Gawli later migrated to Northern Maharashtra, first to Ahergaon and subsequently settled in [[Chalisgaon]] in [[Jalgaon district]].

This history of the family has been documented by late Shri Valsing Ishram Patil through an autobiography written in April 1958.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gawli, Jawji}}
[[Category:People from the Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:18th-century military personnel]]

Jawji Gawli - Revision history

Hakeem Nafeesurrahman Thanvi: created stub