Shivaji
).
| Shivaji शिवाजी शहाजी भोसले |
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Shivaji's portrait (1680–7), housed in the British Museum
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 1st Sovereign (Chhatrapati) of the Maratha Realm |
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| Reign | 1674–1680 CE |
| Coronation | 6 June 1674 |
| Successor | Sambhaji |
| Consort | Saibai (Nimbalkar) |
| Wives | Soyarabai (Mohite) Putalabai (Palkar) Sakvarbai (Gaikwad) Kashibai (Jadhav)[1] |
| Issue | Sambhaji, son Rajaram, son Sakhubai Nimbalkar, daughter Ranubai Jadhav, daughter Ambikabai Mahadik, daughter Rajkumaribai Shirke, daughter |
| Father | Shahaji Bhonsle |
| Mother | Jijabai |
| Born | c. April 1627 / 19 February 1630[2] Shivneri Fort (presently in Maharashtra, India) |
| Died | 3 April 1680 Raigad Fort, Raigad, Maratha Empire (presently in Maharashtra) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Shivaji established a competent and progressive civil rule with the help of a disciplined military and well-structured administrative organisations. He innovated military tactics, pioneering the guerrilla warfare methods (Shiva sutra or ganimi kava), which leveraged strategic factors like geography, speed, and surprise and focused pinpoint attacks to defeat his larger and more powerful enemies. From a small contingent of 2,000 soldiers inherited from his father, Shivaji created a force of 100,000 soldiers; he built and restored strategically located forts both inland and coastal to safeguard his territory. He revived ancient Hindu political traditions and court conventions and promoted the usage of Marathi and Sanskrit, rather than Persian, in court and administration.
Shivaji's legacy was to vary by observer and time but began to take on increased importance with the emergence of the Indian independence movement, as many elevated him as a proto-nationalist and hero of the Hindus. Particularly in Maharashtra, debates over his history and role have engendered great passion and sometimes even violence as disparate groups have sought to characterise him and his legacy.
Early life
Shivaji's birthplace on Shivneri Fort.
Main article: Early life of Shivaji
Shivaji was born in the hill-fort of Shivneri, near the city of Junnar in Pune district
around the year 1630. The Government of Maharashtra accepts 19 February
1630 as his birthdate; other suggested dates include 6 April 1627 or
other dates near this day.[3][4][5] Per legend, his mother named him Shivaji in honour of the goddess Shivai, to whom she had prayed for a healthy child.[6] Shivaji was named after this local deity.[7][8] Shivaji's father Shahaji Bhonsle was Maratha general who served the Deccan Sultanates.[9] His mother was Jijabai, the daughter of Lakhujirao Jadhav of Sindkhed (Sindkhed Raja). At the time of Shivaji's birth, the power in Deccan was shared by three Islamic sultanates: Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and Golconda. Shahaji often changed his loyalty between the Nizamshahi of Ahmadnagar, the Adilshah of Bijapur and the Mughals, but always kept his jagir (fiefdom) at Pune and his small army with him.[9]
Shivaji with Jijabai.
