Chatrapati Shahu, who had a secular outlook in order to broaden the base of his Peshwa administration (avoiding capture of all posts by any particular community), arranged Radhikabai's marriage to Vishwasrao, eldest son of Nanasaheb Peshwa, as one of the preconditions for making the Peshwa post hereditary.
Shahuji II of Katturaja was the name of the ruler of Thanjavur from 1738 to 1739 who rose to power based on the unverified claim of being an illegitimate son of Serfoji I.
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In February 1739, Chanda Sahib forced the Raja to cede Karaikal to the French and in April 1739, Shahuji II confirmed the grant.
On Ayyaval's arrival in Thanjavur, he was offered all assistance and respect by Shahuji, the then ruler of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom.