MARTHA ASCENDANCY - Shivaji (1627 - 1880)
Shivaji (1627 - 1680):
- Belonged to the Bhonsle Clan of Marathas.
- Born at Shivner to Shahji & Jija Bai, into the family of a military commander under the Nizam Shahi rulers of Ahmadnagar, who later shifted loyalties to Bijapur.
- In 1637 he received the Jagir of Poona form his father, but is was only in 1647 after the death of his Guardian, Dadaji kondadev, that Shivaji could control it by his own.
- In 1646 he captured Raigarh, Kondana & Torna form Bijapur, apart form Chakan & Purandhar.
- 1656 - conquest of Afzal Khan with tiger claws, who was sent by Ali Adil Shah of Bijapur.
- Shaista Khan, the viceroy of Mughal Deccan was sent by Aurangzeb in 1660 to strike at the Maratha territories.
- 1663 - Shivaji carried a night attack on the camp of Shaista Khan who after this defect was transferred to Bengal as a punishment. Meanwhile Shivaji plundered Surat (1664) & Ahmadnagar.
- 1665 Aurangzeb then sent-Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber & Diler Khan against Shivaji. Who sued for peace through the Treaty of Purandhar & surrendered 23 out of 35 forts that he held.
- Shivaji's son Sambhaji was awarede a mansab of 5000.
- 1666 - Shivaji visited Agra & was imprisoned, But he managed to escape from the Mughals.
- 1670 - Second plunder of Surat.
- 1674 - He was coronated at Raigarh & assumed the title of 'Maharaja Chattrapati' - & Haindava Dharmodharak'
- 1676 - 79 - Conqured Jinjee, Vellore, etc form the Bijapur kingdom in alliance with the Qutb-Shahis of Golconda, but did not share the promised territories with the latter.
- 1680 - Shivaji died.
- 1680 - 1689 - Sambhaji succeeded Shivaji, but he was a man of loose morals & was widely unpopular.
- Kari Kalash, a Brahman was his counseller.
- Prince Akbar, the rebellions son of Aurangzeb took shelter at Sambhaji's court & led to the execution of the Latter at Sangameshwar in 1689 by Muqqarrab Khan, the Mughal Governor.
- Yesubai, the window of sambhaji could not protect the fort of Raigrah & she, alon with her son, Shahu were made prisoners.