Shivaji was born in the fort of Shivneri in 1627 AD, near the city of Junnar in Poona (present Pune) district. He belonged to the Bhonsle family of Pune district. The family acquired military and political prominence in the Ahmednagar kingdom at the close of the 16th century.
Shahji Bhonsle, father of Shivaji, was a military officer at first in the state of Ahmednagar and then, from 1636 AD, in the state of Bijapur
He owned the territory of Poona as a Jagir. Shivaji’s mother was Jija Bai, a very religious lady. Shivaji was brought up at Poona under the careful supervision of his mother and an able Brahman Dadaji Kondadev
Dadaji Kondadev made Shivaji an expert soldier and an efficient administrator. Shivaji also came under the religious influence of Guru Samarth Ramdas, who made him proud of his motherland
In 1637 AD. Shivaji’s father entrusted the administration of the Pune Jagir to him. The administration of Jagir remained under the Dadaji’s de facto control till 1647 AD, when Shivaji assumed the full charge.
Before that, at the age of 18, he overran a number of hill forts near Pune. He captured the fort of Torana in 1646 AD. Shortly afterwards, he built new forts like Raigarh and Pratapgarh
In 1674 AD, Shivaji was coronated at capital Raigarh and assumed the title of ‘Haindava Dharmadharak’ Protector of Hinduism
CONQUESTS OF SHIVAJI
Shivaji began his real career of conquest in 1656 AD, when he conquered Javli from the Maratha Chief, Chandrarao More. This made him the master of highlands area of Mavala (Mavali foot soldiers became a strong part of his army). Next, he attacked the Adil Shahi kingdom of Bijapur in 1657-58 AD
In 1659 AD, the Sultan of Bijapur sent his general, Afzal Khan, to capture Shivaji. But, Shivaji was too clever for him and killed Afzal Khan
In 1660 AD, a combined Mughal-Bijapuri campaign started against Shivaji. Shaista Khan (maternal uncle of Aurangzeb) was appointed as Governor of Deccan by Aurangzeb, to check the rising power of Shivaji
However, in 1663 AD, Shivaji made a bold attack on military camp of Shaista Khan. Shaista Khan somehow managed to save his life, but his son Fateh Khan was killed and then Shivaji plundered Surat (1664 AD) and later Ahmednagar. Next time, Aurangzeb sent his own son, prince Muazzam and then, on his failure, Raja Jai Singh of Amber against Shivaji. Jai Singh succeeded in besieging Shivaji in the fort of Purandhar
TREATY OF PURANDHAR
Consequently, the Treaty of Purandhar (1665 AD) was signed, according to which
- Out of the 35 forts held by him, Shivaji agreed to keep only 12 forts (with The annual income of 1 lakh of huns) in his possession. The remaining 23 forts (which yielded 4 lakh huns every year) were to be returned to the Mughals. Shivaji agreed to the condition attached with his possession of 12 forts-service and loyalty to the Mughal throne. Shivaji agreed to help the Mughals against Bijapur.
- Shivaji was to keep possession of the territory worth 4 lakh Huns a year in the Bijapuri Konkan region. The Balaghat territory of Bijapur was granted to Shivaji. Shivaji agreed to visit the Imperial Court of Aurangzeb at Agra
SHIVAJI’S ARREST
Shivaji reached Agra in 1666 AD and was admitted in the hall of public audience. The emperor gave him a cold reception by making him stand among the mansabdars of lower grade. A humiliated and angry Shivaji walked out of the court
He, along with his son, was put under house arrest. However, they tricked the royal guards and managed to escape in a basket of sweets, which was to be sent as a gift to the Brahmins. Shivaji reached Maharashtra in September 1666 AD.
RECONQUEST
Shivaji renewed his war against the Mughals by his second plunder of Surat in 1670 AD and gradually recovered many of his forts. Aurangzeb sent Diler Khan and Bahadur Khan against Shivaji. However, Shivaji defeated them in the Battle of Salher in 1672 AD. Shortly after his coronation, Shivaji formed an alliance with the Qutub Shahi rulers of Golconda and led a campaign into Bijapuri Karnataka (1676-79 AD) and conquered Jingi. Vellore and many forts in Karnataka. To strengthen his position, Shivaji married some of the girls of the leading old Maratha families. He died at Raigarh in 1680 AD, after he had laid the foundations of a sound system of administration.
