Sack of Gujarat

Sack of Gujarat
Part of Decline of the Mughal Empire
Date September 1735 Location Gujarat, India Result Maratha victory Sack of Gujarat and imposition of Chauth on the Mughals and Rajputs.
Belligerents
Maratha Empire	Mughal Empire Kingdom of Marwar
Commanders and leaders
Ranoji Scindia Damaji Rao Gaekwad Malhar Rao Holkar Prataprao Gaekwad	Ratan Singh (WIA) Sher Khan Babi Fidwi Khan † Safdar Khan Babi
Strength
15,000 (Damaji Rao Gaekwad) Unknown (Kanthaji Kadam and Malhar Rao Holkar) Total 15,000 engaged	Unknown but large army under Mughals and Rajputs

The Sack of Gujarat in 1735 were a series of military and political actions undertaken by the Maratha Empire to assert control over the region’s revenue and administration. Led primarily by Damaji Rao Gaekwad, Rangoji, and later reinforced by Prataprao Gaikwad, the Marathas challenged Mughal authority in key areas such as Dholka, Viramgam, and Kapadvanj. The conflict was marked by sieges, skirmishes, and shifting alliances, with the Marathas pressing for the collection of chauth (tribute) and khandani from local officials and zamindars. Despite initial resistance from Mughal commanders like Bhandari and the appeals for help from Momin Khan and Jawanmard Khan, the Marathas succeeded in establishing their fiscal dominance in the region. The campaign reflected the broader decline of Mughal power and the growing influence of the Maratha Confederacy in western India.

Background

In the early 1730s, Umabai Dabhade appointed Damaji Gaikwad to collect revenues north of the Mahi River, replacing Kanthaji Kadam Bande. Damaji assigned this task to Rangoji, who became a key political figure in Gujarat until 1749. In 1735, Rangoji crossed the Mahi and began removing Kanthaji’s agents. Kanthaji marched to Anand Noghri near Petlad to oppose him, and a clash followed. In the battle, Kanthaji’s son and several followers were killed or wounded. Defeated, Kanthaji took shelter in Petlad Fort under Momin Khan and left the next day. Rangoji then moved to install his own tribute collector in the region.

Battle

In 1735, Maratha forces intensified their campaign in northern Gujarat. After Momin Khan’s general Baxi Fidwikhan was killed in battle, the Mughals retreated to Cambay. Though Momin Khan resisted with artillery, he ultimately conceded to Maratha demands, recognizing Damaji Gaikwad’s right to collect chauth north of the Mahi River.

Damaji arrived with reinforcements and, alongside Rangoji, began asserting control, especially in Dholka, where local faujdars resisted Maratha tax agents. In response, the Marathas disrupted the region, prompting Mughal officers to flee to Ahmedabad. Bhavsingh Desai of Viramgam, opposed to Rajput dominance, invited Damaji, who captured the fort and left a garrison before heading to Sorath to collect tribute.

Rangoji remained in northern Gujarat, pressing for unpaid tributes. Mughal officer Bhandari attempted resistance by fortifying near the Sabarmati River but was harassed by Maratha raids. He laid siege to Viramgam, but 5,000 Maratha reinforcements from Baroda broke through the lines with heavy losses. Simultaneously, Marathas from Thasra attacked Kapadvanj. Facing growing setbacks, Bhandari requested aid from Momin Khan and Jawanmard Khan, both of whom refused.

Upon hearing of Prataprao Gaikwad’s approach with 10,000 cavalry, Bhandari abandoned the siege and fled to Ahmedabad. Prataprao joined Rangoji and together they collected tributes from Haveli, Vilad, Pethapur, and Jhala. Efforts to make Bhandari pay chauth were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Kanthaji and Malhar Rao Holkar advanced via Idar and Danta, plundering towns and extracting large sums from Vadnagar and Palanpur. The Marathas continued their campaign through [[Marwar[], while Prataprao and Rangoji returned to Sorath. Eventually, Bhandari entered into terms with the Marathas, marking a temporary resolution in their contest over Gujarat’s revenues.