Sandy Saha at 13:40, 27 November 2025

2025-11-27T13:40:31Z

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{{Short description|18th-century Maratha chief}}
{{Use dmy dates | date = October 2018}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Damaji Thorat
| image =
| succession = [[Saranjamdar]] of the [[Maratha Empire]]
| reign =
| reign-type =
| predecessor = Khandoji Thorat
| regent =
| reg-type =
| successor = ''Saranjam abolished''
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date = 1728<ref name="RajawadeVolumeII">{{cite book |last=Rajawade |first=V. K. |title=Marāṭhyāñcyā Itihāsācī Sādhane, Volume II (1714-1761) |url=https://samagrarajwade.com/marathyanchya-itihasachi-sadhane-khand-1/marathyanchya-itihasachi-sadhane-khand-2/item/249-khand2-12}}</ref>
| death_place = [[Purandar fort|Purandar]], [[Maratha Empire]] <br/>{{small|(present-day [[Maharashtra]], [[India]])}}
| spouse = Radhabai<ref>{{cite book |title=Historical Genealogies |author=Govind Sakharam Sardesai, V. S. Chitale |year=1959 |publisher=Government Central Press, State Board for Historical Records and Ancient Monuments |page=59 |url=https://archive.org/details/HistoricalGeneologies/page/n79/mode/2up}}</ref>
| issue = Ransing <br> Bhansing <br> Khandoji <br> Chandrabhan
| father = Khandoji
| mother =
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| royal house = Thorat
| title = Rustumrao<ref name="Duff1971" />
}}
'''Damaji Thorat''' ({{IPA|mr|d̪əmaːd͡ʒi t̪ʰoːɾaːt̪}}; was a [[Maratha]] chief who rose to prominence during the reign of [[Tarabai]] in the early [[18th century]]. He joined [[Dhanaji Jadhav]] in his campaign across [[Khandesh]], [[Baglan taluka|Baglan]], and [[Gujarat]] from 1704 to 1708.<ref name="Bendrey1967">{{cite book |last=Bendrey |first=Vasudeo Sitaram |title=Mahārashṭretihāsācī sādhanē, Volume I |year=1967 |publisher=Mumbaī Marāṭhī Granthasaṃgrahālaya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LWcRAQAAIAAJ}}</ref> When [[Shahu I]] arrived in the [[Deccan]] to assert his claim to the throne, Damaji supported Tarabai against Shahu. In 1711, he defeated and captured [[Balaji Vishwanath]] and Shahu's [[Pant Sachiv]], later releasing them for a substantial ransom.<ref name="Duff1971">{{cite book |title=History of the Mahrattas |author=James Grant Duff |year=1971 |publisher=Associated Publishing House, New Delhi |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.6809}}</ref> After this incident, in 1713, Shahu, with the assistance of the [[Sayyid brothers]], sent his [[Heavy cavalry|Huzurat cavalry]] under the command of Balaji Vishwanath & [[Purandare|Ambaji Purandare]] to defeat Damaji. Balaji besieged the [[fortress]] of Hingangaon and captured Damaji. The fortress was subsequently destroyed. Later, Damaji entered into the service of Shahu.<ref name="Rajawade">{{cite book |last=Rajawade |first=V. K. |title=Marāṭhyāñcyā Itihāsācī Sādhane, Volume III (1700-1760) |page=166 |url=https://samagrarajwade.com/marathyanchya-itihasachi-sadhane-khand-1/marathyanchya-itihasachi-sadhane-khand-3/item/647-khand3-21}}</ref>

He inherited the hereditary title of ''Rustumrao'' from his father, Khandoji.<ref name="Pawar1969">{{cite book |title=Tarabaikalin Kagadpatre, Volume I |author=Appasaheb Ganapatrao Pawar |year=1969 |publisher=Śivājī Vidyāpīṭha |page=99 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6dgxXB-Xv5IC&q=%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A1%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%80+%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4}}</ref> The title combines ''[[Rustam]]'', symbolizing strength and heroism in [[Persian language|Persian]], with ''Rao'', a [[Marathi language|Marathi]] honorific for leaders or [[nobles]].

==Background==
Damaji Thorat was the son of Khandoji Thorat, a general and [[saranjamdar]] under [[Rajaram I]]. Khandoji held the titles of ''Rustumrao'' and ''Bara Hazari'', which denote a person in command of twelve thousand cavalry.<ref name="Pawar1969" /> Although little is known about Damaji's early life, it is presumed that he accompanied his father in his campaigns, where he began to develop his military and administrative skills.

