A Short Note on Shivaji Raje Bhonsle.

Shivaji was born in the hills of Shivneri, which is near Pune. He belongs to a clan named Bhosle clan. He found the Maratha empire. In this article, you’ll get detailed information about Shivaji Maharaj. Where was he born? Who gave him teachings? And about his family history. About his parents and everything you need to know about his life. 

One of Indian history’s enlightened and bravest rulers is the legendary Shivaji Maharaj. He was the one who laid the foundation of the Maratha Empire and welded the Marathas into a nation by infusing the new spirit of dignity and unity into the 96 clans of Marathas. The great Shivaji was born in the year 1630 AD. He was born to Shahji Raje Bhonsle, who was an army officer. He worked in the Bijapur and Jijabai army near the city of Junnar, now in the Pune district, and died on April 3, 1680.

Early Life– 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj his upbringing was done by Jijabai, who was his mother, and his guardian Kondadev. With Kondadev, he learned the art of government and military art. And, guru Ramdas was reaching him. Getting inspired by Guru Ramdas with patriotic and noble ideas and instilled a love for religion and motherland in him. Born during Muslim rule, Shivaji Maharaj found the oppression and persecution of Hindus intolerable and convinced himself at the early age of sixteen that he was a divinely appointed instrument for Hindu freedom.

Shivaji’s Conquests-

Shivaji Maharaj organized a number of Marathi folk into an army and began raiding neighboring territories. When he was nineteen, he captured the famous fort named the fort of Torna around 1955, which is about 20 miles from the Junnar. Later, he conquered many other famous forts. One of them being Chakan, Purander, etc. 

These are in the territories of the Bijapur Sultanate. Provoked by Shivaji’s acquisitions, the Sultan of Bijapur firstly kidnapped his father and later sent Afzal Khan along with an army of 20,000 troops to defeat Shivaji. Bijapur Sultanate, his first defeat was in one of the famous battles named the Battle of Pratapgarh in 1659, and later in the Kolhapur battle by Marathas. This success gained his reputation, and Chhatrapati Shivaji became a hero. Shivaji continued raiding Mughal territories; Aurangzeb tried to chastise him by sending Shaista Khan with an army that faced defeat. Later he sent Kartlab Khan in 1661, with whom the smaller force of Marathas fought the  Umberkhind battle and defeated them.

Later then, Aurangzeb sent his most prominent general, Mirza Raja Jai Singh, with around 1,00,000 troops and pressured Shivaji Maharaj to sue for peace. He forced Shivaji to end the treaty of Purandar, under which Shivaji had to admit the ascendancy of the Mughal Emperor. Shivaji and his son Shambhaji were then taken to Agra to formally accept the Mughal Vassals. Both of them were not provided with proper treatment and were captive under watch, but they managed to run away, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj started a war to defeat the Mughals. 

Titled as Ruler –

Finally, Aurangzeb was forced to accept him as raja. Shivaji, in 1674 declared himself a free ruler. He took the title of Chhatrapati and came to be known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Chhatrapati Shivaji was a great ruler. He established progressive civil rule with structured organizations. His administration system was mainly borrowed from Deccan administrative rules and influenced by Dharmashastras and Kautilya Arthashastra. 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj created a well-organized and disciplined army divided into cavalry and infantry, well equipped with techniques of guerrilla warfare for hilly regions. He also recognized the necessity of a navy and created a  navy consisting of 200 warships, and this shows what a visionary he was. Insourcing to service, he showed no discrimination based on caste or religion. Though he was the master of Hinduism and he was among the most liberal leaders, he protected and tolerated other religions well. Shivaji liked the culture and the art. He was an admirer of Ramdas, Mauni baba, Jairam, Gaga Bhatt.

Shivaji’s Death-

The Great Chhatrapati Shivaji died of illness on April 3, 1680, after an illness in his capital Rajgarh. His last years were majorly shadowed by the apostasy of his elder son, Shivaji was succeeded by his son Sambhaji Maharaj.

Conclusion

The Maratha Empire in the western part of India was founded by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He is widely regarded as one of history’s finest fighters. Shivaji carved away territory from the collapsing AdilShahi dynasty of Bijapur with his valour and administrative talents. It was eventually the birthplace of the great Maratha Empire. The above article briefly discusses the early life, conquests, army, and demise of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja.