Shivaji Bhosale ( 1627/1630– 3 April 1680), was the founder of the Maratha Empire, which lasted until 1818, and at its peak covered much of the Indian
subcontinent. An aristocrat of the Bhosle Maratha clan, Shivaji led a resistance against the Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur and the Mughal Empire and re-
established a Hindavi Swarajya . He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital, and was crowned Chhatrapati of the Marathas in
1674.
Shivaji established a competent and progressive civil rule with the help of a disciplined military and well-structured administrative organisations. He
innovated military tactics, pioneering the guerilla warfare methods, which leveraged strategic factors like geography, speed, and surprise and focused
pinpoint attacks to defeat his larger and more powerful enemies. From a small contingent of 2,000 soldiers inherited from his father, Shivaji created a
force of 100,000 soldiers; he built and restored strategically located forts both inland and coastal to safeguard his territory. He revived ancient Hindu
political traditions and court conventions, and promoted the usage of Marathi and Sanskrit, rather than Persian, in court and administration.
Early life
Shivaji was born in the hill-fort of Shivneri, near the city of Junnar in Pune district around the year 1627. Other suggested dates include 6 April 1627, or
other dates near this day. Per legend, his mother named him Shivaji in honour of the goddess Shivai, to whom she had prayed for a healthy child.
Shivaji's father Shahaji Bhosale was the leader of a band of mercenaries that serviced the Deccan Sultanates. His mother was Jijabai, the daughter of
Lakhujirao Jadhav of Sindkhed. At the time of Shivaji's birth, the power in Deccan was shared by three Islamic sultanates: Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and
Golconda. Shahaji often changed his loyalty between the Nizamshahi of Ahmadnagar, the Adilshah of Bijapur and the Mughals, but always kept his jagir
at Pune and his small army with him.
Upbringing
Shivaji was extremely devoted to his mother Jijabai, who was deeply religious. This religious environment had a great impact on Shivaji, and he carefully
studied the two great Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata; these were to influence his lifelong defence of Hindu values.Throughout his life he was
deeply interested in religious teachings, and regularly sought the company of Hindu and Sufi saints.
Shahaji, meanwhile had married a second wife, Tuka Bai Mohite, and moved to take an assignment in Karnataka, leaving Shivaji and his mother in Pune.
Shahaji entrusted the two to his friend Dadoji Kondadev Kulkarni, who provided them a mansion to live in, profitably administered the Pune jagir, and
mentored the young Shivaji. The boy was a keen outdoorsman, but had little formal education, and was likely illiterate.Shivaji drew his earliest trusted
comrades and a large number of his soldiers from the Maval region, including Yesaji Kank, Suryaji Kakade, Baji Pasalkar, Baji Prabhu Deshpande and
Tanaji Malusare. In the company of his Maval comrades, Shivaji wandered over the hills and forests of the Sahyadri range, hardening himself and
acquiring first-hand knowledge of the land, which was to later prove applicable to his military endeavours.
At the age of 12, Shivaji was taken to Bangalore where he, his elder brother Sambhaji and his stepbrother Ekoji I were further formally trained. He married
Saibai, a member of the prominent Nimbalkar family in 1640:60 Around 1645-6, the teenage Shivaji first expressed his concept for Hindavi swarajya, in a
letter to Dadaji Naras Prabhu.
Conflict with Adilshahi sultanate
In 1645, the 16 year old Shivaji bribed or persuaded the Bijapuri commander of the Torna Fort, Inayat Khan, to hand over the possession of the fort to him.
Firangoji Narsala, who held the Chakan fort professed his loyalty to Shivaji and the fort of Kondana was acquired by bribing the Adilshahi governor.26 On
25 July 1648, Shahaji was imprisoned by Baji Ghorpade under the orders of the current Adilshah, Mohammed Adil Shah, in a bid to contain Shivaji.
Accounts vary, with some saying Shahaji was conditionally released in 1649 after Shivaji and Sambhaji surrendered the forts of Kondhana, Bangalore and
Kandarpi, others saying he was imprisoned until 1653 or 1655; during this period Shivaji maintained a low profile. After his release, Shahaji retired from
public life, and died around 1664-1665 during a hunting accident. Following his father's death, Shivaji resumed raiding, seizing the kingdom of Javali from
a neighbouring Maratha chieftain in 1656.
