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.

Early life

Shivaji was born in 1630, in the hill fort of Shivneri, 60 km north of Pune. His father, Shahaji, was a jagirdar of the sultan of Bijapur in present-day Karnataka. His mother was Jijabai, the daughter of Lakhuji Jadhav from Sindkhedraja in present-day Buldhana district of Maharashtra. He was one of the most influential amongst the Yadav (lower-caste Hindu) rulers. Before Bijapur, Shahaji had been a jagirdar of the Nizam of Ahmednagar. Malik Amber, the Vazir, or chief minister, of Ahmednagar did his best to fight out the Mughals. After his death, Shahaji took his place. From 1633 to 1636 he established a regime with a puppet nizamshahi minor as its nominal head. He was defeated by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. With it, the Mughals completed the conquest of the Nizamshahi kingdom of Ahmednagar in 1636. By a treaty ,Shahaji, was forced to leave the region around Poona. He was inducted by Adilshah, and was offered a distant jagir, present-day Banglore. Under these circumstances, Shivaji was sent to Poona alongwith his mother Jijabai, a chosen band of military commanders namely Baji Pasalkar, and also a small ministry including Sonopant, Dadoji Kond dev etc. Additionally, a royal seal was given to Shivaji in 1642. Under these circumstances Shivaji started his career in range of Sahyadri.

Related Topics:
1630 - Shivneri - Pune - Shahaji - Jagirdar - Bijapur - Jijabai - Lakhuji Jadhav - Sindkhedraja - Yadav - Nizam - Ahmednagar - Malik Amber - Vazir - Mughal - Shah Jahan - 1636 - Adilshah - Baji Pasalkar - Sonopant - Dadoji Kond dev - Sahyadri

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With the constant mixture of popular lore and genuine history, the understanding of who Shivaji's influences, mentors and friends were is often uncertain. But keeping aside these folklores, if one looks at his forts, his knowledge of Sanskrit, his war tactics , then no name appears genuine than his own father. For the reasons he was the only man around Shivaji who had fought battles of consequences, had a taste for literature and who had measured sword with the mighty Mughals for the making of a state. His mother made him a pious man which is reflected in his policy towards women. Dadoji Kond dev, was a trusted old man who organised Shivaji's training and maintained palace as per order of his father. All of these contributed to the making of his personality and that is precisely why he is a multifarious personality like any world class ruler.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1646, when Shivaji was 16, he launched his first military attack by capturing Torna fort, a part of Bijapur territory. By 1647, Shivaji had captured Kondana and Rajgad forts and had complete control of the Pune region. 1659, Shivaji had captured some forts in the Western Ghats and along the Konkan coast. Afzal Khan, Bijapur's finest general, was sent to destroy Shivaji.

Related Topics:
1646 - Torna - 1647 - 1659 - Western Ghats - Konkan - Afzal Khan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~