Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Wiki | Bio

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Wiki | Bio

Chhatrpati Shivaji was one of the bravest, most progressive and sensible rulers of India.The founder of the Maratha Kingdom.

Name: Shivaji Bhonsle
Date of Birth: February 19, 1630
Birthplace: Shivneri Fort, Pune district, Maharashtra
Parents: Shahaji Bhonsle (Father) and Jijabai (Mother)
Reign: 1674–1680
Spouse: Saibai, Soyarabai, Putalabai, Sakvarbai, Laxmibai, Kashibai
Children: Sambhaji, Rajaram, Sakhubai Nimbalkar, Ranubai Jadhav, Ambikabai Mahadik, Rajkumaribai Shirke
Religion: Hinduism
Death: April 3, 1680
Seat of Power: Raigad Fort, Maharashtra
Successor: Sambhaji Bhonsle

Shivaji established a royal name for himself in history with his administrative skills by upholding the Swarajya values and the Maratha heritage. He was known for his bravery and tactics with which he won numerous wars against the Mughals.  Remembering the greatest Maratha ruler on his birthday, here are some interesting facts about Shivaji.

Achievements as a True King and a Leader

By 1645, he conquered several forts and regions around the Pune from Adil Shaha’s sultanate such as Chakan, Kondhana, Torana along with Purandar and Sinhgad. Soon Adil Shaha started getting restless and felt threatened. He ordered to captured and imprison Shivaji’s father Shahaji. Shahaji was released on the condition, that Shivaji will stop his campaign of conquering regions governed by Adil Shaha.  After the death of Shahaji, Shivaji Maharaj started his conquest again, acquiring the valley of Javali from Chandrarao More, who was a Jahagiridar of Bijapur. The furious Adil Shaha sent Afjal Khan, one of his powerful generals to conquer Shivaji.
Afjal khan planned to kill Shivaji by planning a trap by inviting Shivaji Maharaj for a meeting on Pratapgad. But little did he know that Shivaji Maharaj was one step ahead of him. Shivaji sensed Afjal Khan’s motive and they planned a hidden counter-attack. When they met, Afjal Khan tried to kill Shivaji but it backfired on him. Shivaji was a quick-witted king. He was wearing a metal armor under his clothes and as soon as Afjal Khan attacked him, he stabbed his tiger clawed weapon in his guts and killed him. Later the Mavlas who were hiding in the jungle attacked Afjal Khan’s soldiers and killed them. Nearly 3000 soldiers were killed by the Mavlas. This battle technique was the major weapon of Shivaji Maharaj and it was called as Ganimi Kava(Guerrilla warfare). Guerrilla warfare techniques are still used in the modern day warfare by the leading militaries in the world. This incident became a very important victory in the history of Shivaji Maharaj and also became a symbol his quick-wittiness and bravery.

Later Adil Shaha sent a larger army under the leadership of General Rustam Zaman who faced Shivaji in the Battle of Kolhapur. Shivaji Maharaj won this battle too and Rustam Zaman ran for his life. Soon Shivaji came on the radar of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and then the real battles started with the Mughal empire. There are so many acts of bravery of Shivaji Maharaj such as his stealth attack on Shahistekhan, his clever escape from the Aurangzeb’s arrest in Agra and so many other. All these incidents are the indicators of his bravery, sharp mind and decision making abilities as a king and a true leader.