Combat with Afzal Khan
In 1659, Adilshah sent Afzal Khan, an experienced and veteran general to destroy Shivaji in an effort to put down what he saw as a regional revolt. Afzal
Khan desecrated Hindu temples at Tuljapur and Pandharpur, hoping to draw Shivaji to the plains where the superior Bijapuri army could destroy him.
Shivaji, however, sent a letter to Afzal Khan requesting a meeting to negotiate.
The two met in a hut at the foothills of Pratapgad fort on 10 November 1659. The arrangements had dictated that each come armed only with a sword, and
attended by a follower. Shivaji, either suspecting Afzal Khan would attack him:47-52 or secretly planning to attack, wore armour beneath his clothes,
concealed a bagh nakh on his left arm, and had a dagger in his right hand.22 Accounts vary on whether Shivaji or Afzal Khan struck the first blow: the
Maratha chronicles accuse Afzal Khan of treachery, while the Persian-language chronicles attribute the treachery to Shivaji. In the fight, Afzal Khan's
dagger was stopped by Shivaji's armour, and Shivaji's weapons inflicted mortal wounds on the general; Shivaji then signalled his hidden troops to launch
the assault on the Bijapuris.
Battle of Pratapgarh
In the ensuing Battle of Pratapgarh fought on 10 November 1659, Shivaji's forces decisively defeated the Bijapur Sultanate's forces. The agile Maratha
infantry and cavalry inflicted rapid strikes on Bijapuri units, attacked the Bijapuri cavalry before it was prepared for battle, and pursued retreating troops
toward Wai. More than 3,000 soldiers of the Bijapur army were killed and two sons of Afzal Khan were taken as prisoners.
This unexpected and unlikely victory made Shivaji a hero of Maratha folklore and a legendary figure among his people. The large quantities of captured
weapons, horses, armour and other materials helped to strengthen the nascent and emerging Maratha army. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb now
identified Shivaji as a major threat to the mighty Mughal Empire. Soon thereafter Shivaji, Shahaji and Netaji Palkar decided to attack and defeat the
Adilshahi kingdom at Bijapur. However, Shahaji's health deteriorated and they were forced to postpone the planned attack, while Netaji Palkar undertook
smaller scale harassing attacks on the Adilshahi kingdom.
Battle of Kolhapur
To counter the loss at Pratapgad and to defeat the newly emerging Maratha power, another army, this time numbering over 10,000, was sent against
Shivaji, commanded by Bijapur`s Abyssinian general Rustamjaman. With a cavalry force of 5,000 Marathas, Shivaji attacked them near Kolhapur on 28
December 1659. In a swift movement, Shivaji led a full frontal attack at the center of the enemy forces while two other portions of his cavalry attacked the
flanks. This battle lasted for several hours and at the end Bijapuri forces were soundly defeated and Rustamjaman fled the battlefield. Adilshahi forces lost
about 2,000 horses and 12 elephants to the Marathas. This victory alarmed Aurangazeb, who now derisively referred to Shivaji as the Mountain Rat, and
prepared to address this rising Maratha threat.
Siege of Panhala
In 1660, Adilshah sent the his general Siddi Jauhar to attack Shivaji`s southern border, in alliance with the Mughals who planned to attack from the north.
At that time, Shivaji was encamped at Panhala fort near present-day Kolhapur with his forces. Siddi Jauhar's army besieged Panhala in mid-1660, cutting
off supply routes to the fort. Shivaji escaped from the encircled fort, and withdrew to Rangna. Ali Adil Shah arrived in person at Panhala, and the fort fell
after four months of siege; Shivaji would later re-take Panhala in 1673.
During the bombardment of Panhala, Siddhi Jahuar had purchased grenades from the British at Rajapur to increase his efficacy, and also hired some
English artillerymen to bombard the fort, conspicuously flying a flag used by the English. This perceived betrayal angered Shivaji, who in December would
exact revenge by plundering the English factory at Rajapur and capturing four of the factors, imprisoning them until mid-1663.
Battle of Pavan Khind
Observing that enemy cavalry was fast closing in on them, Shivaji sought to avoid defeat and capture. Baji Prabhu Deshpande, a Maratha sardar of
Bandal Deshmukh along with 300 soldiers, volunteered to fight to the death to hold back the enemy at Ghod Khind to give Shivaji and the rest of the army
a chance to reach the safety of the Vishalgad fort. In the ensuing Battle of Pavan Khind, the smaller Maratha force held back the larger enemy to buy time
for Shivaji to escape. Baji Prabhu Deshpande was wounded but continued to fight until he heard the sound of cannon fire from Vishalgad, signalling
Shivaji had safely reached the fort, on the evening of 13 July 1660. Other accounts simply state that Shivaji negotiated with Siddhi Jahuar and handed over
the fort on 22 September 1600, withdrawing to Vishalgad.
Thereafter a truce was made between Shivaji and Adilshah through Shahaji. Ghod Khind was renamed Paavan Khind in honour of Bajiprabhu
Deshpande, Shibosingh Jadhav, Fuloji, and all other soldiers who fought in there.
Clash with the Mughals
Up until 1657, Shivaji maintained peaceful relations with the Mughal Empire. Shivaji offered his assistance to Aurangzeb in conquering Bijapur and in
return, he was assured of the formal recognition of his right to the Bijapuri forts and villages under his possession.Shivaji`s confrontations with the
Mughals began in March 1657, when two of Shivaji`s officers raided the Mughal territory near Ahmednagar.This was followed by raids in Junnar, with
Shivaji carrying off 300,000 hun in cash and 200 horses. Aurangzeb responded to the raids by sending Nasiri Khan, who defeated the forces of Shivaji at
Ahmednagar. However, the countermeasures were interrupted by the rainy season and the battle of succession for the Mughal throne following the illness
of Shah Jahan.
Attack on Shaista Khan
Upon the request of Badi Begum of Bijapur, Aurangzeb sent his maternal uncle Shaista Khan, with an army numbering over 150,000 along with a
powerful artillery division in January 1660 to attack Shivaji in conjunction with Bijapur's army led by Siddi Jauhar. Shaista Khan, with his better equipped
and provisioned army of 300,000 seized Pune and the nearby fort of Chakan, besieging it for a month and a half until breaching the walls. Shaista Khan
pressed his advantage of having a larger, better provisioned and heavily armed Mughal army and made inroads into some of the Maratha territory, seizing
the city of Pune and establishing his residence at Shivaji's palace of Lal Mahal.
In April 1663, Shivaji launched a surprise attack on Shaista Khan in Pune accounts of the story differ in the popular imagination, but there is some
agreement that Shivaji and band of some 200 followers infiltrated Pune, using a wedding procession as cover. They overcame the palace guards,
breached the wall, and entered Shaista Khan's quarters, killing those they found there. Shaista Khan escaped, losing his thumb in the melee, but one of
his sons and other members of his household were killed. The Khan took refuge with the Moghul forces outside of Pune, and Aurangzeb punished him for
this embarrassment with a transfer to Bengal.
An Uzbek general, Kartalab Khan, was sent by Shaista Khan to attack and reduce the number of forts under Shivaji`s control in the Konkan region on 3
February 1661. The 30,000 Mughal troops left Pune, marching through the back-country in an attempt to surprise the Marathas. In the Battle of
Umberkhind, Shivaji`s forces ambushed and enveloped them with infantry and light cavalry in the dense forests of Umber Khind pass near present-day
Pen. With defeat inevitable, the Mughal commander, a Maratha woman named Raibagan, advised Kartalab to parley with Shivaji, who allowed the
Mughals to surrender all their supplies and arms, and depart with safe passage. In retaliation for Shaista Khan's attacks, and to replenish his now-
depleted treasury, in 1664 Shivaji sacked the city of Surat, a wealthy Mughal trading centre.