Upbringing
Shivaji was extremely devoted to his mother Jijabai, who was deeply religious. This religious environment had a great impact on Shivaji, and he carefully studied the two great Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata; these were to influence his lifelong defence of Hindu values.[10] Throughout his life he was deeply interested in religious teachings, and regularly sought the company of Hindu and Sufi saints.[4]Shahaji, meanwhile had married a second wife, Tuka Bai of the Mohite family, and moved to Karnataka to lead a military campaign on behalf of Adilshahi. He left Shivaji and Jijabai in his Pune holdings in the care of his administrator, Dadoji Konddeo. Dadoji Konddeo made significant contributions in teaching Shivaji basic fighting techniques such as horse riding, archery and marksmanship, patta and others.[11] Shivaji as a boy was a keen outdoorsman and, though he received little formal education and most likely could neither read nor write, he is said to have possessed considerable erudition.[12][13][14] Shivaji drew his earliest trusted comrades and a large number of his soldiers from the Maval region,[when?] including Yesaji Kank, Suryaji Kakade, Baji Pasalkar, Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Tanaji Malusare.[15] In the company of his Maval comrades, Shivaji wandered over the hills and forests of the Sahyadri range, hardening himself and acquiring first-hand knowledge of the land, which was to later prove applicable to his military endeavours.[10]:128
At the age of 12, Shivaji was taken to Bangalore where he, his elder brother Sambhaji and his stepbrother Ekoji I were further formally trained. He married Saibai, a member of the prominent Nimbalkar family in 1640.[16]:60 Around 1645–46, the teenage Shivaji first expressed his concept for Hindavi swarajya, in a letter to Dadaji Naras Prabhu.[17][18][19][20]
Conflict with Adilshahi sultanate
In 1645, the 15-year-old Shivaji bribed or persuaded the Bijapuri commander of the Torna Fort, Inayat Khan, to hand over the possession of the fort to him.[4]:26[16]:61[21]:268 Firangoji Narsala, who held the Chakan fort professed his loyalty to Shivaji and the fort of Kondana was acquired by bribing the Adilshahi governor.[4]:26 On 25 July 1648, Shahaji was imprisoned by Baji Ghorpade under the orders of the current Adilshah, Mohammed Adil Shah, in a bid to contain Shivaji.[22] Accounts vary, with some saying Shahaji was conditionally released in 1649 after Shivaji and Sambhaji surrendered the forts of Kondana, Bangalore and Kandarpi,[4] others saying he was imprisoned until 1653 or 1655; during this period Shivaji maintained a low profile.[23] After his release, Shahaji retired from public life, and died around 1664–1665 during a hunting accident. Following his father's death, Shivaji resumed raiding, seizing the kingdom of Javali from a neighbouring Maratha chieftain in 1656.[24]Combat with Afzal Khan
Death of Afzal Khan
The two met in a hut at the foothills of Pratapgad fort on 10 November 1659. The arrangements had dictated that each come armed only with a sword, and attended by a follower. Shivaji, either suspecting Afzal Khan would attack him[4]:47–52[25] or secretly planning to attack,[26] wore armour beneath his clothes, concealed a bagh nakh (metal "tiger claw") on his left arm, and had a dagger in his right hand.[21]:22 Accounts vary on whether Shivaji or Afzal Khan struck the first blow:[25] the Maratha chronicles accuse Afzal Khan of treachery, while the Persian-language chronicles attribute the treachery to Shivaji.[27][28] In the fight, Afzal Khan's dagger was stopped by Shivaji's armour, and Shivaji's weapons inflicted mortal wounds on the general; Shivaji then signalled his hidden troops to launch the assault on the Bijapuris.[26]
Battle of Pratapgarh
Main article: Battle of Pratapgarh
Pratapgad fort
This unexpected and unlikely victory made Shivaji a hero of Maratha folklore and a legendary figure among his people. The large quantities of captured weapons, horses, armour and other materials helped to strengthen the nascent and emerging Maratha army. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb now identified Shivaji as a major threat to the mighty Mughal Empire. Soon thereafter Shivaji, Shahaji and Netaji Palkar (the chief of the Maratha cavalry) decided to attack and defeat the Adilshahi kingdom at Bijapur.[citation needed]
Battle of Kolhapur
Main article: Battle of Kolhapur
To counter the loss at Pratapgad and to defeat the newly emerging
Maratha power, another army, this time numbering over 10,000, was sent
against Shivaji, commanded by Bijapur's Abyssinian general Rustamjaman. With a cavalry force of 5,000 Marathas, Shivaji attacked them near Kolhapur
on 28 December 1659. In a swift movement, Shivaji led a full frontal
attack at the center of the enemy forces while two other portions of his
cavalry attacked the flanks. This battle lasted for several hours and
at the end Bijapuri forces were soundly defeated and Rustamjaman fled
the battlefield. Adilshahi forces lost about 2,000 horses and 12
elephants to the Marathas.[citation needed]
This victory alarmed Aurangazeb, who now derisively referred to Shivaji
as the "Mountain Rat", and prepared to address this rising Maratha
threat.[30]Siege of Panhala and Battle of Pavan Khind
Plaque to commemorate the entrance to Paavankhind
Main article: Battle of Pavan Khind
In 1660, Adilshah sent his general Siddi Jauhar
to attack Shivaji's southern border, in alliance with the Mughals who
planned to attack from the north. At that time, Shivaji was encamped at Panhala fort near present-day Kolhapur
with his forces. Siddi Jauhar's army besieged Panhala in mid-1660,
cutting off supply routes to the fort. During the bombardment of
Panhala, Siddhi Jahuar had purchased grenades from the British at
Rajapur to increase his efficacy, and also hired some English
artillerymen to bombard the fort, conspicuously flying a flag used by
the English. This perceived betrayal angered Shivaji, who in December
would exact revenge by plundering the English factory at Rajapur and
capturing four of the factors, imprisoning them until mid-1663.[31]Accounts vary as to the end of the siege, with some accounts stating that Shivaji escaped from the encircled fort and withdrew to Ragna, following which Ali Adil Shah personally came to take charge of the siege, capturing the fort after four months besiegement.[32] Other accounts state that after months of siege, Shivaji negotiated with Siddhi Jahuar and handed over the fort on 22 September 1660, withdrawing to Vishalgad;[33] Shivaji would later re-take Panhala in 1673.[32]
There is some dispute over the circumstances of Shivaji's withdrawal (treaty or escape) and his destination (Ragna or Vishalgad), but the popular story details his night movement to Vishalgad and a sacrificial rear-guard action to allow him to escape.[34] Per these accounts, Shivaji withdrew from Panhala by cover of night, and as he was pursued by the enemy cavalry, so his Maratha sardar Baji Prabhu Deshpande of Bandal Deshmukh, along with 300 soldiers, volunteered to fight to the death to hold back the enemy at Ghod Khind ("horse ravine") to give Shivaji and the rest of the army a chance to reach the safety of the Vishalgad fort.[35] In the ensuing Battle of Pavan Khind, the smaller Maratha force held back the larger enemy to buy time for Shivaji to escape. Baji Prabhu Deshpande was wounded but continued to fight until he heard the sound of cannon fire from Vishalgad,[36] signalling Shivaji had safely reached the fort, on the evening of 13 July 1660.[37] Ghod Khind (khind meaning "a narrow mountain pass") was later renamed Paavan Khind ("sacred pass") in honour of Bajiprabhu Deshpande, Shibosingh Jadhav, Fuloji, and all other soldiers who fought in there.[37]
Clash with the Mughals
Up until 1657, Shivaji maintained peaceful relations with the Mughal Empire. Shivaji offered his assistance to Aurangzeb in conquering Bijapur and in return, he was assured of the formal recognition of his right to the Bijapuri forts and villages under his possession.[4]:37 Shivaji's confrontations with the Mughals began in March 1657, when two of Shivaji's officers raided the Mughal territory near Ahmednagar.[38] This was followed by raids in Junnar, with Shivaji carrying off 300,000 hun in cash and 200 horses.[4]:38 Aurangzeb responded to the raids by sending Nasiri Khan, who defeated the forces of Shivaji at Ahmednagar. However, the countermeasures were interrupted by the rainy season and the battle of succession for the Mughal throne following the illness of Shah Jahan.Attack on Shaista Khan
Main article: Battle of Chakan
Upon the request of Badi Begum of Bijapur, Aurangzeb sent his maternal uncle Shaista Khan,
with an army numbering over 150,000 along with a powerful artillery
division in January 1660 to attack Shivaji in conjunction with Bijapur's
army led by Siddi Jauhar. Shaista Khan, with his better-equipped and
-provisioned army of 300,000 seized Pune and the nearby fort of Chakan,
besieging it for a month and a half until breaching the walls. Shaista
Khan pressed his advantage of having a larger, better provisioned and
heavily armed Mughal army and made inroads into some of the Maratha
territory, seizing the city of Pune and establishing his residence at
Shivaji's palace of Lal Mahal.[citation needed]In April 1663, Shivaji launched a surprise attack on Shaista Khan in Pune; accounts of the story differ in the popular imagination, but there is some agreement that Shivaji and band of some 200 followers infiltrated Pune, using a wedding procession as cover. They overcame the palace guards, breached the wall, and entered Shaista Khan's quarters, killing those they found there. Shaista Khan escaped, losing his thumb in the melee, but one of his sons and other members of his household were killed. The Khan took refuge with the Moghul forces outside of Pune, and Aurangzeb punished him for this embarrassment with a transfer to Bengal.[39]
An Uzbek general, Kartalab Khan, was sent by Shaista Khan to attack and reduce the number of forts under Shivaji's control in the Konkan region on 3 February 1661. The 30,000 Mughal troops left Pune, marching through the back-country in an attempt to surprise the Marathas. In the Battle of Umberkhind, Shivaji's forces ambushed and enveloped them with infantry and light cavalry in the dense forests of Umber Khind pass near present-day Pen. With defeat inevitable, the Mughal commander, a Maratha woman named Raibagan, advised Kartalab to parley with Shivaji, who allowed the Mughals to surrender all their supplies and arms, and depart with safe passage.[citation needed] In retaliation for Shaista Khan's attacks, and to replenish his now-depleted treasury, in 1664 Shivaji sacked the city of Surat, a wealthy Mughal trading centre.[39]
Treaty of Purandar
Raja Jai Singh of Amber receiving Shivaji a day before concluding the Treaty of Purandar.
