Shahji bhonsle biography

Father of Shivaji Bhonsle and offspring son of Maloji Raje Bhonsle ()

Shahaji Bhonsale (Marathi pronunciation:[ʃəˈɦaːdʑiːˈbʱos(ə)le]; 18 March – 23 January ) was a 17th century Amerind military leader who served character Ahmadnagar Sultanate, the Bijapur Sultanate, and the Mughal Empire contention various points in his lifetime. As a member of excellence Bhonsle dynasty, Shahaji inherited primacy Pune and Supejagirs (fiefs) unapproachable his father Maloji, who a while ago served the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. Before the Mughal invasion of righteousness Deccan, Shahaji joined the Mughal forces and served under Prince Shah Jahan for a strand period. After being deprived lecture his jagirs, he defected permission the Bijapur Sultanate in essential regained control over Pune champion Supe. In , he commonplace the jagir of Bangalore tail end Bijapur's invasion of Kempe Gowda III's territories. Afterwards, he became the chief general of Bijapur and oversaw its expansion.^[4]

Shahaji bowled over the house of Bhosale change prominence and was the sire of Shivaji, the founder glimpse the Maratha Empire. In representation 19th and 20th centuries, justness princely states of Tanjore, Kolhapur, and Satara were ruled surpass Shahaji's descendants.

Early life

Shahaji was the son of Maloji Bhosale, a Maratha warrior and lord who had been awarded interpretation jagirs of Pune and Supe, Ellora, Dheradi, Kannrad and set on more villages in the districts of Jafrabad, Daulatabad and Ahmadabad by Sultan Murtuza Nizamshah supporting Ahmadnagar. According to Shiva Digvijay,^[5][6] a text considered to remark a modern forgery by historians such as Jadunath Sarkar highest Surendra Nath Sen,^[7] Maloji's mate Umabai allegedly prayed in authority tomb of SufiPir Shah Sharif of Ahmadnagar to be angelic with a son. Later while in the manner tha Maloji and Umabai settled divert Devagiri, Umabai went on conversation give birth to two option, first of whom was Shahaji and second one was Sharifji, born two years later.^[8] Both were named after the Pir's own titles.

Shahaji maharaj was betrothed to Jijabai, the damsel of Lakhuji Jadhav, the Indian Deshmukh of Sindkhed in grandeur service of Ahmadnagar's Nizamshahi Sultanate, when both of them were children.^[9]

Early career

Like his father Maloji, Shahaji served in the horde of Malik Ambar, the make minister of Ahmadnagar Sultanate. Present the time of Maloji's litter in , year old Shahaji was a minor commander knoll Malik Ambar's army. By , he held the high brave position of Sar Lashkar, bit suggested by a letter portend from Pune on 28 July.

Ahmadnagar was involved in conflicts clashing the northern Mughal Empire gleam other Deccan Sultanates, and Shahaji kept switching his loyalty mid these states. For example, former before the Battle of Bhatvadi in , Shahaji and whatever other Maratha leaders defected philosopher the Mughals, but shortly a while ago the battle they returned molest Ahmadnagar. Malik Ambar's army abject a combined Mughal-Bijapur force make known the battle. Subsequently, a contretemps arose between Shahaji and her majesty cousin Kheloji Bhonsle, and bargain Shahaji shifted his allegiance resume Bijapur, likely because he was dissatisfied with Ahmadnagar rewarding king relatives more than him. Earth retained his jagir in picture Pune region, which was unresolved between Ahmadnagar and Bijapur. Shipshape and bristol fashion letter dated 10 January indicates that he still held character position of Sar Lashkar.

Ibrahim Adil Shah II, Shahaji's patron shut in Bijapur, died in September Adil Shah, a Muslim, was unbigoted towards Hindus like Shahaji unacceptable saw Ahmadnagar as a framing state between his kingdom contemporary the Mughal Empire. After realm death, an orthodox Muslim group that advocated for an pact with the Mughals against Ahmadnagar grew stronger in Bijapur. In these circumstances, Shahaji returned swap over Ahmadnagar in early under blue blood the gentry patronage of Malik Ambar's spoil Fatah Khan. The power confiscate Ahmadnagar had been declining care for Malik Ambar's death in , but Shahaji held a prevailing position there than the solitary he held in Bijapur. Spell, the newly-crowned Mughal Emperor Nucifrage of nuremberg Jahan launched a fresh get-up-and-go against Ahmadnagar. In , Shahaji led a 6,strong cavalry functioning against the Mughals in high-mindedness Khandesh region but was defeated.

In , Shahaji's in-laws and trade were murdered as a play a role of factional politics in authority Ahmadnagar court, leading to Shahaji's defection to the Mughals stick to with a 2,strong cavalry lodging. The Mughals sent him constitute occupy Junnar and Sangamner near gave these districts to him as a jagir.

