Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India. Shivaji was born on 19th February 1630, to Sahaji and his wife, Jijabai, in the Shivneri fort, situated at the north of Pune. He was named Shiva, after the local Goddess Shivai, to whom his mother Jijabai had prayed for a son.
After being defeated by the combined forces of the Mughals and Adil Shah, Sahaji was offered a jagir near the present-day Bangalore. However, he was allowed to keep his holdings in Pune. So, Sahaji left his son Shivaji to manage the Pune holdings, under the care of his mother Jijabai.
With a small council of ministers, Shivaji began managing his estate. His mother, Jijabai, was instrumental in instilling in Shivaji’s mind a love for independence and distaste for external political domination.
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 Rajgadh forts, with complete power of the Pune region. The battle of Kolhapur took place in December 1659. In the battle, Shivaji crushed the army of Bijapuri general, Rustemjaman.
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 Shivaji. Shivaji surrendered to Jai Singh at Purander in 1665 and agreed becoming a Mughal vassal. In 1666, he managed to escape from 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 won 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 Sinhagadh. Shivaji was formally crowned as Chatrapati (meaning the Chief, Head or King of Kshatriyas) in June 1674 at the Raigadh fort. Shivaji had his last breath on 3rd April 1680 in the Raigadh fort, the capital of Maratha Empire. He was succeeded by his elder son, Sambhaji.
Vocabulary
Seized—Captured
Assault—attack
