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{{short description|Maratha Army commander and Diwan of Chhatrapati}}
{{Short description|Maratha general and minister (1730–1761)}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=December 2023}}
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{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name         = Sadashivrao Bhau
| name               = Sadashivrao Bhau
| birth_date   = {{birth date|df=yes|1730|08|04}}
| birth_date         = {{birth date|df=yes|1730|08|04}}
| death_date   = {{death date and age|df=yes|1761|01|14|1730|07|05}}
| death_date         = {{death date and age|df=yes|1761|01|14|1730|08|04}}
| birth_place = [[Pune, India]]
| birth_place         = [[Pune]], [[Maratha Empire]] <br/> (present-day [[Maharashtra]], [[India]])
| death_place = [[Panipat]], India
| death_place         = [[Panipat]], [[Maratha Empire]] (present-day [[Haryana]], [[India]])
| image       = Sadashivrao Bhau with Ibrahim Khan Gardi.jpg
| image               = Bust portrait in an oval of the Bhao, Sadhashir Rao,.jpg
| caption     =  
| caption             = [[Bust (sculpture)|Bust]] portrait, {{circa|1760}}
| office1     = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|24px]] [[Dewan]] of the [[Chhatrapati]] of the [[Maratha Empire]]
| office1             = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|28px]] [[Finance Minister|Amatya]] of the [[Maratha Empire]]
| monarch1     = [[Rajaram II of Satara|Chhatrapati Rajaram II]]
| monarch1           = [[Rajaram II of Satara|Rajaram II]]
| term_start1 = 1760
| term_start1         = 1760
| term_end1   = 14 January 1761.
| term_end1           = 14 January 1761
| nickname     =  
| nickname           =  
| allegiance   = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|24px]] [[Maratha Empire]]
| allegiance         = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|24px]] [[Maratha Empire]]
| serviceyears =  
| serviceyears       = 1746–1761
| commands     = 1) Commander-in-chief during the [[Battle of Panipat (1761)|Third Battle of Panipat]]<br />2) Commander-in-chief during the [[Battle of Udgir]]
| commands           =  
| battles      = Third Battle of Panipat<br />Battle of Udgir
| battles            = *Raghoji's Southern Campaign
| children     = 2
*Peshwa's Expedition of Shrirangapattan
| spouse       = Umabai<br />[[Parvatibai]]
*[[Third Battle of Panipat]]
| father      = [[Chimaji Appa]]
*Battle of Udgir
| relations   = [[Bajirao I]](uncle) <br /> [[Vishwasrao]] (nephew)<br />[[Madhavrao I]] (nephew)<br />[[Narayanrao]] (nephew)<br />[[Balaji Baji Rao]] (cousin)<br />[[Raghunathrao]] (cousin)<br />[[Shamsher Bahadur I (Krishna Rao)]](cousin)
*[[Capture of Delhi (1760)]]
| laterwork   =  
*[[Battle of Kunjpura]]
*Siege of Trichinopoly (1746)<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&dq=marathas+in+bengal+chauth+mir+habib&pg=PA201 | title=Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813 | isbn=978-1-932705-54-6 | last1=Mehta | first1=Jaswant Lal | date=January 2005 | publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. }}</ref>
*Capture of Sangola<ref>https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32142 pg.291-292</ref>
*Capture of Nashik<ref>https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32142 pg.325</ref>
*Battle of Shrirangapattan(1753)<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&dq=marathas+in+bengal+chauth+mir+habib&pg=PA201 | title=Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813 | isbn=978-1-932705-54-6 | last1=Mehta | first1=Jaswant Lal | date=January 2005 | publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. }}</ref>
*Battle of Shrirangapattan(1757) <ref>https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32142 pg.330</ref>
*Battle of sindkhed <ref>https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32142 pg.333- 334</ref>
*Capture of Janjira<ref>https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32142 pg.352</ref>
*Sadashivbhau Carnatic Expansion<ref>https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32142 pg 250- 345</ref>
| children           = 2
| spouse             = Umabai<br/>[[Parvatibai]]
| relations           = [[Baji Rao I]] (uncle) <br /> [[Vishwasrao]] (nephew)<br />[[Madhavrao I]] (nephew)<br />[[Narayanrao]] (nephew)<br />[[Balaji Baji Rao]] (cousin)<br />[[Raghunathrao]] (cousin)<br />[[Shamsher Bahadur I (Krishna Rao)]] (cousin)
| laterwork           =
| rank                = [[Commander in Chief|Senapati]] (1760 –  1761)
| unit                =
| branch              = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|24px]] [[Maratha Army]]
| parents            = [[Chimaji Appa]] (father)
Rakhmabai (mother)
}}
}}
'''Sadashivrao Peshwa''' (3 August 1730 – 14 January 1761) was son of [[Chimaji Appa]] (younger brother of Bajirao I) and Rakhmabai (Pethe family) and the nephew of [[Baji Rao I|Bajirao Peshwa]]. He was an finance minister during the reign of Maratha emperor [[Rajaram II of Satara|Chhatrapati Rajaram II]]. He served as the ''[[Sardar]] [[Senapati]]'' ([[Commander-in-Chief]]) of the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] army at the [[Third Battle of Panipat|third battle of Panipat]].


==Early life==
'''Sadashivrao Bhau Bhatt''' (4 August 1730 – 14 January 1761) was the son of [[Chimaji Appa]] (younger brother of [[Baji Rao I]]) and [[Rakhmabai]] of the Pethe family, and the nephew of Baji Rao I. He held administrative responsibilities and served as a finance minister during the reign of [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] ruler [[Rajaram II of Satara|Rajaram II]].
Sadashivrao was born at [[Satara district|Satara]] in a Brahmin family. He was the son of [[Peshwa]] [[Bajirao I|Baji Rao's]] brother [[Chimaji Appa]].<ref name="Vishwas Patil">{{cite book |title=Panipat |last=Patil |first=Vishwas}}</ref> His mother Rakhmabai died when he was barely a month old. His father died when he was ten years old. He was cared by his grandmother Radhabai and his aunt Kashibai. He was very bright from early years. He was educated in [[Satara (city)|Satara]]. His tutor was Ramchandra baba Shenvi.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} [[Nanasaheb Peshwa|Nanasaheb]] (Balaji Baji Rao) stayed in Satara though he had become Peshwa.


Sadshivrao undertook his first campaign in Karnataka in 1746 because Babuji Naik of [[Baramati]] and Fateh Singh Bhonsle of [[Akkalkot State|Akkalkot]] failed in the task assigned to them. Sadshivrao left Satara on 5 December 1746 with a force of 20,000. He also joined Mahadoba Purandare and Sakharam Bapu as his political advisers. The campaign continued till May 1747 mostly in the western Karnatak region. In January 1747 he won his first battle at [[Ajara (India)|Ajra]], south of [[Kolhapur]]. The Navab of Savnur was chastised, the fort of Bahadur Benda was reduced and chauth was levied from the region between the rivers [[Krishna River|Krishna]] and [[Tungabhadra River|Tungabhadra]]. All together 36 parganas were captured in this campaign.<ref>Third Battle of Panipat by Abhas Verma {{ISBN|9788180903397}} Bharatiya Kala Prakashan</ref>
He was appointed ''sarsenapati'' (commander-in-chief) of the Maratha army and led its forces during the [[Third Battle of Panipat]] on 14 January 1761.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Third Battle of Panipat (1761) |url=https://panipat.gov.in/third-battle/
|work=Government of Haryana, India |access-date=6 November 2023}}</ref> The battle was fought against the army of [[Ahmad Shah Abdali]] and was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the 18th century in India.  


Sadashivrao's first military achievement was in 1760 in [[Carnatic region]] with Mahadjipant Purandare and Sakharam Bapu Bokil serving as advisers and commanders under him. He conquered from the [[Nawab]] of [[Savanur]] and subsequently annexed the cities of [[Kittur]], [[Parasgad]], [[Gokak]], [[Yadwad]], [[Bagalkot]], [[Badami]], [[Navalgund]], Umbal, [[Giri, India|Giri]], Torgal, [[Haliyal]], [[Harihar]] and Basavapatna. He crushed the revolt of Yamaji Shivdev.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mehta |first=Jaswant Lal |date=2005 |title=Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&pg=PA202 |publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd |pages=202–|isbn=978-1-932705-54-6}}</ref>
His role in the battle, both as a military commander and administrator, is remembered as a combination of organizational skill and the limitations imposed by logistical and strategic challenges.


Mahadjipant Purandare was [[Diwan (title)|Diwan]] of [[Peshwa]] during that period. Sadashivrao was Diwan of Bhosale of Nagpur. After the death of [[Chhattrapati Shahu]], Ramchandrababa Shenvi suggested to Sadashivrao to take Peshwai of [[Kolhapur]], but Nanasaheb Peshwa opposed this idea. Mahadjipant Purandare resigned and Sadashivrao became the Diwan of Peshwa.
== Early life ==
[[File:Sadashivrao Bhau with Ibrahim Khan Gardi.jpg|left|thumb|Sadashivrao Bhau with [[Ibrahim Khan Gardi]]]]
Sadashivrao Bhau was born in [[Satara district|Satara]] into a [[Marathi people|Marathi]] [[Chitpavan Brahmin]] family. He was named after the Hindu deity [[Shiva]].<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last1=Kasture |first1=Kaustubh |title=Sakalrajkaryadhurandhar Sadashivraobhau |date=2017 |publisher=Rafter Publications |isbn=9788193248140 |page=17}}</ref> His father, Chimaji Appa, was the brother of Bajirao I.<ref name="Vishwas Patil">{{cite book |title=Panipat |last=Patil |first=Vishwas}}</ref> His mother, Rakhmabai, died when he was about a month old, and his father passed away when he was ten. He was subsequently raised by his grandmother Radhabai and aunt [[Kashibai]]. Sadashivrao received his education in Satara under [[Ramachandra Baba Sukthankar|Ramchandra Baba Shenvi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bravest of the Brave Marathas |url=https://www.thisday.app/en/details/bravest-of-the-brave-marathas.html
|website=www.thisday.app
|access-date=6 November 2023}}</ref>


He successfully led the [[Battles involving the Maratha Empire#Battle of Udgir|Battle of Udgir]] which weakened the Nizam of Hyderabad.<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=204–205}}</ref> He won the fort of [[Daulatabad, Maharashtra|Daulatabad]]. The news of [[Ahmad Shah Durrani|Ahmad Shah Abdali]]'s march towards Delhi and the subsequent death of [[Dattaji Scindia]] at the battle of Burari Ghat had arrived. Therefore, Sadashivrao was called back from [[Udgir]] to [[Partur]] where the Council of war was held. It was decided that Sadashivrao would go north to resist the Afghans.
Sadashivrao undertook his first military campaign in [[Karnataka]] in 1746, accompanied by his political advisers Mahadoba Purandare and [[Sakharam Bapu Bokil|Sakharam Bapu]]. He won his first battle at [[Ajara (India)|Ajra]], south of [[Kolhapur]], and captured thirty-six [[Pargana|parganas]] during this campaign.<ref>Third Battle of Panipat by Abhas Verma {{ISBN|9788180903397}} Bharatiya Kala Prakashan</ref>


==Third Battle of Panipat==
In 1760, Sadashivrao led another campaign in the [[Carnatic region]]. He conquered territories from the [[Nawab]] of Savanur and annexed the cities of [[Kittur]], [[Parasgad]], [[Gokak]], [[Yadwad]], [[Bagalkot]], [[Badami]], [[Navalgund]], Umbal, Giri, Torgal, [[Haliyal]], [[Harihar]], and Basavapatna. During this campaign, he suppressed the revolt led by Yamaji Shivdev.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mehta |first=Jaswant Lal |date=2005 |title=Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&pg=PA202
|publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd |pages=202– |isbn=978-1-932705-54-6}}</ref> He also led the Battle of Udgir, which weakened the authority of the [[Nizam of Hyderabad]].<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=204–205}}</ref>
 
== Third Battle of Panipat ==
{{main|Third Battle of Panipat}}
{{main|Third Battle of Panipat}}
[[File:India1760 1905.jpg|thumb|[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|24px]] [[Maratha Confederacy]] at its zenith in 1760 (yellow areas)]]
[[File:Sadashivrao Bhau.jpg|thumb|Troops led by Sadashivrao Bhau during the [[Third Battle of Panipat]] ]]
[[File:Sadashivrao bhau.jpg|thumb|A portrait of Sadashivrao Bhau Peshwa, a part of Peshwa Memorial in [[Pune]], India]]
In January 1760, news reached Peshwa [[Balaji Baji Rao]], that [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]], better known as Ahmad Shah Abdālī, had invaded and captured the [[Punjab region]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}


In January 1760, news reached the prime minister Nanasaheb Peshwa that [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] better known as Ahmad Shah Abdālī had invaded and captured the [[Punjab region]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
Abdali formed an alliance against the Marathas with other [[Rohilla]] chieftains, principally [[Najib-ul-Daula]], and the [[Nawab]] of [[Awadh]], [[Shuja-ud-Daula]]. Abdali also recruited [[Pashtun people|Afghans]] displaced by the war.


Abdali had formed an alliance against the Marathas with other [[Rohilla]] chieftains principally Najib-ul-Daula, the [[Nawab]] of [[Awadh]] Shuja-ud-Daula. All the Muslims in north India including Shuja-ud-Daula (Nawab of Awadh) were persuaded by Abdali and Najib to join the Afghans in the name of religion and to save Islam. Abdali recruited [[Pashtun people|Afghans]] displaced by the war.
Balaji Baji Rao, at the zenith of his power after defeating the Nizam at [[Udgir]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who led the Marathas at the third battle of Panipat ? |url=https://interviewmania.com/discussion/8369-medieval-history-mugal-period
|access-date=6 November 2023 |website=interviewmania.com}}</ref> appointed Sadashivrao Bhau to lead the Maratha army to [[Delhi]]. Unlike [[Malharrao Holkar]] and [[Raghunathrao]], who were familiar with the politics and leaders of the northern regions of the [[Indian subcontinent]], Sadashivrao lacked knowledge of the region.<ref>{{cite book |date=2002 |orig-year=First published 1994 as ''Histoire de l'Inde Moderne'' |editor-last=Markovits |editor-first=Claude |title=A History of Modern India, 1480–1950 |location=London |publisher=Anthem Press |pages=206–207 |isbn=978-1-84331-004-4 |quote=Balaji Rao then decided to ... designate as the supreme commander Sadashiv Rao ... This proved to be an unfortunate choice, because, contrary to a Raghunath Rao or a Holkar, Sadashivrao was completely ignorant of the political and military situation of North India.}}</ref> This lack of experience contributed to his mishandling of regional rulers and failure to form strategic alliances, which became a major reason for the Marathas’ eventual defeat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decline Of The Maratha Empire: Causes And Views Of Scholars! |url=https://testbook.com/ias-preparation/decline-of-the-maratha-empire
|access-date=6 November 2023 |website=Testbook}}</ref>


Nanasaheb Peshwa was then at the zenith of his power, having defeated the Nizam at Udgir.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} He chose Sadashivrao to lead the Maratha army to Delhi. Unlike [[Malharrao Holkar]] and [[Raghunathrao]], both of whom had deep knowledge of northern India, Sadashivrao was unfamiliar with the personages and politics of the region. This was to prove costly,<ref>{{cite book |date=2002 |orig-year=First published 1994 as ''Histoire de l'Inde Moderne'' |editor-last=Markovits |editor-first=Claude |title=A History of Modern India, 1480–1950 |location=London |publisher=Anthem Press |pages=206–207 |isbn=978-1-84331-004-4 |quote=Balaji Rao then decided to ... designate as the supreme commander Sadashiv Rao ... This proved to be an unfortunate choice, because, contrary to a Raghunath Rao or a Holkar, Sadashiv Rao was completely ignorant of the political and military situation of North India.}}</ref> as he mishandled the regional kings and failed to form alliances with them. The main reason for the failure of the [[Marathas]] was that they went to war without good allies.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
An army of about 55,000 men set out from Patdur (modern [[Partur]]) on 14 March 1760, accompanied by roughly 200,000 non-combatants, including families and pilgrims seeking safety with the army.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} Forces under Holkar and [[Scindia]] joined en route.


An army of between 45,000 and 60,000 was gathered and started its northward journey from Patdur (modern [[Partur]]) on 14 March 1760. It was accompanied by roughly 100,000 non-combatants including family members and a large number of pilgrims desirous of making pilgrimages to Hindu holy sites in northern India as they felt safe in the presence of the army.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} The Maratha forces of Holkar and [[Scindia]] joined the army on the way.
Sadashivrao adapted the [[hit-and-run tactics]] of the Maratha cavalry to integrate French-style heavy artillery and infantry, resulting in victories such as at Udgir. However, some generals, like Holkar, were hesitant to adopt these changes fully and felt the new units were incompatible with the rest of the army. Despite these concerns and limited resources, Sadashivrao established a force of 10,000 infantry and 50 artillery pieces.


Sadashiv Rao was responsible for successfully adjusting the [[hit-and-run tactics]] used by the Maratha cavalry as these tactics were ill-suited for the western-style heavy artillery and infantry that he had learnt from the French. These changes had resulted in several victories for the army such as in Udgir. However, some of the Maratha generals (like Holkar) were not ready to adopt the new strategy completely and pointed out that the new units of artillery and infantry were not compatible with the other forces in the army and that the generals were not adequately trained on the [[Military deployment|deployment]] of the new units. Despite the reservations of his generals and a shortage of time and money, Bhau formed a unit consisting of 10,000 infantry and 50 artillery pieces.
Holkar and Scindia urged Sadashivrao to form alliances with [[Suraj Mal]], [[Jat]] ruler of [[Bharatpur, Rajasthan|Bharatpur]], the [[Rajputs]], [[Sikhs]], [[Shuja-ud-Daula]], and other northern leaders. The Rajputs refused to support the Marathas, citing previous interference in their succession disputes, while Suraj Mal initially distrusted Sadashivrao. Eventually, Holkar and Scindia persuaded Suraj Mal to join the Maratha forces, securing his personal safety.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sadasyula |first=Ratnakar |date=4 August 2018 |title=Sadashiv Rao Bhau |url=https://historyunderyourfeet.wordpress.com/2018/08/04/sadashiv-rao-bhau/
|website=History Under Your Feet |access-date=6 November 2023}}</ref>


Holkar and Scindia tried to persuade Bhau to strike diplomatic ties with [[Maharaja Surajmal]] [[Jat]] of [[Bharatpur, Rajasthan|Bharatpur]] and the Rajputs, Sikhs, Shuja-ud-Daula and Muslim leaders in north India. However, the Rajputs refused to support the Marathas citing unjust tribute from Rajputana and interference in the internal and political matters of Rajputana. Therefore, the Rajputs wanted to keep the Marathas away from at least the Rajputana. In 1748, the Marathas had interfered in succession of Jaipur kingdom trying to install the younger son as the king in place of the eldest son but the Maratha army under Malharrao Holkar had been checked by [[Maharaja Surajmal]] in 1749.
Sadashivrao's overconfidence in artillery and strong personality caused him to neglect alliances with the Jats, Rajputs, and Sikhs. He also failed to heed Suraj Mal’s advice to leave civilians in [[Agra]], resulting in severe shortages of food and supplies, which would prove critical at the Battle of Panipat.


