Shivaji (1627–1680)
Shivaji was born in Shivner near Junnar. He was the
son of Shahji Bhonsle by his first wife Jijabai. Shahji was a descendant of the
Yadava rulers of Devagiri from his mother’s side and the Sisodias of Mewar on
his father’s side. Shahji Bhonsle served under Malik Ambar (1548–1626), former
slave, and the Abyssinian minister of Ahmed Shah of Ahmednagar. After the death
of Malik Ambar, Shahji played a vital role in its politics. After the
annexation of Ahmednagar by the Mughals, he entered the service of the Sultan
of Bijapur.
Shivaji and his mother were left under the care of
Dadaji Kondadev who
Shivaji earned the goodwill of the Mavali peasants and chiefs, who were a
martial people with knowledge about the hilly areas around Poona. Shivaji made
himself familiar with the hilly areas around Poona. Religious heads, Ramdas and
Tukaram, also influenced Shivaji. Ramdas was regarded by Shivaji as his guru.
Shivaji began his military career at the age of
nineteen. In 1646, he captured the fortress of Torna from the Sultan of
Bijapur. The fort of Raigad, located five miles east of Torna, was captured and
wholly rebuilt. After the death of Dadaji Kondadev in 1647, Shivaji took over
all the jagirs of his father. Subsequently, the forts of Baramati, Indapura,
Purandhar and Kondana came under his direct control. The Marathas had already
captured Kalyan, an important town in that region.
Shivaji’s father had been humiliated and imprisoned
by the Sultan of Bijapur. He negotiated with Prince Murad, the Mughal Viceroy
of the Deccan and expressed his wish to join Mughal service. The Sultan of
Bijapur released Shahji in 1649 on some conditions. So, Shivaji refrained from
his military activities from 1649 to 1655. During this period, he consolidated
his power and toned up his administration.
In 1656, Shivaji re-started his military
activities. He captured Javli in the Satara district and the immense booty that
he won made him popular among the Marathas. Many young men joined his army. A
new fort, Pratapgarh, was built two miles west of Javli.
After Mohammad Adilshah of Bijapur died in November
1656, Adilshah II, a young man of eighteen, succeeded him. Aurangzeb captured
Bidar, Kalyani and Parinder in 1657. So, both Shivaji and the Bijapur Sultan
were forced to make peace with Aurangzeb. At this time Shah Jahan fell ill, and
a war of succession was imminent in Delhi. Aurangzeb left for Delhi to take
part in it. Using this opportunity, Shivaji invaded north Konkan and captured
the cities of Kalyan, Bhivandi and fort of Mahuli.
As there was no danger from the Mughals, Bijapur
Sultan decided to attack Shivaji. Afzal Khan was sent with a huge army. He
boasted that he would bring the “mountain-rat” in chains. But, he found
fighting in the mountainous country extremely difficult. So, he planned to
trick Shivaji but he was outwitted. The Maratha forces ravaged South Konkan and
Kolhapur district and captured the fort of Panhala. The Sultan of Bijapur
himself led the army and the war dragged on for more than a year. Nothing
substantial was gained. Finally, after negotiations, Shivaji was recognised as
the ruler of the territories in his possession.
In July 1658, Aurangzeb ascended the throne as the
Emperor. Shaista Khan was appointed the Governor of the Deccan in 1660 with the
main purpose of crushing Shivaji. Shivaji hit upon a bold plan. He entered
Poona at night with 400 soldiers in the form of a marriage party and attacked
the home of Shaista Khan. Aurangzeb was forced to recall Shaista Khan from the
Deccan in December 1663.
In 1664, Shivaji attacked Surat, the major Mughal
port in Arabian Sea and his soldiers plundered the city. Aurangzeb despatched
an army under the command of the Rajput general Raja Jai Singh to defeat
Shivaji and annex Bijapur. At that time, Prince Muazzam, later Bahadur Shah I,
was the Governor of the Deccan. Jai Singh made elaborate plans to encircle
Shivaji on all sides. Even Raigarh was under threat. Purandar was besieged in
June 1665. The heroic resistance of Shivaji became futile. Therfore he decided
to come to negotiate with Jai Singh. According to the treaty of Purandar signed
on 11 June 1665 Shivaji yielded the fortresses that he had captured and agreed
to serve as a mansabdar and assist the Mughals in conquering Bijapur.
Jai Singh persuaded Shivaji to visit the Mughal
court. He fed Shivaji with high hopes and took personal responsibility for his
safety at the capital. Shivaji and his son Sambhaji reached Agra in May 1666.
But, they were not shown due respect. Humiliated, he burst out and abused the
Emperor. When Shivaji was imprisoned, he managed to escape.
In 1666, Shivaji resumed his belligerent policy and
led Maratha soldiers in new conquests. As the Mughals were busy with the Afghan
risings in the North-West, they could not deal with Shivaji. Shivaji also
occupied himself with the re-organisation of his internal administration.
Prince Muazzam, Viceroy of the Deccan, was weak and indolent. Raja Jaswant
Singh was friendly towards Shivaji. Sambhaji was also made a mansabdar of 5000.
Aurangzeb took back a part of the jagir in Berar
which was once given to Shivaji. Shivaji got annoyed and recalled his troops
from Mughal service. He recovered almost all the forts he had ceded to the
Mughals by the treaty of Purandar. In 1670, he again sacked Surat, the most
important port on the western coast. In 1672, the Marathas imposed chauth or
one fourth of the revenue as annual tribute on Surat.
On 6 June 1674, Shivaji was crowned at Raigad. He
assumed the title of “Chhatrapathi”( metaphor for “supreme king ”).
In 1676, Shivaji began his career of conquests in
the south. A secret treaty was signed with the Sultan of Golkonda. Shivaji
promised him some territories in return for his support. He captured Senji and
Vellore and annexed the adjoining territories which belonged to his father,
Shahji. He allowed his half-brother Venkoji or Ekoji to carry on administering
Thanjavur. The Nayaks of Madurai promised a huge amount as tribute. The
Carnatic campaigns added glory and prestige to Shivaji. Senji, the newly
conquered place, acted as the second line of defence for his successors.
Shivaji’s last days were not happy. His eldest son
Sambhaji deserted him and joined the Mughal camp. Although he returned, he was
imprisoned and sent to Panhala fort. The relentless campaigns affected
Shivaji’s health. He died in 1680 at the age of 53.
At the time of his death, Shivaji’s kingdom
comprised the Western Ghats and the Konkan between Kalyan and Goa. The
provinces in the south included western Karnataka extending from Belgaum to the
bank of Tungabhadra. Vellore, Senji and a few other districts were not settled
at the time of his death.
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