Chatrapati Shivaji (1627 A.D. to 1680 A.D.) – He was born on 20 April 1627 A.D. in’Shivner Fort. He was the son of Jija Bai, first wife of Shah ji Bhonsle. Shah ji was a samanta of Bijapur. Shivaji was brought up by his local guardian. Dadaji Kondev and Guru of Jiya Bai Samarth Swami Ram Dasa, who inspired him for the security of motherland. He got education of military and administration. In the small age of 12 years, he got Jagir of Poona from his father. At first in 1646 A.D. in the age of 19 years, he made a group of mawle youth and took control over transport near Poona. He took control In 1646 Rajgarh and Chakan from Sultan of Bijipur, and in 1647 Baramati, Indrapur, Singh garh and Purandar fort. In 1656 kalyan in konlan and javali fort. He made his capital in Rajgarh in 1656. Due to Shivaji’s expansion policy Sultan of Bijapur sent Afjal Khan in 1659 to curb him but Shivaji pierced his stomach by the nail of Tiger. Aurangzeb appointed viceroy of Deccan Shayasta Khan to curb him in 1663 who took control over his center place Poona. Soon Shivaji attacked on Shayasta Khan’s camp in night in which he had to flee by loosing his son and three fingers of his hand. In 1664 Shivaji plundered Surat which was under Mughals by annoying this Aurangzeb sent king of Amer Sawai Mirza Jai Singh and Diler Khan. Mughal army captured his many forts. After all he did treaty with Jai Singh in 1665 which is called Purandar treaty.
The main provisions of this treaty were –
Jai Singh told Shivaji that he would be made Subedar of Deccan Subas of Mughals, Shivaji presented himself in Mughal Court but he was treated like a third Mansabdar and made Nazar Band, but in 1660 with the help of his son Shambhaji he secretly ran from the prison and reached safely to his house, very next year Aurangzeb gave him the title of king and Jagir of Barar.
After two years Shivaji recaptured his all forts in 1670 A.D. He did a written agreement with local Mughal officers of Khandesh by giving promise to them of security. He collected Chauth (Tax) and plundered Surat again in 1670. In 1674 A.D.
Shivaji did his coronation in ‘Rajgarh Fort’ in the form of an independednt ruler and retended the title of Chatrapati on this occasion. He died in 1680. At this time his Maratha empire was extended from Belgaon to Bank of Tungbhadra river approx in whole west Karnataka.
In this way Shivaji established an independednt Hindu Swarajya in South India though. He faced resistance of Mughal power, Sultan of Bijapur, Portuguese of Goa, and Sea Dacoits of Abesynia located at Janjira.