Treaty of Purandar
Aurangzeb was enraged and sent Mirza Raja Jai Singh I with an army numbering around 150,000 to defeat Shivaji. Jai Singh`s forces made significant
gains and captured many Maratha forts, forcing Shivaji to come to terms with Aurangzeb rather than lose more forts and men.
In the Treaty of Purandar, signed between Shivaji and Jai Singh on 11 June 1665, Shivaji agreed to give up 23 of his forts and pay compensation of
400,000 rupees to the Mughals. He also agreed to let his son Sambhaji become a Mughal sardar, serve the Mughal court of Aurangzeb and fight
alongside the Mughals against Bijapur. He actually fought alongside Jai Singh`s against Bijapur`s for a few months. His commander Netaji Palkar joined
the Mughals, was rewarded very well for his bravery, converted to Islam, changed his name to Quli Mohammed Khan in 1666 and was sent to the Afghan
frontier to fight the restive tribes. He returned to Shivaji`s service in 1676 after ten years with the Mughals, and was accepted back as a Hindu on Shivaji`s
advice.
Arrest in Agra and escape
In 1666, Aurangzeb invited Shivaji to Agra, along with his nine-year-old son Sambhaji. Aurangzeb`s plan was to send Shivaji to Kandahar, now in
Afghanistan, to consolidate the Mughal empire`s northwestern frontier. However, in the court, on 12 May 1666, Aurangzeb made Shivaji stand behind
mansabdars (military commanders) of his court. Shivaji took offence and stormed out of court, and was promptly placed under house arrest under the
watch of Faulad Khan, Kotwal of Agra. Shivaji`s spies informed him that Aurangzeb planned to move Shivaji to Raja Vitthaldas` haveli and then to possibly
kill him or send him to fight in the Afghan frontier, so Shivaji planned his escape.
Shivaji feigned severe illness and requested to send most of his contingent back to the Deccan, thereby ensuring the safety of his army and deceiving
Aurangzeb. Thereafter, on his request, he was allowed to send daily shipments of sweets and gifts to saints, fakirs, and temples in Agra as offerings for
his health. After several days and weeks of sending out boxes containing sweets, Sambhaji, being a child had no restrictions and was sent out of the
prison camp and Shivaji, disguised as labourer carrying sweet basket escaped on 17 August 1666, according to the Mughal documents. Shivaji and his
son fled to the Deccan disguised as sadhus After the escape, rumours of Sambhaji`s death were intentionally spread by Shivaji himself in order to deceive
the Mughals and to protect Sambhaji. Recent research has proposed that Shivaji simply disguised himself as a Brahmin priest after performance of
religious rites at the haveli grounds on 22 July 1666, and escaped by mingling within the departing priestly entourage of Pandit Kavindra Paramananda.
Sambhaji was removed from Agra and taken to Mathura later by Shivaji`s trusted men.
Reconquest
After Shivaji`s escape, hostilities ebbed and a treaty lasted until the end of 1670, when Shivaji launched a major offensive against Mughals, and in a span
of four months recovered a major portion of the territories surrendered to Mughals. During this phase, Tanaji Malusare won the fort of Sinhgad in the
Battle of Sinhagad on 4 Feb 1670, dying in the process.Shivaji sacked Surat for second time in 1670; while he was returning from Surat,
Mughals under Daud Khan tried to intercept him, but were defeated in the Battle of Vani-Dindori near present-day Nashik.
Dealings with the English
In October 1670, Shivaji sent his forces to harass the British at Bombay as they had refused to sell him war material, his forces blocked Bombay`s
woodcutting parties. In September 1671, Shivaji sent an ambassador to Bombay, again seeking material, this time for the fight against Danda-Rajpuri; the
British had misgivings of the advantages Shivaji would gain from this conquest, but also did not want to lose any chance of receiving compensation for his
looting their factories at Rajapur. The British sent Lieutenant Stephen Ustick to treat with Shivaji, but negotiations failed over the issue of the Rajapur
indemnity. Numerous exchanges of envoys followed over the coming years, with some agreement as to the arms issues in 1674, but Shivaji was never to
pay the Rajpur indemnity before his death, and the factory there dissolved at the end of 1682.
