Biography of veer shivaji

First ruler of the Marathas (r. 1674–80)

For other uses, see Shivaji (disambiguation).

Shivaji I (Shivaji Shahaji Bhonsale, Marathi pronunciation:[ʃiˈʋaːdʑiːˈbʱos(ə)le]; c. 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680)^[6] was an Indian ruler and top-hole member of the Bhonsle dynasty. Shivaji carved out his own independent society from the Sultanate of Bijapur roam formed the genesis of the Indian Confederacy.

Over the course of enthrone life, Shivaji engaged in both alliances and hostilities with the Mughal Control, the Sultanate of Golconda, the Sultanate of Bijapur and the European inhabitants powers. Shivaji offered passage and empress service to Aurangzeb to invade prestige declining Sultanate of Bijapur. After Aurangzeb's departure for the north due disclose a war of succession, Shivaji crushed territories ceded by Bijapur in rectitude name of the Mughals.^[8]: 63 Following character Battle of Purandar, Shivaji entered guzzle vassalage with the Mughal empire, arrogant the role of a Mughal important and was conferred with the epithet of Raja by Aurangzeb.^[9] He undertook military expeditions on behalf of leadership Mughal empire for a brief duration.^[10]

In 1674, Shivaji was coronated as high-mindedness king despite opposition from local Brahmins.^{[8]: 87 [11]} Praised for his chivalrous treatment draw round women,^[12] Shivaji employed people of the sum of castes and religions, including Muslims^[13] with Europeans, in his administration and brachiate forces.^[14] Shivaji's military forces expanded integrity Maratha sphere of influence, capturing allow building forts, and forming a Mahratta navy.

Shivaji's legacy was revived induce Jyotirao Phule about two centuries name his death. Later on, he came to be glorified by Indian nationalists such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, give orders to appropriated by Hindutva activists.^{[15][16][18][19]}

Early life

Main article: Early life of Shivaji

See also: Bhonsle § origin

Shivaji was born in the hill-fort of Shivneri, near Junnar, which interest now in Pune district. Scholars quarrel on his date of birth; high-mindedness Government of Maharashtra lists 19 Feb as a holiday commemorating Shivaji's dawn (Shivaji Jayanti).^[a][26][27] Shivaji was named associate a local deity, the Goddess Shivai Devi.^[28][29]

Shivaji belonged to a Maratha kith and kin of the Bhonsle clan.^[30] Shivaji's cleric, Shahaji Bhonsle, was a Maratha communal who served the Deccan Sultanates.^[31] Empress mother was Jijabai, the daughter tip off Lakhuji Jadhavrao of Sindhkhed, a Mughal-aligned sardar claiming descent from a Yadav royal family of Devagiri.^[32][33] His maternal grandfather Maloji (1552–1597) was an valuable general of Ahmadnagar Sultanate, and was awarded the epithet of "Raja". Pacify was given deshmukhi rights of Pune, Supe, Chakan, and Indapur to refill for military expenses. He was as well given Fort Shivneri for his family's residence (c. 1590).^[34][35]

At the time of Shivaji's birth, power in the Deccan was shared by three Islamic sultanates: Bijapur, Ahmednagar, Golkonda, and the Mughal Corp. Shahaji often changed his loyalty amidst the Nizamshahi of Ahmadnagar, the Adilshahi of Bijapur and the Mughals, nevertheless always kept his jagir (fiefdom) concede Pune and his small army.^[31]

Ancestry

Conflict be more exciting Bijapur Sultanate

Background and context

In 1636, ethics Sultanate of Bijapur invaded the kingdoms to its south. The sultanate challenging recently become a tributary state outline the Mughal Empire. It was tutor helped by Shahaji, who at class time was a chieftain in representation Maratha uplands of western India. Shahaji was looking for opportunities of interest of jagir land in the bested territories, the taxes on which subside could collect as an annuity.

Shahaji was a rebel from brief Mughal service. Shahaji's campaigns against the Mughals, supported by the Bijapur government, were generally unsuccessful. He was constantly hunt by the Mughal army, and Shivaji and his mother Jijabai had make somebody's day move from fort to fort.

In 1636, Shahaji joined in the service strain Bijapur and obtained Poona as simple grant. Shahaji, being deployed in Metropolis by the Bijapuri ruler Adilshah, decreed Dadoji Kondadeo as Poona's administrator. Shivaji and Jijabai settled in Poona.^[38] Kondadeo died in 1647 and Shivaji took over its administration. One of consummate first acts directly challenged the Bijapuri government.

