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Introduction:-

Shivaji Shahaji Bhosle (Born:February 19, 1630, Died: April 3, 1680), commonly known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजीराजे भोसले) was the founder of the Maratha Empire. Shivaji was younger of the two sons of Shahaji Bhosle and Jijabai. His father, Shahaji was a Maratha general who served at various occasions the Bijapur Sultanate, Deccan sultanates and the Mughals. Shivaji with his ideology of Hindavi Swaraj (freedom for Hindustan) decided to directly challenge Bijapur Sultanate rule and eventually the Mughal empire, to establish the Marāṭhā Sāmrājya or the Maratha Empire. Shivaji succeeded in establishing control of major portion of western India during his lifetime. . At its peak the Maratha Empire rule spread across most of the present day India.


Shivaji’s ideology of Hindavi Swaraj and subsequent expansion of the Maratha Empire, was partly responsible for re-establisment of Hindu rule and its re-emergent assertiveness throughout the mainland of present day India after being ruled by various Muslim dynasties. The ideology of Hindavi swaraj was in part the inspiration that propelled the succeeding generation of Marathas to establish independent kingdom in India prior to their eventual defeat by the British Empire. This ideology was neither directed against Islam nor aimed toward propagation of Hinduism.

Shivaji established and set up a competent civil rule with the help of well regulated and disciplined military and well structured administrative organizations. The then prevalent practices of treating women as war booty, destruction of religious monuments, slavery and forceful religious conversions were firmly opposed under his administration. Shivaji himself was a religious, devout and tolerant Hindu who worshipped with deep faith. He was also responsible for inclusion of Sanskrit vocabulary into everyday language.


Shivaji changed rules of military engagement prevalent in that era. He pioneered Ganimi Kava, rapid commando actions, which leveraged various factors like demographics, speed, surprise and focused attack. In comparison to his enemies, Shivaji had smaller army and thereby was obliged to make major innovative reforms in terms of military organization, logistics, stratergies and tactics to help overcome this great imbalance.

A large portion of his kingdom was a coastline and he secured it with a potent navy under commander Angre. He was very successful in keeping foreign naval ships, particularly Portugese and British, under check. For his foresight of establishing of one of the first large scale naval presence he is referred to as the "Father of Indian Navy". Forts played an important role in Shivaji’s military history. He conquered, constructed and renovated many strategically located forts to defend and secure his kingdom.


Birth:-

Shivaji was the youngest son of Shahaji and Jijabai Bhosale. Shivaji's birth date was a matter of controversy but recently a consensus has been reached and is deemed to be 19 February 1630. He was born on Shivneri Fort, Junnar, 60 kilometres north of Pune and was named Shiva after Shivai, Goddess of the fort, whom his mother Jijabai during her pregnancy. Shivaji was fifth son born to Jijabai, 3 of whom had died as infants and only Sambhaji survived. While Shivaji was accompanied mostly by his mother, Sambhaji lived with his father Shahaji at Banglore (present day Bengaluru). During the period of Shivaji's birth, the power in Maharastra was shared by three Sultanates - Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and Golconda. Most of the then Marathas forces had pledged their loyalties to one of these Sultanates and were engaged in a continuous game of mutual alliances and aggressions.

Shahaji Bhosle - Shivaji's father - was the eldest son of Maloji Bhosale of Verul (present day Ellora, Maharastra). Maloji Bhosale's was deeply insulted by Lakhuji Jadhavrao, an sardar in Nizamshahi, due his refusal to allow his daughter Jijabai's (Shivaji's mother) marriage to his son - Shahaji. This lead Maloji's to aggressive conquests to obtain a higher station and an important role under Nizamshahi, something that eventually lead him to achieving the title of Mansabdar (military commander and a imperial adminstrator). Leveraging this new found fame and power he was able to convince Jadhavrao to give his daughter in marriage to his son Shahaji.

Shahaji continuing the lead of his father played an important role in various Deccan wars. He began service with the young Nizam of Ahmednagar and together with Malik Amber, Nizam's minister, he won back most of the district for the Nizam from the Moghuls who had gained it during their attack of 1600. Thereafter Lakhuji Jadhav, Shahaji's father in law attacked Shahaji and surrounded him at the Mahuli fort along with Jijabai who was 4 month pregnant. After seeing no relief coming from Nizam, Shahaji decided to give up the fort and planned his escape.

He sent Jijabai off to the safety of Shivneri fort which was under his control. It was here at Shivneri that Shivaji was born. In the meanwhile entire Jadhavrao family including Lakhuji and his three sons were murdered in Nizam's court while they had come there to join his forces. Unsettled by this incident Shahaji Raje decided to part himself from Nizamshahi and raise the banner of independence and establish an independent kingdom.

After this episode Ahmednagar fell to the Moghul emperor Shah Jahan, and shortly thereafter Shahji as Nizam's General responded by attacking the Mughal garrison and regained control of this region again. In response the Mughals sent a much larger force in 1635 to recover the area back and forced Shahaji to retreat into Mahuli. Adilshah of Bijapur agreed to pay tribute to the Moghuls in return for the authority to rule this region in the year of 1636. Thereafter Shahaji was inducted by Adilshah of Bijapur and was offered a distant jagir - land holdings, at present-day Bangalore, but he was allowed to keep his old land tenures and holdings in Pune.

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