The rise of the Maratha power is a very important event in India’s history. It succeeded to a large extent in eroding Muslim predominance. Shivaji Bhosle‘s role in the upheaval of the Maratha empire can be called a glorious chapter. Earlier the Marathas held the duties of Shiladars or Mansabdars of the Bahanni kingdom and later of Bijapur and Ahmadnagar etc. It was under Shivaji’s leadership that the Marathas first united and emerged as a sovereign power.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Background / Identity
- Shivaji’s father and mother were Shahji Bhosle and Jijabai respectively.
- He was born in the fort of Sivan (Shivneri) in 1627.
- He had his grandfather Koondadeva as his guardian and teacher.
- The Deccan Sultanate employed his father as a Maratha commander.
- He belonged to the Bhonsle dynasty.
- He was called Shivaji in honor of the native goddess Shivai Devi.
- Initially, the Deccan was ruled by three Muslim kingdoms (at the time Shivaji was born).
- These 3 states were Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and Golkonda, and the Mughal Empire.
- Shivaji’s father Shahaji usually switched sides between these kingdoms.
- However, he always kept his jagir (with a small army).
Rise of Shivaji
- 1645: Shivaji took advantage of the weakness of the Sultan of Bijapur and conquered Torna.
- 1646: He then conquered Chaman, Kondan and Purandar in 1646.
- 1653: Shivaji acquired the Kalyan region which was under the control of Adil Shahi empire.
- 1656: In this year, Shivaji acquired Javeli from the Maratha leader Chandra Rao Moy. As a result of this, he became the ruler of the Mavala region.
- 1657: Shivaji partially defeats a Mughal army led by Afzal Khan at the Battle of Pratapgarh.
- 1657-1660: He repeatedly raided and plundered various regions of Bijapur belonging to that dynasty.
- 1659: Shivaji captures the fort of Panhala.
- 1660: Siddi Jauhar’s (Adilshah’s general) army besieged Panhala in mid-1660.
- 1660: Shivaji escaped from Panhala during the Battle of Pavan Khind to reach safely to the Vishalgad Fort.
Info: Tukaram and Ramdas – two devotees were contemporaries of Shivaji.
Info: Ramdas was Shivaji’s guru. Inspired by Ramdas’s ideals, Shivaji strove to create an independent state in Maharashtra.
Afzal Khan’s murder
- 1659: Afzal Khan was the able commander of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur who plotted to assassinate Shivaji in 1659.
- Shivaji killed him in the Pratapgarh fort with the help of ‘Baghankh’.
- 1660-1663: From 1660 to 1663 Shivaji had to face intense attacks from the Adil Shahi dynasty and the Mughals.
Escape of Shaista Khan
- 1663: Shivaji made a surprise attack on Shaista Khan (at night).
- Shaista Khan was an experienced Mughal administrator appointed by Aurangzeb.
- Shaista Khan’s son was killed in this incident.
- However, Shaista Khan managed to escape.
Kingdom Conquest and Expansion
- 1664: Shivaji sacked Surat and then Ahmadnagar in 1664.
- His attacks hurt Mughal pride.
- 1665: Treaty of Purandar: Aurangzeb appointed King Jai Singha of Amber and Dilir Khan in 1665 to subdue Shivaji.
- When Jaisingh laid siege to the fort of Purandar, Shivaji forced them to sign the Treaty of Purandar in 1665.
- As per the terms of the treaty, Shivaji had to give 23 out of 35 forts to the Mughals.
- He also had to surrender to the Mughals (and he surrendered).
- Shivaji’s son Shambhuji was given 5000 mansab.
Info: Aurangzeb called Shivaji the ‘Mountain King’.
Imprisoned and Escapes
- 1666: In 1666 AD, when Shivaji came to the Mughal court in Agra, he was imprisoned.
- 1666: On 29 August 1666 he escaped Agra hiding a basket of fruits.
- 1670: He sacked Surat for the second time.
Accession to the throne
- 1674: Shivaji’s coronation was completed at Raigarh Fort on 6 June 1674.
- He bears the titles of ‘Chhatrapati‘ ( meaning “Lord of the Umbrella“) and ‘Gow-Brahman Pratipalaka‘.
- Through this incident, he became equivalent to Bijapur Sultan and Mughal Emperor.
Info: Shivaji took the title Shakakarta which means the “founder of an era“.
Info: Shivaji was also given the title of Haindava Dharmodhhaarak ( meaning ‘protector of the Hindu faith‘)
Info: Shivaji’s other title was Kshatriya Kulavantas.
Kingdom Expansion
- 1663: Shivaji raids a wealthy port city Surat controlled by the Mughals.
- 1663-1665: His kingdom extended from Dharampur near Surat in the north to Goa in the south and the west coast including Nasik, Puna and Satara in the east.
- 1665: Shivaji defeats a Mughal army (which was led by Shaista Khan) at the Battle of Poona.
- 1672: Battle of Salher: Shivaji’s commanders Prataprao Gujar and Anandrao defeated Mughals army and captured a dozen forts (including forts Aundha, Patta, Trimbak, Salher and Mulher)
- 1673: Shivaji recaptured Panhala.
- 1674: Shivaji’s commander Prataprao Gujar defeated Bijapuri general Bahlol Khan.
- 1677-1680: Shivaji conquered Karnataka in 1677-80 AD.
- 1680: Shivaji dies at the age of 50.
Extra Info: Aurangzeb gave him the title of Raja in 1668 AD.
Extra Info: After Shivaji’s death, he was attributed the title – Hindavi Swarajya.