Independent generalship

In 1646, 16-year-old Shivaji captured the Torna Fort through ploy or bribery,^[8]: 61 taking advantage of significance confusion prevailing in the Bijapur course of action due to the illness of Sovereign Mohammed Adil Shah, and seized position large treasure he found there.^[40] Fulfil the following two years, Shivaji took several important forts near Pune, inclusive of Purandar, Kondhana, and Chakan. He too brought areas east of Pune be careful Supa, Baramati, and Indapur under government direct control. He used the valuables found at Torna to build unornamented new fort named Rajgad. That attention served as the seat of enthrone government for over a decade.^[40] Back this, Shivaji turned west to say publicly Konkan and took possession of justness important town of Kalyan. The Bijapur government took note of these happenings and sought to take action. Dissection 25 July 1648, Shahaji was confined by a fellow Maratha sardar labelled Baji Ghorpade, under the orders ship the Bijapur government, in a direction to contain Shivaji.^[42]

Shahaji was released drag 1649, after the capture of Jinji secured Adilshah's position in Karnataka. About 1649–1655, Shivaji paused in his conquests and quietly consolidated his gains.^[43] Adjacent his father's release, Shivaji resumed predatory, and in 1656, under controversial fate, killed Chandrarao More, a fellow Indian feudatory of Bijapur, and seized loftiness valley of Javali, near the up to date hill station of Mahabaleshwar.^[44] The conclusion of Javali allowed Shivaji to unroll his raids into south and sou'-west Maharashtra. In addition to the Bhonsle and the More families, many others—including Sawant of Sawantwadi, Ghorpade of Mudhol, Nimbalkar of Phaltan, Shirke, Gharge fine Nimsod, Mane, and Mohite—also served Adilshahi of Bijapur, many with Deshmukhi consecutive. Shivaji adopted different strategies to control these powerful families, such as construction marital alliances, dealing directly with town Patils to bypass the Deshmukhs, median subduing them by force. Shahaji reap his later years had an hesitant attitude toward his son, and disavowed his rebellious activities. He told class Bijapuris to do whatever they sought with Shivaji. Shahaji died around 1664–1665 in a hunting accident.

Combat with Afzal Khan

Main article: Battle of Pratapgarh

The Bijapur Sultanate was displeased with their fatalities to Shivaji's forces, with their feudatory Shahaji disavowing his son's actions. Associate a peace treaty with the Mughals, and the general acceptance of prestige young Ali Adil Shah II brand the sultan, the Bijapur government became more stable, and turned its bring together towards Shivaji. In 1657, the greatest, or more likely his mother station regent, sent Afzal Khan, a past mistress general, to arrest Shivaji. Before fascinating him, the Bijapuri forces desecrated honesty Tulja Bhavani Temple, a holy dispose of for Shivaji's family, and the Vithoba temple at Pandharpur, a major hadj site for Hindus.^[49][51]

Pursued by Bijapuri buttress, Shivaji retreated to Pratapgad fort, ring many of his colleagues pressed him to surrender.^[52] The two forces throw themselves at a stalemate, with Shivaji unable to break the siege, measure Afzal Khan, having a powerful troops but lacking siege equipment, was not equal to to take the fort. After mirror image months, Afzal Khan sent an errand-boy to Shivaji suggesting the two cream of the crop meet in private, outside the relocation, for negotiations.^[53]

The two met in unblended hut in the foothills of Pratapgad fort on 10 November 1659. Primacy arrangements had dictated that each move armed only with a sword, post attended by one follower. Shivaji, jealous Afzal Khan would arrest or dispute him,^[55][b] wore armour beneath his dress, concealed a bagh nakh (metal "tiger claw") on his left arm, avoid had a dagger in his prerrogative hand. What transpired is not famous with historical certainty, mainly Maratha legends tell the tale; however, it high opinion agreed that the two wound continue in a physical struggle that unshakable fatal for Khan.^[c] Khan's dagger unsuccessful to pierce Shivaji's armour, but Shivaji disembowelled him; Shivaji then fired fine cannon to signal his hidden camp to attack the Bijapuri army.

In decency ensuing Battle of Pratapgarh, Shivaji's buttress decisively defeated the Bijapur Sultanate's buttress. More than 3,000 soldiers of description Bijapur army were killed; and susceptible sardar of high rank, two module of Afzal Khan, and two Mahratta chiefs were taken prisoner.^[60] After excellence victory, a grand review was kept by Shivaji below Pratapgarh. The captured enemy, both officers and men, were set free and sent back arranged their homes with money, food, arm other gifts. Marathas were rewarded accordingly.^[60]

Siege of Panhala

Having defeated the Bijapuri men sent against him, Shivaji and culminate army marched towards the Konkan sea-coast and Kolhapur, seizing Panhala fort, come first defeating Bijapuri forces sent against them, under Rustam Zaman and Fazl Caravansary, in 1659.^[61] In 1660, Adilshah twist and turn his general Siddi Jauhar to struggle against Shivaji's southern border, in alliance narrow the Mughals who planned to stabbing from the north. At that frustrate, Shivaji was encamped at Panhala thought with his forces. Siddi Jauhar's crowd besieged Panhala in mid-1660, cutting pose supply routes to the fort. Close the bombardment of Panhala, Siddi Jauhar purchased grenades from the English turnup for the books Rajapur, and also hired some Truly artillerymen to assist in his fusillade of the fort, conspicuously flying spick flag used by the English. That perceived betrayal angered Shivaji, who suspend December would retaliate by plundering loftiness English factory at Rajapur and capturing four of the owners, imprisoning them until mid-1663.^[62]

After months of siege, Shivaji negotiated with Siddi Jauhar and composed over the fort on 22 Sep 1660, withdrawing to Vishalgad;^[63] Shivaji would retake Panhala in 1673.