Battle of Nesari
In 1674, Prataprao Gujar, the then commander-in chief of the Maratha forces, was sent to push back the invading force led by the Adilshahi general,
Bahlol Khan. Prataprao`s forces defeated and captured the opposing general in the battle, after cutting-off their water supply by encircling a strategic lake,
which prompted Bahlol Khan to sue for peace. In spite of Shivaji`s specific warnings against doing so Prataprao released Bahlol Khan, who started
preparing for a fresh invasion.
Towers of the Raigad Fort.
Shivaji sent a displeased letter to Prataprao, refusing him audience until Bahlol Khan was re-captured. In the ensuing days, Shivaji learnt of Bahlol Khan
having camped with 15,000 force at Nesari near Kolhapur. Not wanting to risk losing his much smaller Maratha force entirely, Prataprao and six of his
sardars attacked in a suicide mission, buying time for Anandrao Mohite to withdraw the remainder of the army to safety. The Marathas avenged the death
of Prataprao by defeating Bahlol Khan and capturing his jagir under the leadership of Anaji and Hambirao Mohite. Shivaji was deeply grieved on hearing
of Prataprao`s death; he arranged for the marriage of his second son, Rajaram, to Prataprao`s daughter. Anandrao Mohite became Hambirrao Mohite, the
new sarnaubat . Raigad Fort was newly built by Hiroji Indulkar as a capital of nascent Maratha kingdom.
Coronation
Shivaji had acquired extensive lands and wealth through his campaigns, but lacking a formal title was still technically a Mughal zamindar or the son of an
Adilshahi jagirdar, with no legal basis to rule his de facto domain. A kingly title could address this, and also prevent any challenges by other Maratha
leaders, to whom he was technically equal; it would also would provide the Hindu Marathas with a fellow Hindu sovereign in a region otherwise ruled by
Muslims.
Shivaji was crowned king of the Marathas in a lavish ceremony at Raigad on 6 June 1674. In the Hindu calendar it was on the 13th day of the
first fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha in the year 1596. Pandit Gaga Bhatt officiated, holding a gold vessel filled with the seven sacred waters of the rivers
Yamuna, Indus, Ganges, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri over Shivaji`s head, and chanted the coronation mantras. After the ablution, Shivaji bowed before
Jijabai and touched her feet. Nearly fifty thousand people gathered at Raigad for the ceremonies. Shivaji was bestowed with the sacred thread jaanva,
with the Vedas and was bathed in an abhisheka. Shivaji was entitled Shakakarta and Kshatriya Kulavantas , and Chhatrapati
His mother Jijabai died on 18 June 1674, within a few days of the coronation. Considering this a bad omen, a second coronation was carried out 24
September 1674, this time according to the Bengali school of Tantricism and presided over by Nischal Puri.
The state as Shivaji founded it was a Maratha kingdom, but over time it was to increase in size and heterogeneity, and by the time of the Peshwas in
the early 18th century was a full-fledged empire,with Shivaji as its historical founder.
Conquest in Southern India
Beginning in 1674, the Marathas undertook an aggressive campaign, raiding Khandesh capturing Bijapuri Phonda , Karwar , and Kolhapur . In November the Maratha navy skirmished with the Siddis of Janjira, and in early 1676 Peshwa Pingale, en route to Surat,
engaged the Raja of Ramnagar in battle. Shivaji raided Athani in March 1676, and by years-end besieged Belgaum and Vayem Rayim in modern-day
northern Karnataka. At the end of 1676, Shivaji launched a wave of conquests in southern India, with a massive force of 30,000 cavalry and 20,000
infantry. He captured the Adilshahi forts at Vellore and Gingee, in modern-day Tamil Nadu.
In the run-up to this expedition Shivaji appealed to a sense of Deccani patriotism, that the Deccan or Southern India was a homeland that should be
protected from outsiders.His appeal was somewhat successful and he entered into a treaty with the Qutubshah of the Golconda sultanate that covered the
eastern Deccan. Shivají`s conquests in the south proved quite crucial during future wars; Gingee served as Maratha capital for nine years during the
Maratha War of Independence.
