Shivaji

Chhatrapati Shivaji Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India. He is considered to be one of the greatest warriors of his time and even today, stories of his exploits are narrated as a part of the folklore. King Shivaji used the guerrilla tactics to confiscate a part of, the then, dominant Mughal empire. Read this biography to get more schooling on the warrior and his life history Early Life Shivaji was born on 19th February 1630, to Sahaji and his wife, Jijabai, in the Shivneri Fort, situated almost 60 km to the northwesterly of Pune.He was named as Shiva, after the local Goddess Shivai, to whom his mother Jijabai had prayed for a son. After organism frustrated by the combined forces of the Mughals and Adil Shah, Sahaji was offered a jagir near the pre move-day Bangalore. However, he was allowed to keep his holdings in Pune. So, Sahaji left his son Shivaji to man term the Pune holdings, under the divvy up of his mother Jijabai. With a sma ll council of ministers, Shivaji began managing his estate. His ministers included Shamrao Nilkanth as Peshwa, Balkrishna Pant as Muzumdar, Raghunath Ballal as Sabnis and Sonopant as Dabir.At the same time, Kanhoji Jedhe and Baji Pasalkar were appointed to look after Shivajis training. In the year 1644, Shivaji undertook full administrative responsibilities of his estate. Thus was started his career as an self-sufficient young prince of a small kingdom. His mother, Jijabai, was instrumental in instilling in Shivajis mind a love for independence and distaste for external governmental domination. Career The first aggression in the life of Shivaji came at the age of sixteen, when he seized the Torna fort of Bijapur kingdom. By 1647, he had gained control over Kondana and Rajgad forts, with eject power of the Pune region.With time, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj secured the forts in the Western Ghats as well as those along the Konkan coast. Shivaji also fought once morest the army of Ad ilshah at Purandhar. In November 1659, he fought the involution of Pratapgarh and defeated Afzal Khan. Immediately after this success, King Shivaji occupied the area stretching upto the Panhala fort. The battle of Kolhapur took place in December 1659. In the battle, Shivaji crushed the army of Bijapuri general, Rustemjaman. In 1660, Siddi Johars huge and daunting army attacked him at Panhala fort.Shivaji managed to escape from the fort. However, he in short launched an attack on Siddi Johar. The result was the surrender of Panhala and a truce amid Shivaji and Adilshah. After the death of Adilshah, Aurangzeb attacked Golconda and Bijapur. Shivaji used guerilla-style tactics and captured more and more of the Bijapuri and Mughal territories. However, by 1663, he had lose most of his conquests to the Mughal army. In the next few years, Shivaji again started seizing forts belonging to both Mughals as well as those of Bijapur. Aurangzeb sent Jai Singh, his Hindu general, to capture Shi vaji.Shivaji surrendered to Jai Singh at Purander in 1665 and agreed becoming a Mughal vassal. In 1666, he managed to escape form his house arrest in Agra and lay low for the next few years. However, in January 1670, Shivaji launched an attack on Mughal garrisons in Maharashtra. Within a period of six months, he win back most of his lost empire. The period of 1670 to 1674 was spent by Shivaji Maharaj in expanding his empire at the cost of the Mughals. In 1670, Shivaji launched an assault, under his General Tanaji Malusare, to capture Kondana fort on the outskirts of Pune.The battle was won but he lost Tanaji. In the honor of Tanaji, the Kondana fort was renamed as Sinhagad. Shivaji was formally crowned as Chatrapati (meaning the Chief, Head or King of Kshatriyas) in June 1674 at the Raigad fort. He was wedded the title of Kshatriya Kulavantas Simhasanadheeshwar Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The end of 1676 saw Shivaji commencing attacks in the southern parts of India. closing and Succession Shivaji breathed his last on 3rd April 1680 in the Raigad fort, the working capital for Maratha Empire. He was succeeded by his elder son, Sambhaji.