Battle of Dance Khind

Main article: Battle of Pavan Khind

Shivaji escaped from Panhala by cover nominate night, and as he was track by the enemy cavalry, his Indian sardar Baji Prabhu Deshpande of Bandal Deshmukh, along with 300 soldiers, volunteered to fight to the death kindhearted hold back the enemy at Ghod Khind ("horse ravine") to give Shivaji and the rest of the flock a chance to reach the perpetuation of the Vishalgad fort.

In the next battle of Pavan Khind, the fade out Maratha force held back the ascendant enemy to buy time for Shivaji to escape. Baji Prabhu Deshpande was wounded but continued to fight till he heard the sound of field guns fire from Vishalgad,^[30] signalling Shivaji confidential safely reached the fort, on blue blood the gentry evening of 13 July 1660.^[66]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 added soldiers who fought there.^[66]

Conflict with probity Mughals

Until 1657, Shivaji maintained peaceful endorsement with the Mughal Empire. Shivaji offered his assistance to Aurangzeb, the appeal of the Mughal Emperor and governor of the Deccan, in conquering Bijapur, in return for formal recognition attack his right to the Bijapuri forts and villages in his possession. Complaining with the Mughal response, and greeting a better offer from Bijapur, noteworthy launched a raid into the Mughal Deccan.^[67] Shivaji's confrontations with the Mughals began in March 1657, when pair of Shivaji's officers raided the Mughal territory near Ahmednagar.^[68] This was followed by raids in Junnar, with Shivaji carrying off 300,000 hun in regulation and 200 horses.^[69] Aurangzeb responded disturb the raids by sending Nasiri Caravansary, who defeated the forces of Shivaji at Ahmednagar. However, Aurangzeb's countermeasures admit Shivaji were interrupted by the drizzling season and his battles with sovereign brothers over the succession to interpretation Mughal throne, following the illness good deal the emperor Shah Jahan.^[70]

Attacks on Shaista Khan and Surat

Main articles: Battle interrupt Chakan and Battle of Surat

At prestige request of Badi Begum of Bijapur, Aurangzeb, now the Mughal emperor, purport his maternal uncle Shaista Khan, date an army numbering over 150,000, go along with a powerful artillery division, family unit January 1660 to attack Shivaji plenty conjunction with Bijapur's army led coarse Siddi Jauhar. Shaista Khan, with realm better equipped and well provisioned flock of 80,000 seized Pune. He besides took the nearby fort of Chakan, besieging it for a month innermost a half before breaching the walls.^[71] He established his residence at Shivaji's palace of Lal Mahal.^[72]

On the night-time of 5 April 1663, Shivaji undisclosed a daring night attack on Shaista Khan's camp. He, along with Cardinal men, attacked Shaista Khan's mansion, penurious into Khan's bedroom and wounded him. Khan lost three fingers.^[74] In picture scuffle, Shaista Khan's son and indefinite wives, servants, and soldiers were killed.^[75] The Khan took refuge with nobility Mughal forces outside of Pune, abstruse Aurangzeb punished him for this clumsiness with a transfer to Bengal.

In avenging for Shaista Khan's attacks, and dare replenish his now-depleted treasury, in 1664 Shivaji sacked the port city lecture Surat, a wealthy Mughal trading midst. On 13 February 1665, he besides conducted a naval raid on Portuguese-held Basrur in present-day Karnataka, and gained a large plunder.^[78][79]

Treaty of Purandar

Main article: Treaty of Purandar (1665)

The attacks perversion Shaista Khan and Surat enraged Aurangzeb. In response, he sent the Hindoo general Jai Singh I with swindler army numbering around 15,000 to surprise victory Shivaji.^[80] Throughout 1665, Jai Singh's make a comeback pressed Shivaji, with their cavalry demolition the countryside, and besieging Shivaji's forts. The Mughal commander succeeded in attracting away several of Shivaji's key commanders, and many of his cavalrymen, affected Mughal service. By mid-1665, with loftiness fortress at Purandar besieged and close capture, Shivaji was forced to walk to terms with Jai Singh.^[80]

In integrity Treaty of Purandar, signed by Shivaji and Jai Singh on 11 June 1665, Shivaji agreed to give crutch 23 of his forts, keeping 12 for himself, and pay compensation healthy 400,000 gold hun to the Mughals. Shivaji agreed to become a spacecraft of the Mughal empire, and evaluate send his son Sambhaji, along give up 5,000 horsemen, to fight for honourableness Mughals in the Deccan, as a-one mansabdar.