Therefore, both Holkar and Scindia knew [[Suraj Mal]]'s strength and realised that an alliance with him was essential to win the coming war with Abdali. Despite the fact that [[Suraj Mal]] had killed Holkar's son in a battle, Scindia requested [[Suraj Mal]] to come to Agra to meet Sadashivrao Bhau for a greater cause though [[Suraj Mal]] did not trust Bhau. Both Holkar and Scindia gave their word of honour to [[Suraj Mal]] for his personal safety while persuading him to come to the Bhau's camp. [[Suraj Mal]] agreed to join the Maratha forces to defeat the foreign invader from Afghanistan.
The Maratha army reached Delhi on 1 August 1760, taking the city the next day with artillery playing a key role. Supplies were limited due to Sadashivrao's strained relations with regional rulers, forcing him to move about {{convert|110|km|abbr=on}} north to [[Karnal]] and capture [[Kunjpura]] fort about {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} northeast of Karnal. Using artillery and combined cavalry-musketeer attacks, the Marathas destroyed the fort and killed the entire garrison.


Previous victories with artillery had made Bhau overconfident. Bhau was a man of strong character. He did not seek co-operation of the [[Jat]] and Rajput kings while planning for the war with Abdali but rather planned to punish them later to try to subjugate them. This led to their non-co-operation and an acute shortage of supplies. He did not heed the sound advice of [[Maharaja Surajmal]], who held power around Delhi and Agra, to leave the civilians at Agra and take only soldiers to the battlefield though there was a severe shortage of food and other supplies. This proved fatal on the fateful day of the final battle as the food finished and the starved soldiers and horses could not fight properly and a desperate Bhau had to order an attack. The [[Jats]] did not support the Marathas.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
The [[Kunjpura]] victory provoked Abdali to cross the swollen [[Yamuna River]] at [[Baghpat]] on 23–25 October 1760, taking Marathas by surprise while they were preoccupied with sacking Kunjpura.<ref name="Vishwas Patil" />


The overbearing attitude of the Bhau when he met the regional kings at Agra worsened the matters. The Bhau failed to forge an alliance with the [[Jats]] though they held sway on the food supplies around Delhi. In fact, Bhau decided to arrest [[Maharaja Surajmal]] but Holkar and Scindia, who had given their word of honour to [[Suraj Mal]] while persuading him to come to the Bhau's camp, tipped off [[Suraj Mal]] at night and he left just after midnight. Bhau sent his men after him in the morning but Raja [[Suraj Mal]] and his men had reached the safety of [[Ballabhgarh]] fort by then and Bhau's men returned empty-handed.
The Marathas set up defenses near [[Panipat]] but were gradually encircled. On 26 October, Abdali’s forces clashed with the Maratha vanguard near [[Samalkha]], leading to successive skirmishes and the killing of Maratha officers such as [[Govind Pant Bundele]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite book |title=Panipat |first=Vishwas |last=Patil|publisher=Navbharat Sahitya Mandir|year=2005}}</ref> The Afghan forces effectively cut off Maratha supply lines.


Bhau also spurned the offer from the Sikhs for alliance though his commanders tried to persuade him. Therefore, he did not get any supplies from Punjab. Thus, inability to anticipate the food supplies of his army and inability to forge alliances was major cause of defeat in the Battle of Panipat.
By November 1760, Abdali’s army of 45,000 blocked the Marathas’ access south to Delhi. The ensuing two-month siege led to severe food shortages in the Maratha camp, which included roughly 100,000 non-combatants. By late December 1760 or early January 1761, famine struck the camp, and many civilians and livestock died.<ref name="Vishwas Patil" />
<gallery>
File:Sadashivrao bhau letter.jpg|Letter written by Sadashivrao Bhau after the [[Third Battle of Panipat]]
File:Facsimile of the handwriting of Nana Phadnavis and Sadashivrao Bhau.jpg|Facsimile of the handwriting of [[Nana Fadnavis|Nana Phadnavis]] and Sadashivrao Bhau
File:Samples of MoDi writing.jpg|Writings of the Marathas, 5th line written by Sadashivrao Bhau
</gallery>


The slow-moving Maratha camp finally reached Delhi on 1 August 1760, and took the city the next day in a battle in which artillery units were crucial in destroying the fortifications of Durrani's forces. However, Bhau found only a little supplies in Delhi for his forces.
On 14 January 1761, on the occasion of the [[Makar Sankranti]] festival, the Marathas attempted to break the siege. Initial progress was made, but the death of [[Vishwasrao]], Sadashivrao's nephew and heir to Balaji Baji Rao, demoralized the army. Sadashivrao and key generals like Jankoji Scindia were surrounded, while Malhar Rao Holkar escaped. Despite careful planning to use artillery first and cavalry later, coordination failures among Maratha generals contributed to the defeat. Sadashivrao died in battle along with his close commanders, and remaining civilians were massacred.<ref name="Vishwas Patil" />


The supplies from the region immediately around west and south of Delhi had dried up as Bhau had antagonised the regional rulers. Therefore, Bhau moved about {{convert|110|km|abbr=on}} north of Delhi to Karnal (which is further north of Panipat) and captured the fortified village of [[Kunjpura]] about {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} northeast of Karnal on the west bank of [[Yamuna]] river with a [[blitzkrieg]] offensive that [[demolition|demolished]] the fort's ramparts with [[artillery]] shelling and an attack of [[cavalry]] and [[musketeer]] units. The entire garrison of Durrani was killed. Durrani had earlier crossed the Yamuna river and was on its east bank. The river was swollen in flood and could not be crossed. Durrani watched helplessly from the east bank of the river and could do nothing to save his garrison and the Kunjpura fort on the west bank of the river. The Marathas achieved a rather easy victory at Kunjpura, although there was a substantial Afghan army posted there. Some of Abadali's best generals were killed. Ahmad Shah was encamped on the left bank of the Yamuna River, which was swollen by rains, and was powerless to aid the garrison.
== Death ==
[[File:Detail of Sadashiv Rao on horseback from a larger Faizabad-style painting of the Third Battle of Panipat, Mughal, ca.1761–1770.jpg|thumb|Sadashivrao Bhau wounded in battle]]
Following the death of his nephew, Vishwasrao, around 2 p.m. on 14 January 1761, Sadashivrao reportedly mounted a horse and charged into the enemy lines, leaving his elephant’s howdah empty. This apparently caused confusion among the Maratha troops, some of whom believed their commander had fallen, further lowering morale.<ref name="Vishwas Patil"/>


However, the supplies that Bhau got at Kunjpura lasted only a few weeks as there was a large number of non-combatants in his camp.
Sadashivrao continued to fight despite being surrounded and heavily injured. Contemporary accounts suggest he died in combat, although sources differ on the fate of his body. Some records state that his headless body was recovered three days later and identified by Maratha officials present in the camp, while other accounts indicate that his body was never definitively found amid the battlefield chaos.<ref name="Vishwas Patil"/>


The massacre of the Kunjpura garrison, within sight of the Durrani camp, exasperated Durrani to such an extent that he ordered crossing of the river at all costs.<ref name="Lateef">{{cite book |title="History of the Punjab", p. 235|first=S M |last=Lateef }}</ref> Ahmed Shah and his allies on 17 October 1760, broke up from Shahdara, marching north. Taking a calculated risk, Abdali daringly plunged into the river, followed by his bodyguards and troops. Between 23 and 25 October 1760 they were able to cross at [[Baghpat]], (a small town midway between Delhi and Panipat on the east bank of Yamuna), as a man from the village, in exchange for money, showed Abdali a way through Yamuna, from where the river could be crossed<ref name="Vishwas Patil" /> unopposed by the Marathas who were still preoccupied with the sacking of Kunjpura.
These discrepancies reflect the extreme disorder and high casualties during the battle, which left thousands of soldiers and civilians dead, making precise identification difficult. Sadashivrao's death marked a pivotal moment in the battle, leading to the collapse of the Maratha forces and the eventual victory of Ahmad Shah Durrani’s army.