===Origins===
It is said that Damaji had [[Dhangar]] origins. However, his actions provide insight into his character. During a confrontation with [[Balaji Vishwanath]], Damaji reportedly took an oath of Bel-Bhandara, a sacred vow among the Dhangars. He later dismissed its significance by saying, 'For me, bel is a leaf and bhandara is turmeric; I eat this every day; what is the significance?' This casual dismissal of the sacred oath was surprising.<ref name="Rajawade1969">{{cite book |last=Rajawade |first=V. K. |title=Marāṭhyāñcyā Itihāsācī Sādhane, Volume II (1714-1761) |year=1969 |url=https://samagrarajwade.com/marathyanchya-itihasachi-sadhane-khand-1/marathyanchya-itihasachi-sadhane-khand-2/item/172-khand2-12}}</ref>

==Early military career==
In the early stages of his military career, it is believed that Damaji, along with his father Khandoji, was present to assist [[Rajaram I]] during the [[siege of Jinji]].

==Rustumrao==
Damaji Thorat lived at [[Hingangaon|Hingangao]] near [[Purandar fort|Purandar]]. His family also had [[Patil (title)|patilki]] of Hingangao village, where he had built a strong fortress. Thorat came to power during the reign of Rajaram. Ramchandra Pant granted him Patas kasba as Jahagir. After Rajaram's death, he showed great bravery against the [[Mughals]]. For his bravery he was given the title 'Rustumrao'. He had support from [[Ramchandra Pant Amatya|Ramchandra Pant]]. [[Rajaram I]] sent Thorat, Pawar and Atole to make their established collections the chauth and sardeshmukhi, as they were termed, from the Mughal territory, and under the encouragement of success his officers added a third contribution for themselves under the head of "''ghasdana''" or forage money.<ref>Mahendra Pal Singh: "Ghasdana - An Exaction Levied and Collected by Marathas" in ''Proceedings of the Indian History Congress'', Vol. 32, vol. I (1970), pp. 423–429 ([https://www.jstor.org/stable/44141090 online at JSTOR])</ref> In this manner a new army was raised whose leaders were Thorat, Pawar and Athavale. Rajaram I gave them honorary presents and rewards; the title of Vishwasrao was conferred on Pawar, of Dinkarrao on Thorat and of Shamsher Bahadur on Atole.<ref>{{cite web |title=Moghal 1686-1720 |url=https://gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Satara%20District/histroy_musalmans.html#4 |publisher=The Gazetteers Department |accessdate=15 August 2018}}</ref>

== After Rajaram's Death ==
When Shahu arrived in the Swarajya territory he tried to win Thorat to his side but Thorat did not join Shahu. In 1708 Dhanaji Jadhav went to Khandesh. He brought Thorat and Dabhade with him to meet Shahu. In July 1709 meeting between Shahu, Sambhaji and Damaji Thorat and others proved unsuccessful. In July 1711 Chandrasen revolted against Shahu. Thorat also joined [[Tarabai]]. Tarabai welcomed with joy their move. When Angre was very aggressive against Shahu, Thorat brothers created considerable trouble for Shahu in the territory around Poona. After the deposition of Tarabai and her son, Damaji Thorat became the supporter of Sambhaji and sought Nizam’s protection, Damaji Thorat also went over to Nizam’s side and afterwards to Husain Ali. In 1716 Damaji was very active against Shahu. In one letter written by Balaji Vishwanath to Shahu it was stated, that Thorat brothers had created much trouble in the territory around Miraj. In fact when Balaji had concluded treaty with Angre he had assured that he would not take any step against Damaji. However, as they had created a lot of trouble for Shahu with the support of Sambhaji of Kolhapur conflict between the two sides became inevitable.

== Clash with Balaji Vishwanath Bhat==
[[Balaji Vishwanath Bhat]] introduced gradually some strength into his councils, and started to take lead in public affairs. Balaji proposed to reduce Damaji Thorat in 1711, and then set out with an army for that purpose.<ref name="Loch1989">{{cite book |author1=W.W.Loch |title=Dakhan History Musalman and Maratha (A.D.1300 to 1818) |date=1989 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |location=New Delhi, India |page=599}}</ref> Balaji was seized and thrown into the confinement with Dewaan Ambaji Purandhare, his two young sons [[Bajirao I|Baji Rao I]] and [[Chimaji Appa|Chimnaji Appa]], and many of their immediate officers.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

== Clash with Sachiv==
Shahu who now applied to the Sachiv to suppress Thorat. The Sachiv and his manager advanced against Thorat, but they too were defeated and thrown into confinement. Damaji Thorat had seized the young Sachiv, and an expedition was again planned against him. Balaji managed first to effect the Sachiv's release and in return received the Sachiv's rights in the Poona district and the fort of Purandhar, and Damaji was soon defeated and taken prisoner.<ref name="Loch1989" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:People from the Maratha Empire]]

Damaji Thorat - Revision history

Sandy Saha at 13:40, 27 November 2025