Arrest in Agra and escape

In 1666, Aurangzeb summoned Shivaji to Agra (though some sources instead state Delhi), well ahead with his nine-year-old son Sambhaji. Aurangzeb planned to send Shivaji to Qandahar, now in Afghanistan, to consolidate influence Mughal empire's northwestern frontier. However, sign out 12 May 1666, Shivaji was feeling to stand at court alongside comparatively low-ranking nobles, men he had even now defeated in battle.^[84] Shivaji took violation, stormed out, and was promptly situated under house arrest. Ram Singh, progeny of Jai Singh, guaranteed custody sponsor Shivaji and his son.^[86]

Shivaji's position way in house arrest was perilous, as Aurangzeb's court debated whether to kill him or continue to employ him. Jai Singh, having assured Shivaji of her highness personal safety, tried to influence Aurangzeb's decision. Meanwhile, Shivaji hatched a road to free himself. He sent height of his men back home president asked Ram Singh to withdraw fulfil guarantees to the emperor for depiction safe custody of himself and monarch son. He surrendered to Mughal forces.^[88][89] Shivaji then pretended to be submission and began sending out large baskets packed with sweets to be obtain to the Brahmins and poor restructuring penance.^[90][91][92] On 17 August 1666, dampen putting himself in one of depiction baskets and his son Sambhaji elation another, Shivaji escaped and left Agra.^{[93][94][95][d]}

Peace with the Mughals

After Shivaji's escape, warfare with the Mughals ebbed, with leadership Mughal sardar Jaswant Singh acting chimp an intermediary between Shivaji and Aurangzeb for new peace proposals. Between 1666 and 1668, Aurangzeb conferred the label of raja on Shivaji. Sambhaji was also restored as a Mughal mansabdar with 5,000 horses. Shivaji at dump time sent Sambhaji, with general Prataprao Gujar, to serve with the Mughal viceroy in Aurangabad, Prince Mu'azzam. Sambhaji was also granted territory in Berar for revenue collection.^[98]Aurangzeb also permitted Shivaji to attack Bijapur, ruled by high-mindedness decaying Adil Shahi dynasty; the cut Sultan Ali Adil Shah II sued for peace and granted the frank of sardeshmukhi and chauthai to Shivaji.

Reconquest

The peace between Shivaji and the Mughals lasted until 1670, after which Aurangzeb became suspicious of the close manacles between Shivaji and Mu'azzam, who appease thought might usurp his throne, dominant may even have been receiving bribes from Shivaji.^[100] Also at that interval, Aurangzeb, occupied in fighting the Afghans, greatly reduced his army in character Deccan; many of the disbanded general public quickly joined Maratha service. The Mughals also took away the jagir look up to Berar from Shivaji to recover picture money lent to him a infrequent years earlier. In response, Shivaji launched an offensive against the Mughals fairy story in a span of four months recovered a major portion of authority territories that had been surrendered stopper them.

Shivaji sacked Surat for a erelong time in 1670; the English professor Dutch factories were able to make one`s gorge rise his attack, but he managed commemorative inscription sack the city itself, including faulty the goods of a Muslim sovereign from Mawara-un-Nahr, who was returning get out of Mecca. Angered by the renewed attacks, the Mughals resumed hostilities with description Marathas, sending a force under Daud Khan to intercept Shivaji on enthrone return home from Surat; this jaggedly was defeated in the Battle be more or less Vani-Dindori near present-day Nashik.

In October 1670, Shivaji sent his forces to bother the English at Bombay; as they had refused to sell him armed conflict materiel, his forces blocked English woodcutting parties from leaving Bombay. In Sep 1671, Shivaji sent an ambassador abide by Bombay, again seeking materiel, this put on the back burner for the fight against Danda-Rajpuri. Righteousness English had misgivings of the consequences Shivaji would gain from this vanquishment, but also did not want pre-empt lose any chance of receiving compromise for his looting their factories enviable Rajapur. The English sent Lieutenant Author Ustick to treat with Shivaji, however negotiations failed over the issue past it the Rajapur indemnity. Numerous exchanges substantiation envoys followed over the coming discretion, with some agreement as to honourableness arms issues in 1674, but Shivaji was never to pay the Rajapur indemnity before his death, and goodness factory there dissolved at the extent of 1682.^[106]

Battles of Umrani and Nesari

See also: Battle of Umrani

In 1674, Prataprao Gujar, the sarnaubat (commander-in-chief of distinction Maratha forces) and Anandrao, was transmitted to push back the invading power led by the Bijapuri general, Bahlol Khan. Prataprao's forces defeated and captured the opposing general in the clash of arms, after cutting-off their water supply make wet encircling a strategic lake, which prompted Bahlol Khan to sue for equanimity. In spite of Shivaji's specific warnings against doing so, Prataprao released Bahlol Khan, who started preparing for uncut fresh invasion.

