Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj – Life, Battles, Administration and Achievements

    Learn about Shivaji Maharaj for TNPSC exams, including his early life, Maratha kingdom, important battles, administration, Ashtapradhan system, forts, navy, coronation and achievements.

Shivaji Maharaj – Life, Battles & Achievements

• Name = Shivaji Bhonsle / Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
• Born = 19 February 1630
• Birthplace = Shivneri Fort, near Junnar, Maharashtra
• Father = Shahaji Bhonsle
• Mother = Jijabai (Jijamata)
• Dynasty = Bhonsle dynasty
• Kingdom = Maratha Kingdom
• Capital = Initially Rajgad; later Raigad
• Coronation = 1674, at Raigad
• Title = Chhatrapati
• Coronation scholar = Gaga Bhatt
• Mentor = Dadoji Kondadev (military and administrative tutor)
• Spiritual guide = Guru Ramdas
• Death = 3 April 1680
• Place of death = Raigad Fort

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Shivaji’s Early Conquest

• Torna Fort – 1646 = Generally regarded as Shivaji’s first major fort conquest. He renamed it Prachandagad.
• Rajgad = Developed into an important early capital of Shivaji’s kingdom.
• Kondana Fort = Later became famous as Sinhagad. Associated with Tanaji Malusare.
• Shivaji Maharaj – Life, Battles & Achievements

Shivaji’s Conflict with Bijapur

• Shivaji’s expansion brought him into conflict with the Adil Shahi Sultanate of Bijapur.
• Afzal Khan, a powerful Bijapur general, was sent against Shivaji.
• The famous meeting between Shivaji and Afzal Khan took place at the foothills of Pratapgad in 1659.
• Afzal Khan was killed during the encounter.
• Shivaji subsequently strengthened his position in the region.
• Exam Fact = Battle/Encounter at Pratapgad – 1659 → Shivaji vs Afzal Khan
• Shivaji Maharaj – Life, Battles & Achievements

Shivaji’s Conflict with the Mughals

• Shivaji also came into conflict with the Mughal Empire, particularly during the reign of Aurangzeb.
• Aurangzeb appointed Shaista Khan to suppress Shivaji.
• Shaista Khan occupied Pune.
• In 1663, Shivaji conducted a surprise attack on Shaista Khan at Pune.
• Shaista Khan was wounded and lost fingers during the attack.
• Exam Fact = 1663 → Shivaji’s surprise attack on Shaista Khan at Pune

Shivaji’s Attack on Surat

• Shivaji attacked the prosperous Mughal port city of Surat in 1664.
• Surat was an important commercial centre of the Mughal Empire.
• Shivaji carried out another raid on Surat in 1670.
• Exam Fact = First Sack of Surat → 1664

Treaty of Purandar – 1665

• The Mughal general Mirza Raja Jai Singh I was sent against Shivaji.
• After military pressure, Shivaji entered into the Treaty of Purandar in 1665.
• Important Provisions in Treaty of Purandar are
  1. Shivaji agreed to surrender 23 forts to the Mughals.
  2. He retained 12 forts.
  3. Shivaji agreed to cooperate with the Mughals against Bijapur.
  4. His son Sambhaji entered Mughal service.
• Exam Fact = Treaty of Purandar – 1665 → Shivaji and Jai Singh
• Shivaji Maharaj – Life, Battles & Achievements

Shivaji’s Visit to Agra – 1666

• Shivaji visited the Mughal court at Agra in 1666.
• He met Aurangzeb.
• Shivaji felt insulted by the treatment he received at the Mughal court.
• He was placed under surveillance/house arrest.
• He famously escaped from Agra with Sambhaji.
• Exam Fact = 1666 → Shivaji’s Agra visit and escape

Coronation of Shivaji – 1674

• Shivaji was formally crowned at Raigad Fort in 1674.
• Gaga Bhatt, a scholar from Varanasi, conducted the coronation ceremony.
• Shivaji assumed the title Chhatrapati.
• The coronation formally established Shivaji as an independent sovereign.
• Second Coronation = A second coronation ceremony was held later in 1674, reportedly because of ritual objections and circumstances surrounding the first ceremony.
• Important Exam Facts = Coronation → 1674, Place → Raigad, Scholar → Gaga Bhatt, Title → Chhatrapati
• Shivaji Maharaj – Life, Battles & Achievements

Shivaji’s Revenue Administration

• Shivaji introduced systematic revenue collection in his territories.
• Land was surveyed and assessed.
• Revenue was generally based on the productivity of the land.
• He reduced the role of intermediaries in revenue collection in areas under his direct administration.
• Chauth = A levy generally amounting to one-fourth (25%) of assessed revenue.
• Sardeshmukhi = An additional levy traditionally associated with a 10% claim.
• Exam Point = Chauth = 25%, Sardeshmukhi = 10%
• Shivaji Maharaj – Life, Battles & Achievements