After the Marathas failed to prevent Abdali's forces from crossing the Yamuna River, they set up defensive works in the ground near [[Panipat]], thereby blocking his access back to Afghanistan, just as his forces blocked their access back towards Delhi. However, on the afternoon of 26 October Ahmad Shah's advance guard reached [[Samalkha]], about halfway between [[Sonipat]] and Panipat, where they encountered the vanguard of the Marathas. A fierce skirmish ensued, in which the Afghans lost 1000 men killed and wounded but drove the Marathas back to their main body, which kept retreating slowly for several days. This led to the partial encirclement of the Maratha army. In skirmishes that followed, [[Govind Pant Bundele]], with 10,000 light cavalry who weren't formally trained soldiers, was on a foraging mission with about 500 men to gather supplies. They were surprised by an Afghan force near Meerut, and in the ensuing fight Bundele was killed.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite book |title=Panipat |first=Vishwas |last=Patil|publisher=Navbharat Sahitya Mandir|year=2005}}</ref> This was followed by the loss of another 2,000 Maratha soldiers who were delivering the army's payroll from Delhi. This completed the encirclement, as Ahmad Shah had cut off the Maratha army's supply lines.<ref name="Rawlinson">{{cite book |title=An Account Of The Last Battle of Panipat |first=H. G. |last=Rawlinson |year=1926 |publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref>
== Establishment of artillery units ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2021}}
[[File:India1760 1905.jpg|thumb|[[Maratha Confederacy]] at its zenith in 1760 (yellow areas)]]
While observing various battles, Sadashivrao Bhau recognized the effectiveness of artillery and light guns as used by the British and began incorporating similar units into the Maratha army under Balaji Baji Rao. In 1760, he enlisted the services of [[Ibrahim Khan Gardi]], a former officer in the Nizam’s army, who brought with him 2,500 trained soldiers and fifteen cannons. Bhau also employed European mercenaries, many of whom had previously served under Tulaji Angre before his defeat. Among them was an engineer named Le Corbosier, noted for his expertise in foundry work and explosives. Within two years, the Maratha infantry-artillery division had grown to 10,000 men and 56 guns, significantly strengthening the army’s firepower.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}


With supplies and stores dwindling, tensions rose in the Maratha camp as the mercenaries in their army were complaining about not being paid. Initially the Marathas moved in almost 150 pieces of modern long-range, French-made artillery. With a range of several kilometres, these guns were some of the best of the time. The Marathas' plan was to lure the Afghan army to confront them while they had close artillery support.<ref name="Rawlinson"/>
== Personal life ==
 
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
By November 1760, Durrani, managed to have 45,000 soldiers to block Maratha passage to the south towards Delhi. Durrani thereafter gradually isolated the Marathas financially and cut off their meagre supplies from their base in Delhi. This eventually turned into a two-month-long siege led by Abdali against the Marathas in the town of Panipat. During the siege both sides tried to cut off the other's supplies. At this the Afghans were considerably more effective, so that by the end of November 1760 they had cut off almost all food supplies into the besieged Maratha camp (which had about 1,00,000 non-combatants). According to all the chronicles of the time, food in the Maratha camp ran out by late December or early January and cattle died by the thousands. Reports of soldiers dying of starvation began to be heard in early January. Durrani had noted the huge number of non-combatants following Bhau's army, and ordered an attack on their camp, slaughtering large numbers of civilians and soldiers' families. The resulting casualties and refugees fleeing to the Maratha camp caused overcrowding, supply shortages and shook the morale of Bhau's army, forcing him to turn his attention to safely transporting the civilians to [[Pune]]. In January 1761, Bhausaheb faced [[famine]] and was blocked reinforcement due to Durrani's control of key transportation routes.<ref name="Vishwas Patil"/>
Sadashivrao Bhau's first wife, Umabai, gave birth to two sons who died around 1750. He later married [[Parvatibai]], who accompanied Sadashivrao Bhau during the Third Battle of Panipat and helped as an accessory in the campaign. Parvatibai also embarked on a pilgrimage to [[Mathura]] and [[Vrindavan]] along with [[Nana Fadnavis]] and some women from the Maratha camp. After the news of Sadashivrao’s death, Parvatibai refused to accept the conventional life of widowhood and continued to live independently.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}
 
On 13 January 1761, the Maratha chiefs begged their commander, Sadashiv Rao Bhau, to be allowed to die in battle than perish by starvation. The next day the Marathas left their camp before dawn and marched south towards the Afghan camp in a desperate attempt to break the siege. The two armies came face-to-face around 8:00&nbsp;a.m. on 14 January 1761, the [[Makar Sankranti]] day, and the battle raged until evening.
 
[[File:Sadashivrao Bhau Peshwa.jpg|right|thumb|A portrait of Sadashivrao Bhau Peshwa, a part of Peshwa Memorial in [[Pune]], India]]
Finally the Marathas, who were on the verge of starvation, made a bold effort to break the blockade and issued forth to battle. The attack on Durrani was fierce and his wazir was found sitting on the ground eating mud and telling his fleeing soldiers that Kabul is far off. The battle was in the favour of Marathas till about 2 pm, when a stray bullet hit Vishwasrao and Durrani managed to throw in ten thousand troops who had fled the battlefield along with fresh 500 slave troops that guarded him. Bhausaheb was surrounded along with Jankoji Scindia and Ibrahim Gardi, while Malhar Rao Holkar managed to slip away. Fighting to the last man, Bhausaheb perished in battle.
 
Sadashivrao Bhau along with Ibrahim Khan Gardi had planned and were executing a battle strategy to pulverise the enemy formations with cannon fire and not to employ his cavalry until the Afghans were thoroughly softened up. With the Afghans now broken, he would move camp in a defensive formation towards Delhi, where they were assured supplies. But some Maratha generals overacted while some left battlefield leaving their defences open resulting in the defeat of the Marathas.
 
