Vishwasrao

Vishwas Rao
Born	1741-03-02 Supa, India
Died	1761-01-14 Panipat
Allegiance	Maratha Empire
Battles/wars	Third Battle of Panipat
Relations	Nanasaheb Peshwa (father) Sadashivrao Bhau

Vishwas Rao (March 2, 1742 – January 14, 1761)was the de-facto "Crown Prince" of the Hindu Pad Padshahi (Empire of the Hindus) of the Marathas. He was the eldest son of the Peshwa (the prime minister, and de-facto ruler) of the empire, and would have been the next Peshwa after his father's death. He was killed during the period of the most intense fighting (the period between 1pm and 2:30pm) at the third battle of Panipat, fighting on the front lines. It is generally accepted that the battle, which hung in balance till his death, moved decisively towards the Afghans upon his fall. This was partly because the Holkar and Shinde troops that deserted the battlefield probably did so when news of Vishwas Rao's fall came to them. Thus it may be said without exaggeration that the death of Vishwas Rao at the crucial juncture at the third battle of Panipat was one of the most decisive events in the history of 18th century India.

At the time of his death, the Hindu Pad Padshahi of the Marathas covered about 2/3rd of today's India and parts of Pakistan. Some historical documents suggest that the Peshwa was considering abolishing the Mughal throne (which was under the official protectorate of the Marathas) and installing Vishwas Rao as emperor. The defeat of the Hindu Pad Padshahi of the Marathas at Panipat put an end to this plan, as well as other plans such as planned offensives to remove British power from Bengal, and liberate the remaining Hindu holy shrines still under Islamic control, most prominently the one at Ayodhya. However, the Marathas did return to control Delhi 10 years later (in 1772), and held it, and the titular Mughal emperor, under their control for a further 20 years before they lost to the British in the Anglo-Maratha wars, ending the period of roughly 100 years of their being the predominant national power in India.

Early life

Maratha Confederacy at its zenith in 1760 (blue area) stretching from the deccan into today's state of Pakistan. The Peshwa discussed abolishing the Mughal Empire and placing Vishwasrao on the Mughal imperial throne in Delhi.

Vishwasrao was born the eldest son of Nanasaheb Peshwa at Supa (now Joida) near Pune. He was trained in administrative matters and was exposed to military training early in his life.Viswasrao had inherited the looks of his grandfather Bajirao and had even exceeded his charm .G. S. Sardesai writes that there was no one more handsome in Peshwa’s family than Viswasrao . Raghunath Yadav author of one of the Panipat Bakhar had stated “पुरुषांत देखणा विस्वासराव व बाईकान्त देखणी मस्तानी” In the year 1759, the Peshwa had reached the peak of power particularly when they helped assassinate the Mughal Emperor Alamgir II, and they even discussed abolishing the Mughal Empire and placing Vishwasrao on the throne in Delhi.

Marriage

Vishwasrao was married to Radhikabai, daughter of Sardar Gupte who acted as tipnis (secretary) for his grandfather, Baji Rao I, and later for his uncle, Raghunathrao. Chatrapati Shahu, to broaden the base of his Peshwa administration, fixed Radhikabai’s marriage to Vishwasrao on Padwa day of 1749 as one of the preconditions for making the Peshwa post hereditary. Chatrapati Shahu’s confidante Parvatibai had likewise become the wife of Sadashivrao Bhau. Gopikabai had reservations about this match, as Radhikabai was not from the Chitpavan community.

Death

Ahmad Shah Durrani and his coalition decisively defeat the Maratha Confederacy, during the Third Battle of Panipat and restore the Mughal Empire to Shah Alam II.

Vishwasrao was first exposed to actual warfare at Sindkheda near Hyderabad, against Nizam in 1756. During third battle of panipat vishwasrao was appointed as a nominal commander and the peshwa's representative. He was killed at the Third Battle of Panipat when a stray cannon shell hit his head. He died during the battle and was later cremated.