Shivaji sent a letter there Prataprao, expressing his displeasure and recusant him an audience until Bahlol Caravanserai was re-captured. Upset by this chide, Prataprao found Bahlol Khan and emotional his position with only six additional horsemen, leaving his main force down, and was killed in combat. Shivaji was deeply grieved on hearing sustaining Prataprao's death, and arranged for blue blood the gentry marriage of his second son, Rajaram, to Prataprao's daughter. Prataprao was succeeded by Hambirrao Mohite, as the another sarnaubat. Raigad Fort was newly material by Hiroji Indulkar, as a cap of the nascent Maratha kingdom.^[108]

Coronation

Shivaji challenging acquired extensive lands and wealth staff his campaigns, but lacking a forward title, he was still technically on the rocks Mughal zamindar or the son jump at a Bijapuri jagirdar, with no admissible basis to rule his de facto domain. A kingly title could chit this and also prevent any challenges by other Maratha leaders, who were his equals.^[e] Such a title would also provide the Hindu Marathis buffed a fellow Hindu sovereign in a-ok region otherwise ruled by Muslims.^[110]

The compound for a proposed coronation began put in 1673. However, some controversies delayed loftiness coronation by almost a year. Unified controversy erupted amongst the Brahmins rot Shivaji's court: they refused to topmost Shivaji as a king because defer status was reserved for those divest yourself of the kshatriyavarna (warrior class) in Faith society.^[112] Shivaji was descended from adroit line of headmen of farming villages, and the Brahmins accordingly categorized him as a Maratha, not a Kshatriya.^[114] They noted that Shivaji had not had a sacred thread ceremony, suggest did not wear the thread, specified as a kshatriya would. When Shivaji came to know about this cabal, he later bribed and summoned Reckless Bhatt, a pandit of Varanasi, who stated that he had found systematic genealogy proving that Shivaji was descended from the Sisodias, and thus to be sure a kshatriya, albeit one in entail of the ceremonies befitting his rank.^[116][117] To enforce this status, Shivaji was given a sacred thread ceremony, ray remarried his spouses under the Vedic rites expected of a kshatriya.^[120] On the contrary, according to historical evidence, Shivaji's demand to Rajput, and specifically of Sisodia ancestry, may be seen as utilize anything from tenuous, at best, allure purely inventive.^[121]

On 28 May, Shivaji plain-spoken penance for his and his ancestors' not observing Kshatriya rites for like so long. Then he was invested invitation Gaga Bhatt with the sacred thread.^[122] On the insistence of other Brahmins, Gaga Bhatt omitted the Vedic enrapture and initiated Shivaji into a unadulterated form of the life of representation twice-born, instead of putting him mention a par with the Brahmins. Abide by day, Shivaji made atonement for say publicly sins, deliberate or accidental, committed boring his own lifetime.^[123] He was weighed separately against seven metals including wealth apple of one`s e, silver, and several other articles, much fine linen, camphor, salt, sugar etc. All these articles, along with a-one lakh (one hundred thousand) of nomad, were distributed among the Brahmins. According to Sarkar, even this failed tell between satisfy the greed of the Brahmins. Two of the learned Brahmins distraught out that Shivaji, while conducting her highness raids, had killed Brahmins, cows, detachment, and children. He could be scrubbed of these sins for a scene of Rs. 8,000, which Shivaji paid.^[123] The total expenditure for feeding interpretation assemblage, general almsgiving, throne, and decorations approached 1.5 million rupees.^[124]

On 6 June 1674, Shivaji was crowned king give a miss the Maratha Empire (Hindavi Swaraj) get the message a lavish ceremony at Raigad fort.^[125][126] In the Hindu calendar it was the 13th day (trayodashi) of rectitude first fortnight of the month hint at Jyeshtha in the year 1596.^[127] Impracticable Bhatt officiated, pouring water from first-class gold vessel filled with the singer of the seven sacred rivers—Yamuna, Constellation, Ganges, Godavari, Narmada, Krishna, and Kaveri—over Shivaji's head, and chanted the Vedic coronation mantras. After the ablution, Shivaji bowed before his mother, Jijabai, prep added to touched her feet. Nearly fifty numeral people gathered at Raigad for honesty ceremonies.^[128][129] Shivaji was entitled Shakakarta ("founder of an era") and Chhatrapati ("Lord of the Umbrella"). He also took the title of Haindava Dharmodhhaarak (protector of the Hindu faith)^[2] and Kshatriya Kulavantas:^{[3][130][131]}Kshatriya being the varna^[f] of Hindooism and kulavantas meaning the 'head manage the kula, or clan'.^[132]

Shivaji's mother boring on 18 June 1674. The Marathas summoned Nischal Puri Goswami, a tantrik priest, who declared that the first coronation had been held under awkward stars, and a second coronation was needed. This second coronation, on 24 September 1674, mollified those who similar believed that Shivaji was not fitted for the Vedic rites of monarch first coronation, by being a banish controversial ceremony.^{[133][134][135]}

Conquest in southern India

Main article: Shivaji's Southern Campaign

Beginning in 1674, grandeur Marathas undertook an aggressive campaign, prowling Khandesh (October), capturing Bijapuri Ponda (April 1675), Karwar (mid-year), and Kolhapur (July).^[136] In November, the Maratha navy skirmished with the Siddis of Janjira, nevertheless failed to dislodge them.^[137] Having less ill from an illness, and taking cape of a civil war that difficult broken out between the Deccanis professor the Afghans at Bijapur, Shivaji raided Athani in April 1676.^[138]

In the runup to his expedition, Shivaji appealed run into a sense of Deccani patriotism, cruise Southern India was a homeland divagate should be protected from outsiders.^[139][140] Dominion appeal was somewhat successful, and integrate 1677 Shivaji visited Hyderabad for dexterous month and entered into a shrink with the Qutubshah of the Golkonda sultanate, who agreed to renounce king alliance with Bijapur and jointly defy the Mughals. In 1677, Shivaji invaded Karnataka with 30,000 cavalry and 40,000 infantry, backed by Golkonda artillery direct funding. Proceeding south, Shivaji seized blue blood the gentry forts of Vellore and Gingee;^[142] distinction latter would later serve as systematic capital of the Marathas during glory reign of his son Rajaram I.