Durrani was taken unaware by the early morning attack, and decided to counter-attack during daylight. Durrani faced heavy initial losses. A stray bullet hit [[Vishwasrao]], Bhau's nephew and [[Inheritance|heir]] to Nanasaheb Peshwa and he died on the spot. Bhau departed the battlefield to visit the corpse and plunged into the Afghan army, Vishwas rao's death had a devastating effect on the [[morale]] of his troops. Durrani attacked to take advantage of the confusion and weakness of Bhau's forces. Bhau counter-attacked but ultimately the army was defeated and any remaining civilians were massacred.<ref name="Vishwas Patil"/>
 
==Death==
[[File:Plaque describing The Great Peshwa - Sadashivrao Bhau.jpg|right|thumb|An information plaque describing Sadashivrao Bhau. It is a part of The Peshwa Memorial atop Parvati Hill in [[Pune]], India]]
[[File:The Third battle of Panipat 13 January 1761.jpg|thumb|[[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] and his coalition decisively defeat the [[Maratha Confederacy]], during the [[Third Battle of Panipat]].<ref>S. M. Ikram (1964). "XIX. A Century of Political Decline: 1707–1803". In [[Ainslie T. Embree]]. Muslim Civilization in India. New York: [[Columbia University Press]]. Retrieved 5 November 2011.</ref>]]
 
Bhau, on seeing the demise of his beloved [[Vishwasrao]], Bhausaheb came down from his elephant, climbed on a horse and plunged into the enemy lines, without realising the consequences. Seeing his empty howda, his troops thought that he had fallen and that they were leaderless and caused confusion. However, Bhau didn't leave the battlefield and was killed.<ref name="Vishwas Patil"/>


His headless body was found in the heap of dead bodies three days after the battle. It was identified by the Maratha Vakil who were with the camp of left Marathas with Kashiraj Pandit, the wazir of Shuja Ud Daula. Bhau's body was cremated with all rituals. The next day, his head was found, which was kept hidden by an Afghan soldier. It was cremated and the ashes taken for visarjan to Kashi (Vishwas Patil, Kashiraj Pandit bakhar).
Around 1770, an individual had reportedly appeared in [[Pune]] claiming to be Sadashivrao Bhau. He was soon revealed as a fraud and became popularly known as “''Totayaa''” (तोतया), meaning impostor.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}


==Establishment of artillery units==
The [[Sadashiv Peth, Pune|Sadashiv Peth]] area of Pune is named in his honor.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}
While observing several battles, Bhau witnessed the effectiveness artillery and light-weight guns mounted on [[Great Britain|British]] ships and began incorporating artillery units in the army of Balaji Baji Rao. Bhau enlisted the services of [[Ibrahim Khan Gardi]], who brought with him 2,500 trained soldiers and fifteen cannons. Bhau also employed European mercenaries who used to be in the employ of Tulaji Angre before his defeat. Notable among them was an engineer named Le Corbosier, who was an expert in foundry and in handling explosives. Within two years, Balaji Baji Rao's Infantry-Artillery division had 10,000 men and 56 guns.
 
==Family==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
His first wife's name was Umabai. She gave birth to two sons who died as soon. Umabai died in 1750. Sadashiv-rao's second wife was Parvatibai. She accompanied Sadashivrao bhau during the battle of Panipat.
Sadashivrao is supposed to have died in the battle of Panipat. Parvatibai refused to accept that her husband was dead and did not live a widow's life. Around 1770, a person appeared in Pune claiming to be Sadashiv-rao. He was soon busted and is known as 'totayaa' (तोतया) which means an impostor.
An area of Pune is named Sadashiv-Peth in his honour.


==In popular culture==
== In popular culture ==
* In 1994 [[Hindi]] TV series ''[[The Great Maratha]]'', Bhau's character was portrayed by [[Pankaj Dheer]].
* In 1994 [[Hindi]] TV series ''[[The Great Maratha]]'', Sadashivrao's character was portrayed by [[Pankaj Dheer]].
* In 2014 Marathi film ''[[Rama Madhav]]'', Bhau was portrayed by Amol Kolhe.
* In 2014 Marathi film ''[[Rama Madhav]]'', he was portrayed by Amol Kolhe.
* In 2019 Hindi film ''[[Panipat (film)|Panipat]]'', he was portrayed by [[Arjun Kapoor]].
* In 2019 Hindi film ''[[Panipat (film)|Panipat]]'', he was portrayed by [[Arjun Kapoor]].
* In 2019 Marathi TV series ''Swamini'', he was portrayed by Abhishek Rahalkar.<ref>{{cite news |title=अभिषेक ते सदाशिवभाऊंपर्यंतचा प्रवास |url=http://www.mymahanagar.com/video/exclusive-interview-abhishek-rahalkar-swamini-sadashivrao/153858/ |access-date=12 October 2020 |work=My Mahanagar |language=mr-IN}}</ref>
* In 2019 Marathi TV series ''Swamini'', he was portrayed by Abhishek Rahalkar.<ref>{{cite news |title=अभिषेक ते सदाशिवभाऊंपर्यंतचा प्रवास |url=http://www.mymahanagar.com/video/exclusive-interview-abhishek-rahalkar-swamini-sadashivrao/153858/ |access-date=12 October 2020 |work=My Mahanagar |language=mr-IN}}</ref>
* ''Sakalrajkaryadhurandhar Sadashivraobhau'', book by Kaustubh Kasture in Marathi.<ref>{{cite web |title=BookGanga - Creation {{!}} Publication {{!}} Distribution |url=https://www.bookganga.com/eBooks/Books/Index?BookSearchTags=Kaustubh%20Kasture&BookType=1 |website=www.bookganga.com |access-date=4 December 2020}}</ref>
* ''Sakalrajkaryadhurandhar Sadashivraobhau'', book by Kaustubh Kasture in Marathi.<ref>{{cite web |title=BookGanga - Creation {{!}} Publication {{!}} Distribution |url=https://www.bookganga.com/eBooks/Books/Index?BookSearchTags=Kaustubh%20Kasture&BookType=1 |website=www.bookganga.com |access-date=4 December 2020}}</ref>


==See also==
== See also ==
* [[Bhau]]
* [[Bhau]]
* [[Maratha Empire]]
* [[Maratha Empire]]
Line 117: Line 137:
* [[Maratha emperors]]
* [[Maratha emperors]]


==References==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==Further reading==
== Further reading ==
* [[Tryambak Shankar Shejwalkar]], ''Panipat 1761'' (Deccan College Monograph Series. I.), Pune (1946)
* [[Tryambak Shankar Shejwalkar]], ''Panipat 1761'' (Deccan College Monograph Series. I.), Pune (1946)
* Pramod Oak, "Peshwe gharanyacha Itihas"
* Pramod Oak, "Peshwe gharanyacha Itihas"


