Sambhaji

Sambhaji raje Bhonsle(????- Died 1689) was the elder son of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and succeeded him as the Maratha leader after Shivaji's death in 1680.

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Sambhaji was a scholar of Sanskrit and eight other languages. He led the Maratha's fight against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who had invaded the Deccan in 1682 to end Maratha raids on Mughal territory, suppress Maratha independence, and to conquer the last of the independent Deccan sultanates. Sambhaji was captured in an ambush by Mughal troops in 1688. He refused to convert to Islam, and shortly thereafter died while being tortured and dismembered; in so doing earned the title of Dharmaweer. He was succeeded as leader of the Marathas by his younger brother Rajaram.

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There is some dispute among historians about his ability as a ruler. Some historians have portrayed him as ineffective and/or alcoholic. Other historians, notably S.G. Shevde, portray Sambhaji as a capable ruler.

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Bhonsle: The Bhonsle or Bhonsale were a prominent Maratha clan who served as rulers of several states in India....

Maratha: Maratha is a kshatriya (warrior) caste of Marathi language speaking people primarily residing in the plains and hills of India's western state of Maharashtra. They are thought to be descendents of India's Scythian conquerors who mingled with the local people. Buddhists initially, they converted to H...

Shivaji: Shivaji Bhonsle, also known as Chhatrapati Shri Shivaji Maharaj (February 19, 1630 - April 3, 1680) was the founder of the Maratha empire in western India in 1674....