Shivaji intended to reconcile with his stepbrother Venkoji , Shahji`s son by his second wife, Tukabai of the Mohite clan which ruled Thanjavur
after Shahaji. The initially promising negotiations were unsuccessful, so whilst returning to Raigad Shivaji defeated his stepbrother`s army on 26
November 1677 and seized most of his possessions in the Mysore plateau. Venkoji`s wife Dipa Bai, whom Shivaji deeply respected, took up new
negotiations with Shivaji, and also convinced her husband to distance himself from Muslim advisors. In the end Shivaji consented to turn over to her and
her female descendants many of the properties he had seized, with Venkoji consenting to a number of conditions for the proper administration of the
territories and maintenance of Shivaji`s future tomb.
Death and succession
The question of Shivaji`s heir-apparent was complicated by the misbehaviour of his eldest son Sambhaji, who was irresponsible and addicted to sensual
pleasures. Unable to curb this, Shivaji confined his son to Panhala in 1678, only to have the prince escape with his wife and defect to the Mughals for a
year. Sambhaji then returned home, unrepentant, and was again confined to Panhala.
In late March 1680, Shivaji fell ill with fever and dysentery, dying around 3–5 April 1680 at the age of 52, on the eve of Hanuman Jayanti. Rumours
followed his death, with Muslims opining he had died of a curse from Jan Muhammad of Jalna, and some Marathas whispering that his second wife,
Soyarabai, had poisoned him so that his crown might pass to her 10-year old son Rajaram.
After Shivaji`s death, the widowed Soyarabai made plans with various ministers of the administration to crown her son Rajaram rather than her prodigal
stepson Sambhaji. On 21 April 1680, ten-year old Rajaram was installed on the throne. However, Sambhaji took possession of the Raigad Fort after killing
the commander, and on 18 June acquired control of Raigad, and formally ascended the throne on 20 July. Rajaram, his wife Janki Bai, and mother
Soyrabai were imprisoned, and Soyrabai executed on charges of conspiracy that October.
Development of the empire
Aurangzeb`s son Muhammad Akbar had a falling-out with his father and joined forces with Sambhaji, thereafter Aurangzeb personally led his army to
attack the Maratha forces. Sambhaji was captured, tortured and executed at Tulapur in 1689 by the Mughals. Leadership of the disarrayed Marathas then
returned to Rajaram, who served as regent during the minority of his stepbrother`s son Shahu, and was forced to move his capital from Raigad to
Gingee.
Thereafter the Maratha forces stabilised and began to undertake raids on the Mughal columns. Able generals such as Dhanaji Jadhav and Santaji
Ghorpade took the initiative and effectively bogged down the powerful but slow moving Mughal army in to the protracted Maratha War of Independence,
or War of 27 Years. In the last few years of this war both the Maratha generals delivered severe blows to the Mughals in Maharashtra. In 1697
Aurangzeb, in poor health, withdrew from the Deccan for the last time, and recalled his full army a few years later, ending the Mughal`s significant threat to
the Marathas.
In 1752, the Maratha Peshwa signed a treaty with Mughal emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur, giving the Marathas significant control and revenues within the
remaining Mughal territories, in exchange for their protecting the Mughals from their enemies. This treaty brought the Maratha into conflict with the
Mughal`s opponent, Ahmad Shah Durrani, founder of an Afghan empire. The Durrani forces defeated the Maratha at the 1761 Battle of Panipat, checking
the Maratha`s northward expansion. The Maratha empire continued despite internal turmoil until their defeat in the 1818 Third Anglo-Maratha War, which
effectively ended the empire.
Military
Shivaji demonstrated great skill in creating his military organisation, which lasted till the demise of the Maratha empire. He also built a powerful navy.
Maynak Bhandari was one of the first chiefs of the Maratha Navy under Shivaji, and helped in both building the Maratha Navy and safeguarding the
coastline of the emerging Maratha Empire. He built new forts like Sindhudurg and strengthened old ones like Vijaydurg on the west coast.