THE SUCCESSORS OF SHIVAJI
SAMBHAJI (1680-89 AD) The war of succession between Sambhaji, elder son and Rajaram the younger son of Shivaji, resulted in and the victory of the former imprisonment of the latter. Sambhaji or Shambhuji succeeded the throne on 20th July, 1680
Distrust upon Maratha leaders led him to place his confidence in a Brahmin, named Kanauji, whom he invested with the supreme control of the administration and the title of Kavi Kalash in 1680-81 AD
Sambhaji provided protection and support to Akbar II, the rebellious son of Aurangzeb. But, Akbar II failed against his father and departed to Persia. Aurangzeb was determined to crush Sambhaji.
In 1689 AD, Sambhaji and Kavi Kalash were captured at Sangamesvar by a Mughal general, Muqarrab Khan and put to death.
In October 1689 AD, Mughal army, under Zulfiqar Khan, launched an attack upon Raigarh. All members of Sambhaji’s family, including his son Sahu, were made captive
RAJARAM (1689-1700 AD)
At the time of Sambhaji’s death, his son Shahu was only 7 years old. Rajaram, the younger son of Shivaji and stepbrother of Sambhaji, who had been kept in prison by the latter, was proclaimed king by the Maratha Council of Ministers and crowned at Raigarh in February 1689 AD
But, soon thereafter, apprehending a Mughal attack, Rajaram left Jinji and moving from place-to-place, ultimately reached Jinji in Karnataka. Jinji fell
to the Mughals (1698 AD) and Rajaram escaped to Visalgarh (Maharashtra).
He died in March 1700 AD at Satara, which had become the capital after the fall of Jinji. With his two able generals, Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadav, Rajaram launched an attack upon the Mughal territories in Deccan.
SHIVAJI II AND TARABAI (1700-1707 AD)
After the death of Rajaram, Tarabai, the widow of Rajaram put her other son, Shivaji II on the throne and herself became the regent. Tarabai’s energy and ability made her the de facto ruler. She saved the Maratha state during a period of a grave crisis
Tarabai directed and conduct both, civil and military affairs with equal success. During his period, Marathas attacked Berar (1703 AD), Baroda (1706 AD) and Aurangabad. In the midst of this confusion and disorder, Aurangzeb died on 3rd March, 1707, while Tarabai was still in power
- SHAHU (1707-49 AD)
Although, Shahu was given the title of Raja and granted a Mansab, he virtually remained a prisoner in the hands of Mughals till the death of Aurangzeb (1707). Shahu was released by the Mughal emperor Azam Shah and this was the beginning of a Civil War (1707-14 AD) between him and Tarabai
Tarabai’s army was defeated by Shahu at the Battle of Khed (12th October, 1707) and Shahu occupied Satara. Now, the Maratha kingdom was split up into two antagonistic sub-states. Shahu was the head of the state at Satara, while Shivaji II or Tarabai, was the head of the other at Kolhapur
When Shivaji II died, another son of Rajaram, Sambhaji II, ascended the gaddi of Kolhapur
The feud between these two rivals was finally settled by the Treaty of Warna in 1731 AD, which provided that Southern division of the Maratha kingdom with Kolhapur as its capital and the Northern part with the capital at Satara, would be the preserve of Shahu
Shahu’s reign saw the rise of Peshwaship and transformation of the Maratha kingdom into an empire, based on the principle of confederacy. Shahu conferred upon him the title of Sena-Karte (Maker of the Army), at his coronation in January, 1708. The Mughals, however, succeeded in dividing the Marathas into two rival. camps one under Tarabai and the other under Sambhaji’s son Shahu, who succeeded in deposing Tarabai with the help of a Chitpavan Brahmin named Balaji Vishwanath. Shivaji appointed Hindus on high posts. Marathi was made the state language instead of Persian. He ordered Pandit Hanumant to prepare a dictionary of state craft for official use, titled as Raja Vyavahara Kosh.