==External links==
== External links ==
{{commons category|Sadashiv Rao Bhau|Sadashivrao Bhau}}
{{commons category|Sadashiv Rao Bhau|Sadashivrao Bhau}}


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[[Category:1761 deaths]]
[[Category:1761 deaths]]
[[Category:Peshwa dynasty]]
[[Category:Peshwa dynasty]]
[[Category:18th century in India]]
[[Category:Indian nobility]]
[[Category:People from the Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:18th-century nobility]]

Latest revision as of 22:27, 7 February 2026


Sadashivrao Bhau
Bust portrait, c. 1760
Amatya of the Maratha Empire
In office
1760 – 14 January 1761
MonarchRajaram II
Personal details
Born(1730-08-04)4 August 1730
Pune, Maratha Empire
(present-day Maharashtra, India)
Died14 January 1761(1761-01-14) (aged 30)
Panipat, Maratha Empire (present-day Haryana, India)
Spouse(s)Umabai
Parvatibai
RelationsBaji Rao I (uncle)
Vishwasrao (nephew)
Madhavrao I (nephew)
Narayanrao (nephew)
Balaji Baji Rao (cousin)
Raghunathrao (cousin)
Shamsher Bahadur I (Krishna Rao) (cousin)
Children2
Parent(s)Chimaji Appa (father) Rakhmabai (mother)
Military service
Allegiance Maratha Empire
Branch/service Maratha Army
Years of service1746–1761
RankSenapati (1760 – 1761)
Battles/wars

Sadashivrao Bhau Bhatt (4 August 1730 – 14 January 1761) was the son of Chimaji Appa (younger brother of Baji Rao I) and Rakhmabai of the Pethe family, and the nephew of Baji Rao I. He held administrative responsibilities and served as a finance minister during the reign of Maratha ruler Rajaram II.

He was appointed sarsenapati (commander-in-chief) of the Maratha army and led its forces during the Third Battle of Panipat on 14 January 1761.[9] The battle was fought against the army of Ahmad Shah Abdali and was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the 18th century in India.

His role in the battle, both as a military commander and administrator, is remembered as a combination of organizational skill and the limitations imposed by logistical and strategic challenges.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Sadashivrao Bhau with Ibrahim Khan Gardi

Sadashivrao Bhau was born in Satara into a Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin family. He was named after the Hindu deity Shiva.[10] His father, Chimaji Appa, was the brother of Bajirao I.[11] His mother, Rakhmabai, died when he was about a month old, and his father passed away when he was ten. He was subsequently raised by his grandmother Radhabai and aunt Kashibai. Sadashivrao received his education in Satara under Ramchandra Baba Shenvi.[12]

Sadashivrao undertook his first military campaign in Karnataka in 1746, accompanied by his political advisers Mahadoba Purandare and Sakharam Bapu. He won his first battle at Ajra, south of Kolhapur, and captured thirty-six parganas during this campaign.[13]

In 1760, Sadashivrao led another campaign in the Carnatic region. He conquered territories from the Nawab of Savanur and annexed the cities of Kittur, Parasgad, Gokak, Yadwad, Bagalkot, Badami, Navalgund, Umbal, Giri, Torgal, Haliyal, Harihar, and Basavapatna. During this campaign, he suppressed the revolt led by Yamaji Shivdev.[14] He also led the Battle of Udgir, which weakened the authority of the Nizam of Hyderabad.[15]

Third Battle of Panipat[edit | edit source]

Main article: Third Battle of Panipat
Troops led by Sadashivrao Bhau during the Third Battle of Panipat
A portrait of Sadashivrao Bhau Peshwa, a part of Peshwa Memorial in Pune, India

In January 1760, news reached Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao, that Ahmad Shah Durrani, better known as Ahmad Shah Abdālī, had invaded and captured the Punjab region.[citation needed]

Abdali formed an alliance against the Marathas with other Rohilla chieftains, principally Najib-ul-Daula, and the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-ud-Daula. Abdali also recruited Afghans displaced by the war.

Balaji Baji Rao, at the zenith of his power after defeating the Nizam at Udgir,[16] appointed Sadashivrao Bhau to lead the Maratha army to Delhi. Unlike Malharrao Holkar and Raghunathrao, who were familiar with the politics and leaders of the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, Sadashivrao lacked knowledge of the region.[17] This lack of experience contributed to his mishandling of regional rulers and failure to form strategic alliances, which became a major reason for the Marathas’ eventual defeat.[18]

An army of about 55,000 men set out from Patdur (modern Partur) on 14 March 1760, accompanied by roughly 200,000 non-combatants, including families and pilgrims seeking safety with the army.[citation needed] Forces under Holkar and Scindia joined en route.

Sadashivrao adapted the hit-and-run tactics of the Maratha cavalry to integrate French-style heavy artillery and infantry, resulting in victories such as at Udgir. However, some generals, like Holkar, were hesitant to adopt these changes fully and felt the new units were incompatible with the rest of the army. Despite these concerns and limited resources, Sadashivrao established a force of 10,000 infantry and 50 artillery pieces.

Holkar and Scindia urged Sadashivrao to form alliances with Suraj Mal, Jat ruler of Bharatpur, the Rajputs, Sikhs, Shuja-ud-Daula, and other northern leaders. The Rajputs refused to support the Marathas, citing previous interference in their succession disputes, while Suraj Mal initially distrusted Sadashivrao. Eventually, Holkar and Scindia persuaded Suraj Mal to join the Maratha forces, securing his personal safety.[19]

Sadashivrao's overconfidence in artillery and strong personality caused him to neglect alliances with the Jats, Rajputs, and Sikhs. He also failed to heed Suraj Mal’s advice to leave civilians in Agra, resulting in severe shortages of food and supplies, which would prove critical at the Battle of Panipat.

The Maratha army reached Delhi on 1 August 1760, taking the city the next day with artillery playing a key role. Supplies were limited due to Sadashivrao's strained relations with regional rulers, forcing him to move about 110 km (68 mi) north to Karnal and capture Kunjpura fort about 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Karnal. Using artillery and combined cavalry-musketeer attacks, the Marathas destroyed the fort and killed the entire garrison.

The Kunjpura victory provoked Abdali to cross the swollen Yamuna River at Baghpat on 23–25 October 1760, taking Marathas by surprise while they were preoccupied with sacking Kunjpura.[11]

The Marathas set up defenses near Panipat but were gradually encircled. On 26 October, Abdali’s forces clashed with the Maratha vanguard near Samalkha, leading to successive skirmishes and the killing of Maratha officers such as Govind Pant Bundele.[20] The Afghan forces effectively cut off Maratha supply lines.

