Maharaja Damaji Rao Gaekwad, also known as Damaji II, was the second son and successor of Maharaja Pilaji Rao Gaekwad. Damajirao came to power in 1732, after the assassination of his father Pilajirao at Dakor, by the allies of Abhay Singh (Mughal officer of Ahmadabad).
Revenge :
The first thing Damajirao did after coming to power was to launch a fight against Abhay Singh to take revenge of his father’s assassination. This attempt sadly, turned out to be a failure in which he lost Baroda and was forced to fall back to Songadh (old capital of Gaekwads). After this he launched an attack on Ahmedabad, with the help of some of his relative. This attempt met with some success, and he was able to regain control of Baroda in 1734, after defeating Sher Khan Babi, the then Governor of Baroda State. Baroda has stayed in the hands of Gaekwads ever since its recapture by Damajirao.
Expanding the State :
After the above battle the Gaekwad was able to push Abhay Singh out of Gujarat as a result of which, Momin Khan was appointed as Viceroy of Gujarat in 1737. The joint effort of this new viceroy and Damajirao resulted the fall of Ahmadabad in 1738 from the hands of Ratan Singh(ally of Abhay Singh). In this joint venture, Damajirao secured plenty of benefits, including 50% of revenues of Ahmedabad and Viramgam.
The following years saw a significant rise in Damajirao’s power in Gujarat, Kathiawad and a peace treaty being signed between him and the Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao of Poone(after loosing a rebellion against the Peshwa). This treaty proved to be particularly beneficial to the Marathas as a whole. In 1753, Damajirao along with the allied forces from Peshwa captured Ahmedabad and finally ended the Mughal rule in Gujarat.
Damajirao also played a key role in the Battle of Panipat, 1761 between the Marathas and the Afghans. Despite of the Maratha efforts the battle was lost by them. After this, Damajirao returned to Gujarat and busied himself in quelling the rebellions by the native Muslim rulers. This resulted in the enlargement of the Gaekwad Empire in Gujarat and it was also during this period that the Gaekwad’s capital was shifted from Songadh to Patan.
Last Battle with and against the Peshwas :
Damajirao fought against the Nizam of Hyderabad, alongside Raghunathrao Bhat and Peshwa Madhavrao (Successor of Balaji Baji Rao) in 1763. The Marathas emerged victorious in this battle and Damajirao was awarded the title of “Sena Khas Khel” which has since been one of the titles borne by the Maharajas of Gaekwad dynasty.
This battle was followed by the final fight between the Pehwas and the Gaekwads in the year 1768. Damajirao again revolted against the then Peshwa Madhavrao, with the help of Raghunathrao Bhat, but was defeated by the Pehswa. Although, Damajirao was forgiven by the Peshwa, a treaty with stringent terms was signed between them. He also was fined heavily and his eldest son Govindrao was captured and imprisoned at Poone.
Unfortunately, Damajirao passed away on 18 August 1768, at Patan before the treaty was ever signed. After this, the terms of the treaty were negotiated by his sons, Fatehsinhrao and Govindrao.
Successor :
Sadly, Damajirao left behind several sons to dispute over the position of King. In all, he had six sons all of whom, wanted to lay his claim to the throne. Sayajirao, the eldest son, was born to Damajirao by his second wife Kashibai while the second son, Govindrao, who was in confinement at Poona, was his offspring by his first wife Manubai. Besides these two, four other sons namely Fatehsinh, Pilaji, Manaji and Murarrao were born to his third wife Gangabai.
Despite of the disputes, Govindrao succeeded to the throne, only to be replaced by Sayajirao I and then again to be reinstated in 1793.
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The Samadhi of this particular Gaekwad is near Savli, where it is popularly known as ‘Damaji no Dero’, along side the Samadhi of his father, Pilaji Rao Gaekwad !
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