chhatrapati shivaji maharaj biography (1630-1680)

Chhatrapati shivaji maharaj was born on February 19th, 1630 at Shivneri Fort in the district of Pune, which is now a part of the state of Maharashtra. His father, Shahaji Bhonsle, was a Maratha general who held the jagirs of Pune and Supe under the Bijapur Sultanate. His mother, Jijabai, was a pious woman whose religious qualities had a profound influence on him.

Early Life of chhatrapati shivaji maharaj

As a teenager in 1645, he first demonstrated his military prowess by gaining control of the Torna Fort, which was previously held by Bijapur. He went on to acquire the Kondana Fort, which was also under the control of Adil Shah of Bijapur.

Chhatrapati Shivaji played a vital role in leading his family’s armed resistance to Mughal rule after his death in 1665. He conducted numerous raids on Mughal towns and forts situated in Maharashtra and India. In the year 1674, he emerged victorious in a battle against Afzal Khan at Pratapgarh. Shivaji continued expanding his territories and forts across the Western Ghats until he established an empire that encompassed almost all of present-day Maharashtra, excluding the Thane district.

His empire also included territories that later became part of princely states such as Baroda (now Vadodara), Kolhapur, Satara, Goa, and southern parts of Karnataka, including Bangalore. Shivaji created a government with its capital at Raigad Fort, which is currently known as Nagaon. He spent his summers there and also resided at Panhala Fort near present-day Kolhapur district headquarters in Karveer.

Shivaji Maharaj married Saibai Chauhanika in 1640 but did not have any son during her lifetime, which caused him great distress because, according to then-prevailing customs, only a son could inherit property after the father’s death without any dispute between heirs or family members, so he adopted Tanaji Malusare as a son who proved himself worthy successor after the death of Sambhaji(1680).

Administration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was an exceptional leader, military commander, and administrator who possessed a clear vision for the future of his kingdom. His administrative abilities were exceptional, and he knew how to use money in the best possible way to strengthen his country. These qualities helped him to make Maharashtra a strong and united kingdom under his leadership.

chhatrapati shivaji maharaj’s Conflict with Mughals

Shivaji raided Mughal territory near Ahmednagar and in Junnar in 1657. This led to Aurangzeb sending Nasiri Khan to defeat Shivaji’s forces in Ahmednagar. However, Shivaji was able to defeat a large force of Shaista Khan, who was Aurangzeb’s maternal uncle, as well as the Bijapur army in Pune in 1659.

In 1664, Shivaji led an attack on the wealthy Mughal trading port of Surat. This was a significant event in the conflict between the Mughals and Shivaji.

Subsequently, in June 1665, the Treaty of Purandar was signed between Shivaji and Raja Jai Singh I, who represented Aurangzeb. As per the treaty, Shivaji relinquished many forts to the Mughals. He also agreed to meet Aurangzeb at Agra and send his son Sambhaji along with him.

Arrest of chhatrapati shivaji maharaj

During his visit to meet the Mughal emperor at Agra in 1666, Shivaji, the Maratha warrior, felt insulted by Aurangzeb’s behaviour and left the court in anger. As a result, he was arrested and kept as a prisoner. The legendary escape of Shivaji and his son from imprisonment in disguise out of Agra is still talked about today.

After this incident, there was peace between the Marathas and the Mughals until 1670. However, the jagir of Berar, which was granted to Sambhaji by the Mughals, was taken back from him. In response, Shivaji attacked and recovered many territories from the Mughals in a short span of four months.

Through his military tactics, Shivaji acquired a large part of the land in the Deccan and western India.

Important Battle of chhatrapati shivaji maharaj

1. Battle of Pratapgad, 1659:
   This battle was fought at the fort of Pratapgad near the town of Satara, Maharashtra. It was fought between the forces of the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Adilshahi general Afzal Khan.
2. Battle of Pavan Khind, 1660:
   This battle was fought at a mountain pass in the vicinity of fort Vishalgad, near the city of Kolhapur, Maharashtra. It was fought between the Maratha Sardar Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Siddi Masud of Adilshahi.
3. Sacking of Surat, 1664:
   This battle was fought near the city of Surat, Gujarat, between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Inayat Khan, a Mughal captain.
4. Battle of Purandar, 1665:
   This battle was fought between the Mughal Empire and Maratha Empire.
5. Battle of Sinhagad, 1670:
   This battle was fought on the fort of Sinhagad near the city of Pune, Maharashtra, between Tanaji Malusare, a commander of Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj, and Udaybhan Rathod, fortkeeper under Jai Singh I who was a Mughal Army Chief.
6. Battle of Kalyan, 1682-83:
   In this battle, Bahadur Khan of the Mughal Empire defeated the Maratha army and took over Kalyan.
7. Battle of Sangamner, 1679:
   This battle was fought between the Mughal Empire and Maratha Empire. This was the last battle in which the Maratha King Shivaji fought.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What was the cause of death of Shivaji?

Shivaji passed away in April 1680 at the age of 50, just before Hanuman Jayanti. The reason for Shivaji’s death is uncertain. According to British records, Shivaji died of bloody flu after being unwell for 12 days. However, a contemporary work in Portuguese, found in the Biblioteca Nacional de Lisboa, states that the cause of death of Shivaji was anthrax. On the other hand, Krishnaji Anant Sabhasad, the author of Sabhasad Bakhar, a biography of Shivaji, has mentioned that fever was the cause of his death.

chhatrapati shivaji maharaj spouse

shivaji maharaj first wife was Saibai, also known as Nimbalkar. The names of his other wives were Soyarabai, Mohite, Putalabai, Palkar, Sakvarbi Gaikwad, Sangunabai, and Kashibai Jadhav. Saibai bore him Sambhaji and three daughters. Soyarabai bore him a son named Rajaram and a daughter named Deepabai. His other children were Rajkunvarbai from his wife Sagunabai and Kamlabai from Sakvarbai.