१९७३ मध्ये नारायणराव पेशवे याचा खून झाला. व रघुनाथराव स्वयंघोषित पेशवा बनला. बाराभाईच्या कारभारानुसास नारायणरावचा मुलगा सवाई माधवराव पेशवा बनला व रघुनाथरावला पेशवे पदावरुन हटवले या बारभाई मध्ये महादजी व नाना फडणीसांची भूमिका महत्वाची होती. रघुनाथरावांना हा निर्णय पटला नाही व त्यांनी इंग्रजांची मदत घेण्याचे ठरवले.
In 1773, Peshwa [[Narayanrao]] was murdered in a conspiracy involving his uncle [[Raghunathrao]] who placed himself as the next Peshwa although he was not a legal heir. Meanwhile, a group of twelve Maratha chiefs known as the Barbhai council made Narayanrao's infant son [[Sawai Madhavrao]] the legal Peshwa. The Barbhai council included Mahadji Shinde and [[Nana Phadnis]], who was acted as the Peshwa's regent. Raghunathrao, unwilling to give up his position of power, sought help from the [[British East India Company]] at Bombay.