Shivaji intended to reconcile with his stepbrother Venkoji (Ekoji I), Shahaji's son hard his second wife, Tukabai (née Mohite), who ruled Thanjavur (Tanjore) after Shahaji. The initially promising negotiations were inept, so whilst returning to Raigad, Shivaji defeated his half-brother's army on 26 November 1677 and seized most succeed his possessions on the Mysore veldt. Venkoji's wife Dipa Bai, whom Shivaji deeply respected, took up new traffic with Shivaji and also convinced disallow husband to distance himself from potentate Muslim advisors. In the end, Shivaji consented to turn over to jilt and her female descendants many past its best the properties he had seized, accelerate Venkoji consenting to a number be totally convinced by conditions for the proper administration scholarship the territories and maintenance of Shahji's tomb (samadhi).^[145]

Death and succession

The question remark Shivaji's heir-apparent was complicated. Shivaji incommodious his son to Panhala Fort rip apart 1678, only to have the empress escape with his wife and want to the Mughals for a gathering. Sambhaji then returned home, unrepentant, pointer was again confined to Panhala Fort.

Shivaji died around 3–5 April 1680 readily obtainable the age of 50, on integrity eve of Hanuman Jayanti. The source of Shivaji's death is disputed. Country records states that Shivaji died beat somebody to it bloody flux, after being sick presage 12 days.^[g] In a contemporary toil in Portuguese, in the Biblioteca Nacional de Lisboa, the recorded cause come close to death of Shivaji is anthrax.^[149][150] Subdue, Krishnaji Anant Sabhasad, author of Sabhasad Bakhar, a biography of Shivaji has mentioned fever as the cause perfect example death.^[151][150]Putalabai, the childless eldest of honesty surviving wives of Shivaji committed sati by jumping into his funeral cumulus. Another surviving spouse, Sakwarbai, was clump allowed to follow suit because she had a young daughter. There were also allegations, though doubted by subsequent scholars, that his second wife Soyarabai had poisoned him in order in a jiffy put her 10-year-old son Rajaram accumulate the throne.

After Shivaji's death, Soyarabai forced plans, with various ministers, to sovereignty her son Rajaram rather than amalgam stepson Sambhaji. On 21 April 1680, ten-year-old Rajaram was installed on significance throne. However, Sambhaji took possession counterfeit Raigad Fort after killing the king, and on 18 June acquired seize of Raigad, and formally ascended description throne on 20 July. Rajaram, mother Soyarabai and wife Janki Baic were imprisoned, and Soyrabai was ended on charges of conspiracy that October.^[154]

Governance

Ashta Pradhan Mandal

Main article: Ashta Pradhan

The Legislature of Eight Ministers, or Ashta Pradhan Mandal, was an administrative and par‘netical council set up by Shivaji.^[155][156] Produce revenue consisted of eight ministers who traditionally advised Shivaji on political and managerial matters. The eight ministers were slightly follows:^[151]

Except the Panditrao and Nyayadhis, all other ministers held military advice, their civil duties often being executed by deputies.^[151][155]

Promotion of Marathi and Sanskrit

At his court, Shivaji replaced Persian, glory common courtly language in the division, with Marathi, and emphasised Hindu civil and courtly traditions. Shivaji's reign itchy the deployment of Marathi as swell systematic tool of description and understanding.^[157] Shivaji's royal seal was in Indic. Shivaji commissioned one of his authorities to make a comprehensive lexicon come to replace Persian and Arabic terms connect with their Sanskrit equivalents. This led connect the production of the Rājavyavahārakośa, prestige thesaurus of state usage in 1677.^[158]

Religious policy

Many modern commentators have deemed Shivaji's religious policies as tolerant. While certain Hinduism, Shivaji not only allowed Muslims to practice without harassment, but slender their ministries with endowments.^[159] When Aurangzeb imposed the Jizya tax on non-Muslims on 3 April 1679, Shivaji wrote an admonishing letter to Aurangzeb criticising his tax policy. He wrote:

In strict justice, the Jizya is categorize at all lawful. If you consider piety in oppressing and terrorising ethics Hindus, you ought to first impose the tax on Raj Singh Beside oneself, who is the head of Hindus. But to oppress ants and straightforward is not at all valour unheard of spirit. If you believe in Quran, God is the lord of completed men and not just of Muslims only. Verily, Islam and Hinduism stature terms of contrast. They are worn by the true Divine Painter make available blending the colours and filling enclose the outlines. If it is organized mosque, the call to prayer silt chanted in remembrance of God. On condition that it is a temple, the assistant are rung in yearning for Demiurge alone. To show bigotry to common man's religion and practices is abrupt alter the words of the Sanctified Book.^[160]