Main article: Treaty of Purandar (1665)
Aurangzeb was enraged and sent Mirza Raja Jai Singh I with an army numbering around 150,000[40]
to defeat Shivaji. Jai Singh's forces made significant gains and
captured many Maratha forts, forcing Shivaji to come to terms with
Aurangzeb rather than lose more forts and men.In the Treaty of Purandar, signed between Shivaji and Jai Singh on 11 June 1665, Shivaji agreed to give up 23 of his forts and pay compensation of 400,000 rupees to the Mughals. He also agreed to let his son Sambhaji become a Mughal sardar, serve the Mughal court of Aurangzeb and fight alongside the Mughals against Bijapur.[citation needed] He[who?] actually fought alongside Jai Singh's against Bijapur's for a few months. One of Shivaji's commander, Netaji Palkar joined the Mughals, was rewarded very well for his bravery, converted to Islam, changed his name to Quli Mohammed Khan in 1666 and was sent to the Afghan frontier to fight the restive tribes. He returned to Shivaji's service in 1676 after ten years with the Mughals, and was accepted back as a Hindu on Shivaji's advice.[41]
Arrest in Agra and escape
In 1666, Aurangzeb invited Shivaji to Agra, along with his nine-year-old son Sambhaji. Aurangzeb's plan was to send Shivaji to Kandahar, now in Afghanistan, to consolidate the Mughal empire's northwestern frontier. However, in the court, on 12 May 1666, Aurangzeb made Shivaji stand behind mansabdārs (military commanders) of his court. Shivaji took offence and stormed out of court,[16]:78 and was promptly placed under house arrest under the watch of Faulad Khan, Kotwal of Agra. Shivaji's spies informed him that Aurangzeb planned to move Shivaji to Raja Vitthaldas' haveli and then to possibly kill him or send him to fight in the Afghan frontier, so Shivaji planned his escape.[citation needed]
Shivaji feigned severe illness and requested to send most of his contingent back to the Deccan, thereby ensuring the safety of his army and deceiving Aurangzeb. Thereafter, on his request, he was allowed to send daily shipments of sweets and gifts to saints, fakirs, and temples in Agra as offerings for his health.[citation needed] After several days and weeks of sending out boxes containing sweets, Sambhaji, being a child had no restrictions and was sent out of the prison camp and Shivaji, disguised as labourer carrying sweet basket escaped on 17 August 1666, according to the Mughal documents.[clarification needed][42] Shivaji and his son fled to the Deccan disguised as sadhus (holy men). After the escape, rumours of Sambhaji's death were intentionally spread by Shivaji himself in order to deceive the Mughals and to protect Sambhaji.[citation needed] Recent research has proposed that Shivaji simply disguised himself as a Brahmin priest after performance of religious rites at the haveli grounds on 22 July 1666, and escaped by mingling within the departing priestly entourage of Pandit Kavindra Paramananda. Sambhaji was removed from Agra and taken to Mathura later by Shivaji's trusted men.[43]
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