The Maratha Period Raghuji & the Gond Kingdom

Devagad: Raghuji for sometime had sought service with Cand Sultan of Devgad after quitting his uncle Kanhoji at Bham with whom he had quarrelled. The details of Raghuji's service with Cand Sultan are not available from the known source-material. Cand Sultan died in about 1738. His illegitimate son Wali sah killed Mir Bahaddar the legitimate son of Cand Sultan. Rani Ratankuvar, the widow of Cand asked for Raghuji's help as her two other sons Akbar and Burhan were minors. Raghuji at once proceeded from Bham and defeated Wali's Sah's generals at Patansavangi. He next conquered Pavani to the south of Bhandara on the river Wainganga. This was a strategic post. Raghuji apointed his own officer Tulojirampant. The fort of Bhanore or modern Bhandara was Raghuji's next target of attack. Wali sah, from Devagad hurriedly dispatched an army under his Divan Raghunathsing to relieve the pressure on Bhandara fort. Raghuji was camping at Siragaht on the Wainganga. He split his army into two divisions stationing them at Sonbardi and Giroji. A select army under Raghuji Karande was sent to face the enemy with the instruction that it should take to its heels at suitable time and lure Raghunathsing between the two Maratha divisions. Raghunathsing's army was entrapped, routed and drowned into the Wainganga. He himself was taken a prisoner in a wounded state and honourably sent back to Devagad with a view to capturing Wali Sah by treachery. The fort of Bhandara was besieged. Its Killedar resisted bravely for about 22 days but was finally forced to deliver it to the enemy.
Raghuji next marched to Devagad. Wali Sah was advised by his Divan Raghunathsing to go out of the fort. This was pre=planned. In a skirmish outside the fort Wali was defeated and arrested. Rani Ratan Kuvar considered raghuji as her third son and gave him the third part of her kingdom. She paid him rupees ten lacs for war expenses. In 1737, the Rani granted Raghuji a sanad of her one-third kingdom bestowed upon him.
The sanad states that the fort of Pavani along with Balapur, Paragana the whole of paragana marud, were granted to Raghuji and his successors in perpetuity. The Rani also agreed that she would not enter into a treaty with any other power without the knowledge of Raghuji. With the possession of these of these parts of Devagad Raghuji shifted his headquarters from Bham to Nagpur. By 1748, the divan Raghunathsing attempted to break off his relation with Raghuji. The latter, therefore, brought Akbar and Burhan to Nagpur under his direct protection and care. Eventually their kingdoms came to be managed by Raghuji and the Gond house of Devagad shaded into insignificance.
According to the account given in the bakhar (NBB) Raghuji secured a fresh sanad from Sahu in 1738 AD. bestowing upon him the right to collect cauthai and mokasa of Lucknow, Makasudabad , Bedar, Bengal , Bitia, Bundelkhand, Allahabad, Hajipur, Patna, and Devagad, Gadha, Bhavargad and Chanda. This very information given by Wills runs as follows, ' while returning from Satara Sahu Chatrapati bestowed Gondavana Jhadi up to Katak free of revenue upon the Senasaheb ,: Gondavana Jhari is the ancient Zadi Mandala to the east of the Wardha river which included Nagpur, Bhandara, Chanda, etc,
Gadha-Mandla: It seems that when Bajirav was busy fighting with the Nizam at Bhopal in 1736. Raghuji proceeded as far as Allahabad and exacted tribute from the Raha of Gadha-Mandla. Bajirav strongly resented this act. His son Balaji invaded Gadha-Mandla in 1742 on his way to Bengal. Raghuji who was engaged in his Bengal expedition at this time bitterly complained to Sahu of Balaji's encroachment upon Ganda-Mandla which was his sphere of activity. Along with Bengal. Allahabad etc. Gadha-Madla too was the bone of contention between Raghuji and Balaji. Both were finally reconciled to one another by Chatrapati Sahu in 1743.
Chanda: The fate of the Gond rulers of Chanda was sealed when Devagad and Gadha-Mandla had come under Raghuji's sway. During the reign of Rama Sah, Raghuji invaded Chanda, but finding him a saintly king Raghuji was impressed that be left the country unmolested. His successor Nilakanth Sah had gained disrepute as a tyrant. To deliver the people of Chanda from his tyranny Raghuji invaded his country and made him a captive. The successors of Nilakanth Sah were granted pension by Raghuji. Among the Gondavana territories of Raghuji, Chanda was next in importance to Nagpur.