Madhavrao II: Difference between revisions

| name                = Sawai Madhav Rao

| image              = [[File:Madhav Rao Narayan, the Maratha Peshwa with Nana Fadnavis and Attendants.jpg|250px|Peshwa Madhav Rao Narayan with Nana Fadnavis.]]

| relations          = [[Vishwasrao]](Uncle)<br>

[[Madhavrao I]](Uncle)<br>

[[Nanasaheb Peshwa]](Grandfather)<br>[[Gopikabai]](Grandmother)<br>

'''Shrimant Peshwa Madhav Rao Bhat II''' (18 April 1774 – 27 October 1795) was the 12th [[Peshwa]] of the [[Maratha Empire]] in India, from his infancy. He was known as Sawai Madhav Rao or Madhav Rao Narayan. He was the posthumous son of [[Narayanrao Peshwa]], murdered in 1773 on the orders of [[Raghunathrao]]. Madhavrao II was considered the legal heir, and was installed  as ''Peshwa'' by the [[Treaty of Salbai]]<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=The Pearson General Studies Manual 2009, 1/e|author=Thorpe, S.T.E.|year=2009|publisher=Pearson Education|isbn=9788131721339|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oAo1X2eagywC|page=96|access-date=2014-10-12}}</ref> in 1782 after [[First Anglo-Maratha War]].

Madhavrao II was the [[Posthumous birth|posthumous]] son of Peshwa [[Narayanrao]] by his wife, Gangabai. After Narayanrao's murder by [[Raghunathrao]]'s supporters he became the Peshwa but was soon deposed by the courtiers and knights of the Maratha Empire. They instead installed  Gangabai's new born son, Madhavrao II, as the Peshwa with the courtiers, led by [[Nana Fadnavis]], as the Regents. Madhavrao II was made Peshwa when he was barely 40 days old. His time in power was dominated by the political intrigues of Nana Fadnavis.

 

During this time Peshwa Narayan Rao’s wife was pregnant. In such situation Raghunath Rao became the Peshwa in 1773, for the time being. She gave birth to a male child. The subjects of the state became happy as they heard that the widow queen had given birth to the male child who would be the next Peshwa. Acting Peshwa Raghunath Rao (Raghoba) couldn’t do anything before the wit and wisdom of Nana Phadnavis.

The male child was named as Sawai Madhav Rao II and declared as the Peshwa of Pune. There was a lot of resentment among the people of the state against the cruel murder of the Peshwa Narayan Rao and held a judicial enquiry under the leadership of the renowned justice [[Ramshastri Prabhune]]. He pointed out that the acting Peshwa Raghunath Rao (Raghoba) was the prime author of the murder. As the result of it, the responsible ministers of the royal court and leaders of Maratha empire formed a council of state known as ''Bara Bhai'' for the conduct of the affairs of the state. ''Bara Bhai'' began to conduct the affairs of the state on the name of Sawai Madhav Rao II as he was a minor.

In 1788, [[Ghulam Qadir]] attacked Delhi, Mahadaji Shinde led the army of Marathas to [[Delhi]] and saved the Mughal Emperor and his family.

In 1790, the Marathas won over Rajput States in the [[Battle of Patan]]. After the death of [[Mahadaji Shinde]] In 1794, the Maratha power got concentrated in the hands of [[Nana Fadnavis]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Dikshit|first1=M. G.|title=Early Life of Peshwa Savai Madhavrao (Ii)|journal=Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute|date=1946|volume=7|issue=1/4|pages=225–248|jstor=42929386}}</ref>

Madhavrao was fond of the out-doors and had a private collection of exotic animals such as lions and rhinoceros.  

Madhavrao committed suicide at the age of 21 by jumping off from the high walls of the [[Shaniwar Wada]] in [[Pune]].<ref>[http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsFarEast/IndiaMarathasPeshwas.htm Marathas (Peshwas)]</ref> The cause of the suicide probably was that he could not endure the highhandedness of [[Nana Fadnavis]]. Just before his suicide, it is said that in ordering the execution of the despised police commissioner, [[Ghashiram Kotwal]], Madhavrao was able to defy the wishes of Nana for the first time.<ref>Kotani, H., 2005. The Death of Ghasiram Kotwal: Power and Justice in the Maratha Kingdom. Minamiajiakenkyu, 2004(16), pp.1-16.[https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jjasas1989/2004/16/2004_16_1/_pdf]</ref>