Important Forts of Shivaji

• Raigad – capital and coronation site
• Rajgad – early capital
• Torna – important early conquest
• Pratapgad – associated with Afzal Khan’s defeat
• Sinhagad – associated with Tanaji Malusare
• Purandar
• Panhala
• Shivneri – birthplace of Shivaji
• Exam Fact = Raigad → Coronation of Shivaji, 1674

Shivaji’s Naval Policy

• Shivaji called as “Father of the Indian Navy”.
• Shivaji recognized the strategic importance of the Konkan coast and developed a naval force.
• Important Naval Forts of Shivaji = Sindhudurg, Vijaydurg
• His naval policy was intended partly to protect the Konkan coast and challenge maritime threats, including the Siddis of Janjira and European maritime powers.
• Exam Fact = Shivaji is often regarded as one of the pioneers of organized naval power in medieval/early-modern western India.

Shivaji and Tamil Nadu

• Shivaji’s southern campaign has significance for South Indian history.
• Gingee (Senji) Fort became an important Maratha possession after Shivaji’s southern campaigns.
• Gingee later became especially important during the Mughal-Maratha conflict after Shivaji’s death.
• Shivaji’s half-brother Venkoji (Ekoji) established the Maratha rule of Thanjavur.
• TNPSC Important Fact = Venkoji/Ekoji → Founder of Maratha rule in Thanjavur
• Shivaji Maharaj – Life, Battles & Achievements

Death and Succession

• Shivaji died on 3 April 1680 at Raigad.
• He was succeeded after a succession struggle by his elder son Sambhaji.
• Sambhaji continued the struggle against the Mughals under Aurangzeb.

Important Personalities Associated with Shivaji

• Jijabai = Mother of Shivaji
• Shahaji Bhonsle = Father
• Dadoji Konddev = early teacher
• Afzal Khan = Bijapur general defeated at Pratapgad
• Shaista Khan = Mughal commander attacked by Shivaji at Pune
• Mirza Raja Jai Singh I = Negotiated Treaty of Purandar
• Gaga Bhatt = Conducted Shivaji’s coronation
• Tanaji Malusare = Associated with the capture of Kondana/Sinhagad
• Sambhaji = Elder son and successor
• Venkoji/Ekoji = Half-brother; founder of Maratha rule in Thanjavur
• Shivaji Maharaj – Life, Battles & Achievements

Shivaji – Chronology

• 1630 = Birth of Shivaji at Shivneri
• 1646 = Capture of Torna
• 1659 = Afzal Khan defeated/killed at Pratapgad
• 1663 = Attack on Shaista Khan at Pune
• 1664 = First attack on Surat
• 1665 = Treaty of Purandar
• 1666 = Visit to Agra and escape
• 1670 = Second attack on Surat
• 1674 = Coronation at Raigad
• 1676–78 = Southern expedition
• 1680 = Death of Shivaji at Raigad

About Shivaji – Important One-Liners for TNPSC/UPSC

1. Shivaji was born at Shivneri Fort in 1630.
2. Shivaji’s father was Shahaji Bhonsle.
3. Shivaji’s mother was Jijabai.
4. Torna was one of Shivaji’s earliest major fort conquests.
5. Pratapgad is associated with Shivaji’s encounter with Afzal Khan.
6. Shivaji attacked Shaista Khan at Pune in 1663.
7. Shivaji first attacked Surat in 1664.
8. The Treaty of Purandar was signed in 1665.
9. Mirza Raja Jai Singh negotiated with Shivaji in the Treaty of Purandar.
10. Shivaji visited Aurangzeb’s court at Agra in 1666.
11. Shivaji escaped from Agra in 1666.
12. Shivaji was crowned at Raigad in 1674.
13. Gaga Bhatt conducted the coronation ceremony.
14. Shivaji assumed the title Chhatrapati.
15. Ashtapradhan was the council of eight ministers.
16. Ganimi Kava is associated with Shivaji’s unconventional warfare tactics.
17. Raigad became Shivaji’s capital.
18. Sindhudurg was an important naval fort associated with Shivaji.
19. Chauth represented one-fourth of the assessed revenue.
20. Sardeshmukhi was traditionally a 10% levy.
21. Shivaji died at Raigad in 1680.
22. Sambhaji succeeded Shivaji.
23. Venkoji/Ekoji established Maratha rule in Thanjavur.
24. Gingee became an important Maratha stronghold in South India.
25. Shivaji Maharaj – Life, Battles & Achievements