Indian Antiquary Vol 46

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 89

APRIL, 1917)
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
The advent of Sivaji. And as if these troubles were not enough, Providence sent into the ruined kingdom a third scourge. In 1677 the great Maratha Sivaji, whose career the Suitans of Bijapur and the Great Mughal had in vain tried to check, marched to the Southern Carnatic. Ostensibly he came to acquire from his brother Ekoji half of the Tanjore jaghir and of his father's property. In reality, his object was to bring the Carnatic under the Maratha supremacy in place of Bijapur sovereignty. With characteristic duplicity, he came as the ally and servant of Golkonda, saying t..at the benefit of his conquests would go to that State. Like a dexterous falcon he fell cn the disunited inters of the Carnatic and swept them off. He first seized the important fortress of Gingit, the headquarters of the Bijapur Viceroyalty, by treachery, and conquered the whole country down to the Coleroon. Organising this into a Maratha province with Gingi as capital, he took steps to exact the allegiance of the southern kingdoms. It is difficult to describe clearly the movements of Sivaji after this. The authorities are so contradictory and confusing. The version of Duff is this. Sivaji's object was to make his brother, Ekoji, acknowledge his supremacy and pay half of his revenues. Ekoji, as shrewd and greedy as his brother, had anticipated this, and approached Chokkanstha with an offer of alliance, both offensive and defensive. The ruler of Trichinopoly agreed, and the alliance was concluded. But, at this stage, we are told, the skilful diplomacys of Sivaji broke the league. He sent his agent Raghunatha Narayan to Trichinopcly, and persuaded Chokkanatha, by arguments, of the nature of which we are unaware and unable to ascertain, to withdraw from his recent agreement. Disappointed and sulky, Ekoji had now no other alternative than to agree to an interview with his brother for discussing the questions of dispute. The interview took place on the northern banks of the Coleroon. “Sivajee received him kindly, but failed, in spite of his earnest representations, to persuade him to his views." He "at first thought of making him a prisoner, and compelling him to give up half of Tanjore, of the jaghir districts, and of the money and jewels"; but on further consideration felt that such an act was inconsistent with his own character as a brother and a prince. He therefore permitted him to turn to Tanjore. Sivaji however did not keep quiet. He frequently pressed his brother with his demands. He at the same time took by force his jaghir districts in Mysore. Venkaji was still obstinate. Leaving therefore his half-brother Santaji to look after his conquests and to subdue Ekoji by arms, Sivaji returned to the Maharashtra,
* Duft's Mahratas, I.
• For the alarm which the advent of Sivaji caused among the English in Maclras, see Wheeler's Early Rec. Brit. Ind. p. 73; his History, IV, p. 371. Wilks I, p. 51. For the real objects of Sivaji, see Grant Duff and Wilks ; Ferishta's Deccan II, p. 31.
4 S. Arcot. Gazr., p. 350: Duff, I, p. 278; Wilks I, p. 51.; Soott, 'II, 31. • Thus there came into existence “the Moghul Carnatio" in place of the old Golkonda Carnatio, and the Maratha Carnatic in p'aco of Bijapur's. The Marathas, however, encroached into the Mughal Carnatic, and the feudatories there were as much interested in conciliating the Marathas as the Mughals. The attitude and policy of the English illustrates this best. See Wheelor's Early Rec. p. 98.
5 Duff, I, p. 277. The Boudela officer, it is curious, does not mention this. He says that Sivaji met his brother. Angojoo' at Gingi, and not on the banks of the Coleroon as Duff says. It was from Gingi that Ekoji fled to Tanjore. See Scott's Dekkan II, p. 32.
* Ibid., of the Bondela officer's account given above.