Describe the role of Shivaji in the emergence
of Marathas.
Answers
Explanation:
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was a power that dominated a large portion of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century. The empire formally existed from 1674 with the coronation of Shivaji as the Chhatrapati and ended in 1818 with the defeat of Peshwa Bajirao II at the hands of the British East India Company. The Marathas are credited to a large extent for ending Mughal rule over most of the Indian
Answer:
Shivaji was born in A.D. 1627 in shivner near Poona. His father, Shahji worked under the Sultan of Bijapur and was the jagirdar of Poona. Shivaji had the desire to unite the Marathas and the oust the Mughals. For this, he gathered a small army of his companions and started raiding and capturing forts. The first fort he captured was that of Throna. He gathered a big treasure here, which he used for raising an army. After this, he conquered many new forts of Raigarh, Singarh, kondana and Purandhar. Shivaji adopted guerrilla welfare to defeat the Muslims.
Hearing the news of the loss of so many forts, the Sultan of bijapur was enraged. So he sent Afzal Khan to punish Shivaji. Afzal Khan arranged for a private meeting with Shivaji. Shivaji went fully prepared for the meeting with Shivaji. Shivaji went fully prepared for the meeting. As they met, Afzal tried to kill Shivaji, but Shivaji was quicker. He plunged his tiger-claws into Afzal’s stomach and killed him.
The Maratha soldiers fell upon the army of Bijapur and routed them. This victory greatly enhanced the prestige of the Maratha chief.
When Aurangzeb heard of the growing power of Shivaji, he sent his general Shaista Khan. He set his camp in Poona. One night Shivaji entered Shaista’s camp with his men dressed in the guise of a marriage party. They attacked the sleeping Mughal troops. Shaista managed to escape.
Aurangzeb then sent Raja Jai Singh of Amber to capture Shivaji. Shivaji signed a treaty and was brought along with his son, Sambhaji to the court of the Mughal emperor at Agra. He received a very cold reception. Humiliated, he walked out of the court but was captured and imprisoned. But Shivaji tricked the Guards the escaped from the prison. After his return from Agra, Shivaji renewed his war with the Mughals. He recaptured many of the lost forts and also attacked the territories of Berar and Khandesh.