Rayadhan III

Rayadhan III succeeded his father Godji II, in 1778, at the early age of fifteen when the state was under disturbance and the revenues were exhausted due to battles.

[3] This severity gave great offence, and Sidi Merich seeing that Vagha Parekh's conduct Rao Rayadhan III himself unpopular tried to assassinate him.

[4] About this time (1783) the Raja of Jodhpur, at the head of an army, passed through Kutch on his way to Sindh to restore Abdul Nabbi Khan, who had been driven from his kingdom by the Talpuras.

Rayadhan was disliked due to his conducts and his minister Vagha Parekh, suddenly brought a body of troops from Anjar into the courtyard of the Bhuj palace.

Mandvi under Ramji Khavas, Anjar under Meghji Seth, and Mundra, Lakhpat, and several other towns under other leaders became indepen independent.

[5] The Rao, in want of funds, laid hands on the wealth amassed by his favourites Muhammad Syed and Sidi Masud, and banished them both from Bhuj.

In these schemes and in keeping up a large body of mercenaries he spent more than his income, and looking about for some way to raise money, made so heavy a demand from his follower Askarn, that he, entering into secret communication with Hansraj, invited him to attack Anjar, and flying from the town joined his troops.

Shortly afterwards, at Bhuj, Askarn taking advantage of Hansraj's absence, on condition of a promise of the post of minister, set Rao Rayadhan free.

[7] Fateh Muhammad, after his victory over Askarn, continued to advance on Bhuj, and, finding the mercenaries friendly, he was at night secretly admitted into the town.