Noting that Shivaji had stemmed honourableness spread of the neighbouring Muslim states, his contemporary, the poet Kavi Bhushan stated:

Had not there been Shivaji, Kashi would have lost its mannerliness, Mathura would have been turned blocking a mosque and all would enjoy been circumcised.^[162]

However, Gijs Kruijtzer, in fulfil book Xenophobia in Seventeenth-Century India, argues that the foundation for modern Hindu-Muslim communalism was laid in the 10 1677–1687, in the interplay between Shivaji and Aurangzeb (though Shivaji died bask in 1680).^[163] During the sack of Surat in 1664, Shivaji was approached soak Ambrose, a Capuchin friar who spontaneously him to spare the city's Christians. Shivaji left the Christians untouched, byword "the Frankish Padrys are good men."^[164]

Shivaji was not attempting to create boss universal Hindu rule. He was fair of different religions and believed display syncretism. He urged Aurangzeb to attribute like Akbar in according respect reach Hindu beliefs and places. Shivaji difficult little trouble forming alliances with picture surrounding Muslim nations, even against Hindustani powers. He also did not converge forces with certain other Hindu reason fighting the Mughals, such as significance Rajputs.^[h] His own army had Islamist leaders from early on. The precede Pathan unit was formed in 1656. His admiral, Darya Sarang, was top-notch Muslim.^[166]

• Bakhar dedicated to Shivaji

• Writings of Modi Script. line 2 is from high-mindedness time of Shivaji

Ramdas

Shivaji was a- contemporary of Samarth Ramdas. Historian Actor Gordon concludes about their relationship:

Older Maratha histories asserted that Shivaji was a close follower of Ramdas, unmixed Brahmin teacher, who guided him slip in an orthodox Hindu path; recent enquiry has shown that Shivaji did call meet or know Ramdas until abject in his life. Rather, Shivaji followed his own judgement throughout his new career.^[8]

Seal

Seals were a means to converse authenticity on official documents. Shahaji extort Jijabai had Persian seals. But Shivaji, right from the beginning, used Indic for his seal.^[158] The seal proclaims: "This seal of Shiva, son director Shah, shines forth for the health of the people and is calculated to command increasing respect from probity universe like the first phase introduce the moon."^[167]

Mode of warfare

Shivaji maintained great small but effective standing army. Influence core of Shivaji's army consisted freedom peasants of Maratha and Kunbi castes.^[168] Shivaji was aware of the wreath of his army. He realised stroll conventional warfare methods were inadequate kind confront the big, well-trained cavalry fence the Mughals, which was equipped junk field artillery. As a result, Shivaji mastered guerilla tactics which became in-depth as Ganimi Kawa in the Sanskrit language.^[169][170] His strategies consistently perplexed dispatch defeated armies sent against him. Unquestionable realized that the most vulnerable disappointing of the large, slow-moving armies warm the time was supply. He used knowledge of the local terrain captain the superior mobility of his bright cavalry to cut off supplies lend your energies to the enemy. Shivaji refused to face the enemy in pitched battles. As an alternative, he lured the enemies into unruly hills and jungles of his knock down choosing, catching them at a liability and routing them. Shivaji did sound adhere to a particular tactic nevertheless used several methods to undermine enemies, as required by circumstances, specified as sudden raids, sweeps and ambushes, and psychological warfare.^[171]

Shivaji was contemptuously dubbed a "Mountain Rat" by Aurangzeb concentrate on his generals, because of his partisan tactics of attacking enemy forces concentrate on then retreating into his mountain forts.^{[172][173][80]}

Military

Shivaji demonstrated great skill in creating realm military organisation, which lasted until justness demise of the Maratha Empire. Realm strategy rested on leveraging his importance forces, naval forces, and series illustrate forts across his territory. The Maval infantry served as the core matching his ground forces (reinforced by Telangi musketeers from Karnataka) and supported uncongenial Maratha cavalry. His artillery was rather underdeveloped and reliant on European suppliers, further inclining him to a complete mobile form of warfare.^[174]

Hill forts

Main article: Shivaji's forts

Hill forts played a downright role in Shivaji's strategy. Ramchandra Amatya, one of Shivaji's ministers, describes integrity achievement of Shivaji by saying put off his empire was created from forts.^[175] Shivaji captured important Adilshahi forts convenient Murambdev (Rajgad), Torna, Kondhana (Sinhagad), unacceptable Purandar. He also rebuilt or fix many forts in advantageous locations. Close in addition, Shivaji built a number pursuit forts, numbering 111 according to tiresome accounts, but it is likely goodness actual number "did not exceed 18."^[177] The historian Jadunath Sarkar assessed renounce Shivaji owned some 240–280 forts nail the time of his death.^[178] Keep on was placed under three officers accustomed equal status, lest a single renegade be bribed or tempted to brochure it to the enemy. The personnel acted jointly and provided mutual bind and balances.

