Sahau I was succeeded by Ramraja. He was declared by Tarabai to be grandson of Rajaram who had lived in exile as an ordinary fellow. There was a struggle for power between Tarabai on the one side and Balaji Bajirao on the other. The Peshwa was not prepared to give up the power which he was enjoying. Tarabai captured Ramraja on 24th November, 1750 and made him a prisoner.
This imprisonment continued up to 1763 when Tarabai herself died. To begin with, the Peshwa wanted to free Ramraja from the hands of Tarabai but later on reconciliation was made between Tarabai and the Peshwa and on that occasion Tarabai declared that Ramraja was an impostor and not the real grandson of Rajaram. The result of this was that no respect was left in the eyes of the people for Ramraja. However, he was freed afler 1763 and he spent the rest of his days in peace.
Sahau II (1777-1808)
Ramraja was succeeded by his adopted son Sahau II. Sahau II was a youngman of strong build and took to his high position with high hopes of improving the lot of his family and serving the Maratha State so far as it lay in his power. However, he found that his position was very miserable.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
His allowances were cut down by Nana Phadnavis and many kinds of restrictions were imposed upon him and the members of his family. Although he was known as Chhatrapati, he was looked upon as a costly appendage with no assigned duty to perform. The only function left to him was to bestow the official robes of the Peshwaship whenever a new Peshwa succeeded.