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Raghunath Rao

Raghunathrao Bhat, also known as Ragho Ballad or Raghoba Dada (18 August 1734 – 11 December 1783), was the younger son of Peshwa Bajirao I who served as the 11th Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy for a brief period from 1773 to 1774.

He was known for his extremely successful campaigns in Northern India. He emerged victorious against the Rohillas in the Battle of Delhi (1757), by this victory Marathas became de-facto rulers of Delhi with Mughal Emperor Alamgir II having no actual power. He also led successful campaigns against the Durrani Empire at Sirhind and Attock and brought Northwestern India and the surrounding territory including Attock, Lahore, Multan and Peshawar under Maratha rule for a brief period.

Ahmad Shah Abdali sought revenge against the Marathas for capturing Punjab and defeating the Durrani armies. He made preparations for another campaign in India. Raghoba asked for a large financial assistance in order to check Abdali's advance which was refused by Peshwa Nana Saheb. Nana Saheb's decision of not sending Raghoba as the main commander of Maratha armies against Ahmad Shah Abdali ultimately culminated in the defeat at Panipat.

After the death of Nana Saheb, his son Madhavrao I became the new Peshwa under the regency of Raghoba. The untimely death of Madhavrao I created a vacuum for the post of Peshwa. Raghoba wanted to become Peshwa but was opposed by many of the Maratha nobles who saw Madhavrao I's younger brother Narayan Rao as the legitimate Peshwa.

Raghoba then got involved in the assassination of his nephew Narayan Rao in 1773 and himself became the new Peshwa. However his reign proved to be short lived as Narayan Rao's infant son Sawai Madhavrao was recognized as the legitimate Peshwa by the Maratha nobles in 1774. Due to his removal from the position of Peshwa, Raghunath Rao sided with the East India Company in the First Anglo-Maratha War. His attempt was foiled as Marathas defeated the company in that war. He later died of an unknown reason in 1783 at Kopargaon. Provided by Wikipedia