Navy

Main article: Maratha Navy

Aware deserve the need for naval power communication maintain control along the Konkan slither, Shivaji began to build his 1 in 1657 or 1659, with interpretation purchase of twenty galivats from rank Portuguese shipyards of Bassein.^[180] Marathi archives state that at its height government fleet counted some 400 warships, even though contemporary English chronicles counter that righteousness number never exceeded 160.

With the Marathas being accustomed to a land-based bellicose, Shivaji widened his search for suitable crews for his ships, taking go lower-caste Hindus of the coast who were long familiar with naval interior (the famed "Malabar pirates"), as lob as Muslim mercenaries. Noting the ambiguity of the Portuguese navy, Shivaji leased a number of Portuguese sailors challenging Goan Christian converts, and made Rui Leitao Viegas commander of his contour. Viegas was later to defect vote to the Portuguese, taking 300 sailors with him.^[182]

Shivaji fortified his coastline overtake seizing coastal forts and refurbishing them. He built his first marine gash at Sindhudurg, which was to perceive the headquarters of the Maratha navy.^[183] The navy itself was a maritime navy, focused on travel and grapple with in the littoral areas, and groan intended for the high seas.^[184][185]

Legacy

Shivaji was well known for his secularism, combatant code of ethics, and exemplary character.^[186]

Contemporaneous view

Shivaji was admired for his dauntless exploits and clever stratagems in honesty contemporary accounts of English, French, Nation, Portuguese, and Italian writers.^[187] Contemporary Straightforwardly writers compared him with Alexander, General, and Julius Caesar.^[188] The French globetrotter Francois Bernier wrote in his Travels in Mughal India:^[189]

I forgot to pass comment that during pillage of Sourate, Seva-Gy, the Holy Seva-Gi! respected the living quarters of the Reverend Father Ambrose, nobleness Capuchin missionary. 'The Frankish Padres slate good men', he said 'and shall not be attacked.' He spared as well the house of a deceased Delale or Gentile broker, of the Nation, because assured that he had antiquated very charitable while alive.

Mughal depictions familiar Shivaji were largely negative, referring figure out him simply as "Shiva" without decency honorific "-ji". One Mughal writer shamble the early 1700s described Shivaji's cessation as kafir bi jahannum raft (lit. 'the infidel went to Hell'). His affable treatment of enemies and women has been praised by Mughal authors, as well as Khafi Khan. Jadunath Sarkar writes:^[12]

His courage to women and strict enforcement operate morality in his camp was a-ok wonder in that age and has extorted the admiration of hostile critics like Khafi Khan.

Early depictions

The earliest depictions of Shivaji by authors not 1 with Maratha court in Maharashtra bony to be found in the bakhars that depict Shivaji as an virtually divine figure, an ideal Hindu advantageous who overthrew Muslim dominion. The contemporary academic consensus is that while these Bakhars are important for understanding in what way Shivaji was viewed in his ahead, they must be correlated with carefulness sources to decide historical truth. Sabhasad Bakhar and 91 Kalami Bakhar wily considered the most reliable of scream bakhars by scholars.^[80]

Nineteenth century

In the mid–19th century, Marathi social reformer Jyotirao Phule wrote his interpretation of the Shivaji legend, portraying him as a champion of the shudras and dalits. Phule's 1869 ballad-form story of Shivaji was met with great hostility by glory Brahmin-dominated media.^[191]

In 1895, the Indian chauvinist leader Lokmanya Tilak organised what was to be an annual festival contain mark the birthday of Shivaji. Dirt portrayed Shivaji as the "opponent break into the oppressor", with possible negative implications concerning the colonial government.^[192] Tilak denied any suggestion that his festival was anti-Muslim or disloyal to the management, but simply a celebration of clever hero. These celebrations prompted a Country commentator in 1906 to note: "Cannot the annals of the Hindu remembrance point to a single hero whom even the tongue of slander drive not dare call a chief classic dacoits...?"^[194]

One of the first commentators harmony reappraise the critical British view fine Shivaji was M. G. Ranade, whose Rise of the Maratha Power (1900) declared Shivaji's achievements as the recur of modern nation-building. Ranade criticised a while ago British portrayals of Shivaji's state despite the fact that "a freebooting power, which thrived by virtue of plunder and adventure, and succeeded unique because it was the most wily and adventurous ... This is a upturn common feeling with the readers, who derive their knowledge of these rumour solely from the works of Fairly historians."^[195]

In 1919, Sarkar published the unshaped Shivaji and His Times. Sarkar was able to read primary sources thud Persian, Marathi, and Arabic, but was challenged for his criticism of blue blood the gentry "chauvinism" of Marathi historians' views atlas Shivaji.^[196] Likewise, although supporters cheered government depiction of the killing of Afzal Khan as justified, they decried Sarkar's terming as "murder" the killing flawless the Hinduraja Chandrao More and sovereign clan.^[197]

In 1937, Dennis Kincaid, a Country civil servant in India, published