The Maratha navy held its own against the British, Portuguese and Dutch. He was one of the pioneers of commando actions, then known as ganimi
kava His Mavala army`s war cry was Har Har Mahadev.
Shivaji was responsible for many significant changes in military organisation.
A standing army belonging to the state, called paga.
All war horses belonged to the state responsibility for their upkeep rested on the Sovereign.
Creation of part-time soldiers from peasants who worked for eight months in their fields and supported four months in war for which they were paid.
Highly mobile and light infantry and cavalry excelling in commando tactics.
The introduction of a centralized intelligence department Bahirjee Naik was the foremost spy who provided Shivaji with enemy information in all of
Shivaji`s campaigns.
A potent and effective navy.
Introduction of field craft, such as guerrilla warfare, commando actions, and swift flanking attacks. Field-Marshal Montgomery, in his History of
Warfare.while generally dismissive of the quality of generalship in the military history of the Indian subcontinent, makes an exception for Shivaji and
Baji Rao I. Summarizing Shivaji`s mastery of guerilla tactics, Montgomery describes him as a military genius.
Innovation of weapons and firepower, innovative use of traditional weapons like the tiger claw and vita.
Militarisation of large swathes of society, across all classes, with the entire peasant population of settlements and villages near forts actively involved in
their defence.
Shivaji realised the importance of having a secure coastline and protecting the western Konkan coastline from the attacks of Siddi`s fleet.
His strategy was to build a strong navy to protect and bolster his kingdom. He was also concerned about the growing dominance of British Indian naval
forces in regional waters and actively sought to resist it. For this reason he is also referred to as the "Father of Indian Navy".
Forts
Suvela Machi, view of southern sub-plateaux, as seen from Ballekilla, Rajgad.
Main article: Shivaji`s forts
Shivaji captured strategically important forts at Murambdev , Torana, Kondana and Purandar and laid the foundation of swaraj or
self-rule. Toward the end of his career, he had a control of 360 forts to secure his growing kingdom. Shivaji himself constructed about 15-20 totally new
forts , but he also rebuilt or repaired many strategically placed forts to create a chain of 300 or more, stretched
over a thousand kilometres across the rugged crest of the Western Ghats. Each were placed under three officers of equal status lest a single traitor be
bribed or tempted to deliver it to the enemy. The officers acted jointly and provided mutual checks and balance.
Shivaji built a strong naval presence across long coast of Konkan and Goa to protect sea trade, to protect the lands from sack of prosperity of subjects
from coastal raids, plunder and destruction by Arabs, Portuguese, British, Abyssinians and pirates. Shivaji built ships in towns such as Kalyan, Bhivandi,
and Goa for building fighting navy as well as trade. He also built a number of sea forts and bases for repair, storage and shelter. Shivaji fought many
lengthy battles with Siddis of Janjira on coastline. The fleet grew to reportedly 160 to 700 merchant, support and fighting vessels. He started trading with
foreigners on his own after possession of eight or nine ports in the Deccan. Shivaji`s admiral Kanauji Angre is often said to be the Father of Indian Navy.
Historiography
In 2003, American academic James W. Laine published his book Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India, which was followed by heavy criticism including
threats of arrest.As a result of this publication, the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune where Laine had researched was attacked.The
book was banned in Maharashtra in January 2004, but the ban was lifted by the Bombay High Court in 2007, and in July 2010 the Supreme Court of India
upheld the lifting of ban.This lifting was followed by public demonstrations against the author and the decision of the Supreme Court.
Legacy
Statue of Shivaji at Raigad Fort.
Today, Shivaji is considered as a national hero in India, especially in the state of Maharashtra, where he remains arguably the greatest figure in the
state`s history. Stories of his life form an integral part of the upbringing and identity of the Marathi people. Further, he is also recognised as a warrior
legend, who sowed the seeds of Indian independence.
Nineteenth century Hindu revivalist Swami Vivekanada considered Shivaji a hero and paid glowing tributes to his wisdom. When Indian Nationalist
leader, Lokmanya Tilak organised a festival to mark the birthday celebrations of Shivaji, Vivekananda agreed to preside over the festival in Bengal in
1901.He wrote about Shivaji