By November 1760, Abdali’s army of 45,000 blocked the Marathas’ access south to Delhi. The ensuing two-month siege led to severe food shortages in the Maratha camp, which included roughly 100,000 non-combatants. By late December 1760 or early January 1761, famine struck the camp, and many civilians and livestock died.[11]

  • Letter written by Sadashivrao Bhau after the Third Battle of Panipat
    Letter written by Sadashivrao Bhau after the Third Battle of Panipat
  • Facsimile of the handwriting of Nana Phadnavis and Sadashivrao Bhau
    Facsimile of the handwriting of Nana Phadnavis and Sadashivrao Bhau
  • Writings of the Marathas, 5th line written by Sadashivrao Bhau
    Writings of the Marathas, 5th line written by Sadashivrao Bhau

On 14 January 1761, on the occasion of the Makar Sankranti festival, the Marathas attempted to break the siege. Initial progress was made, but the death of Vishwasrao, Sadashivrao's nephew and heir to Balaji Baji Rao, demoralized the army. Sadashivrao and key generals like Jankoji Scindia were surrounded, while Malhar Rao Holkar escaped. Despite careful planning to use artillery first and cavalry later, coordination failures among Maratha generals contributed to the defeat. Sadashivrao died in battle along with his close commanders, and remaining civilians were massacred.[11]

Death[edit | edit source]

Sadashivrao Bhau wounded in battle

Following the death of his nephew, Vishwasrao, around 2 p.m. on 14 January 1761, Sadashivrao reportedly mounted a horse and charged into the enemy lines, leaving his elephant’s howdah empty. This apparently caused confusion among the Maratha troops, some of whom believed their commander had fallen, further lowering morale.[11]

Sadashivrao continued to fight despite being surrounded and heavily injured. Contemporary accounts suggest he died in combat, although sources differ on the fate of his body. Some records state that his headless body was recovered three days later and identified by Maratha officials present in the camp, while other accounts indicate that his body was never definitively found amid the battlefield chaos.[11]

These discrepancies reflect the extreme disorder and high casualties during the battle, which left thousands of soldiers and civilians dead, making precise identification difficult. Sadashivrao's death marked a pivotal moment in the battle, leading to the collapse of the Maratha forces and the eventual victory of Ahmad Shah Durrani’s army.

Establishment of artillery units[edit | edit source]

Maratha Confederacy at its zenith in 1760 (yellow areas)

While observing various battles, Sadashivrao Bhau recognized the effectiveness of artillery and light guns as used by the British and began incorporating similar units into the Maratha army under Balaji Baji Rao. In 1760, he enlisted the services of Ibrahim Khan Gardi, a former officer in the Nizam’s army, who brought with him 2,500 trained soldiers and fifteen cannons. Bhau also employed European mercenaries, many of whom had previously served under Tulaji Angre before his defeat. Among them was an engineer named Le Corbosier, noted for his expertise in foundry work and explosives. Within two years, the Maratha infantry-artillery division had grown to 10,000 men and 56 guns, significantly strengthening the army’s firepower.[citation needed]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Sadashivrao Bhau's first wife, Umabai, gave birth to two sons who died around 1750. He later married Parvatibai, who accompanied Sadashivrao Bhau during the Third Battle of Panipat and helped as an accessory in the campaign. Parvatibai also embarked on a pilgrimage to Mathura and Vrindavan along with Nana Fadnavis and some women from the Maratha camp. After the news of Sadashivrao’s death, Parvatibai refused to accept the conventional life of widowhood and continued to live independently.[citation needed]

Around 1770, an individual had reportedly appeared in Pune claiming to be Sadashivrao Bhau. He was soon revealed as a fraud and became popularly known as “Totayaa” (तोतया), meaning impostor.[citation needed]

The Sadashiv Peth area of Pune is named in his honor.[citation needed]

In popular culture[edit | edit source]

  • In 1994 Hindi TV series The Great Maratha, Sadashivrao's character was portrayed by Pankaj Dheer.
  • In 2014 Marathi film Rama Madhav, he was portrayed by Amol Kolhe.
  • In 2019 Hindi film Panipat, he was portrayed by Arjun Kapoor.
  • In 2019 Marathi TV series Swamini, he was portrayed by Abhishek Rahalkar.[21]
  • Sakalrajkaryadhurandhar Sadashivraobhau, book by Kaustubh Kasture in Marathi.[22]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Mehta, Jaswant Lal (January 2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. Sterling Publishers Pvt. ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6.
  2. ↑ https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32142 pg.291-292
  3. ↑ https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32142 pg.325
  4. ↑ Mehta, Jaswant Lal (January 2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. Sterling Publishers Pvt. ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6.
  5. ↑ https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32142 pg.330
  6. ↑ https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32142 pg.333- 334
  7. ↑ https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32142 pg.352
  8. ↑ https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32142 pg 250- 345
  9. ↑ "Third Battle of Panipat (1761)". Government of Haryana, India. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Kasture, Kaustubh (2017). Sakalrajkaryadhurandhar Sadashivraobhau. Rafter Publications. p. 17. ISBN 9788193248140.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Patil, Vishwas. Panipat.
  12. ↑ "Bravest of the Brave Marathas". www.thisday.app. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  13. ↑ Third Battle of Panipat by Abhas Verma ISBN 9788180903397 Bharatiya Kala Prakashan
  14. ↑ Mehta, Jaswant Lal (2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. pp. 202–. ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6.
  15. ↑ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 204–205. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  16. ↑ "Who led the Marathas at the third battle of Panipat ?". interviewmania.com. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  17. ↑ Markovits, Claude, ed. (2002) [First published 1994 as Histoire de l'Inde Moderne]. A History of Modern India, 1480–1950. London: Anthem Press. pp. 206–207. ISBN 978-1-84331-004-4. Balaji Rao then decided to ... designate as the supreme commander Sadashiv Rao ... This proved to be an unfortunate choice, because, contrary to a Raghunath Rao or a Holkar, Sadashivrao was completely ignorant of the political and military situation of North India.
  18. ↑ "Decline Of The Maratha Empire: Causes And Views Of Scholars!". Testbook. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  19. ↑ Sadasyula, Ratnakar (4 August 2018). "Sadashiv Rao Bhau". History Under Your Feet. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  20. ↑ Patil, Vishwas (2005). Panipat. Navbharat Sahitya Mandir.
  21. ↑ "अभिषेक ते सदाशिवभाऊंपर्यंतचा प्रवास". My Mahanagar (in मराठी). Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  22. ↑ "BookGanga - Creation | Publication | Distribution". www.bookganga.com. Retrieved 4 December 2020.

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