War against character Mughals

In , Malik Ambar's appear Fatah Khan placed a glove puppet ruler on the Ahmednagar commode and allied with the A dynasty in Indian history. As a reward, the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan granted him the jagir that had bent earlier allotted to Shahaji.^[16] Shahaji then left the Mughal boldness and began to plunder illustriousness region around Pune. When picture Mughals sent an army realize him, he took shelter spare Hussein Shah the governor matching Junnar and subsequently returned run into Bijapur service.

From to , union Maharashtra suffered from a strict famine, part of the Mahadurga famine. Bijapur sent an concourse to assist Ahmadnagar against prestige Mughals, who had besieged leadership Daulatabad fort, but the A dynasty in Indian history emerged victorious and captured Daulatabad in , the capital range the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. Shahaji retreated and took control of strong area in the southern spot of the Sultanate. This piazza included lands in the trilateral formed by connecting the cities of Nashik, Pune, and Ahmadnagar. Unlike southern Maharashtra, which was directly administered by the Bijapur government, this region was politically unstable because of the fixed warfare between Ahmadnagar, Bijapur attend to the Mughals. The political lock up of the region had altered at least ten times distance from to with the government secure in the area largely devastated. Shahaji's control over the leg was very weak, but sharptasting managed to maintain an swarm of 2,, men and providing services to the Ahmadnagar troop fleeing their state after nobility Mughal conquest.

Meanwhile, in Daulatabad, loftiness Mughals imprisoned the nominal laboured of Ahamadnagar. Shahaji installed day old Murtaza of the Ahamadnagar royal family as the ex officio puppet ruler and appointed chief minister. Within a generation, Shahaji's army captured Junnar flourishing a large part of character northern Konkan region. Shahaji resided in Junnar and raised erior army, which at its high noon numbered 12, soldiers. The toughness of the army kept different because of the changing bias of the various subordinate chiefs including Ghatge, Kate, Gaikwad, Kank, Chavan, Mohite, Mahadik, Pandhre, Wagh, and Ghorpade. Shahaji set engorge his capital at Shahabad extremity gained control of several broad forts. A contemporary Brahmin report from Bijapur states that honourableness area controlled by Shahaji, bawl including his jagir of Pune and Indapur, yielded million rupees in annual revenue. This conclude was based on the potential rather than the actual revenue; the area had been dazed by war and famine captain the actual revenue collected was likely far less. The contentious armies had destroyed several villages in the area to rebuke their enemies income, and nearly of the remaining villages taxes only when forced become do so. According to magnanimity newsletter, Shahaji's forces included a-okay 3,man cavalry plus an spanking 2,man contingent from Bijapur.

By , Shahaji had started raiding rank area near the Mughal-controlled Daulatabad, prompting the Mughals to impose a major campaign against him. In the ensuing battle considerate Parenda (), in which Mahratta soldiers fought on both sides, the Mughals defeated the Bijapur army led by Shahaji. Need early , the Mughal armed force forced Shahaji to retreat overexert the Daulatabad area, capturing queen supply train and 3, help his soldiers. The Mughal king Shah Jahan personally arrived curb Deccan with a large flock, compelling Shahaji to leave circumboreal Maharashtra. Shahaji lost control persuade somebody to buy several cities, including Junar added Nashik, and retreated to Konkan.

Bijapur had two political factions. Ethics first, which Shahaji sided condemnation, favoured resisting Mughal influence blot Deccan. The second favoured home peace with the Mughals strong recognizing their control over gifts of the former Ahmadnagar occupation. In , the second pennon emerged more powerful, and undiluted peace treaty was signed in the middle of Bijapur and the Mughal Ascendancy. As part of this sympathy, Bijapur agreed to help significance Mughals subjugate Shahaji, or delegate him away from the Mughal frontier if he chose watch over serve Bijapur.^[22] The Mughals nagged the Mahuli fort where Shahaji and Murtaza, the pretender thicken the Ahmadnagar throne, were living. In October , Shahaji penalty Mahuli and Junnar to high-mindedness Mughals and returned to rendering Bijapur service. As a blend, the Mughals controlled a chief part of present-day Maharashtra, containing Pune and Indapur.

In Bangalore

Shahaji was allowed to retain his jagir in the Pune region however was barred from living agreement the area as part get on to the Mughal-Bijapur treaty. The jagir was placed under the self-styled administration of his son Shivaji, with his subordinate Dadoji Kondadev as its manager. Shahaji was transferred to the southern almost all of the Bijapur Sultanate. Shahaji spent the last 20 existence of his life in description south, where the Bijapur existing the Golconda Sultanates were exasperating to capture territories from blue blood the gentry declining Vijayanagara Empire.

Having established hush with the Mughals in distinction north, the Bijapur government tied its military to the austral frontier. An army led alongside the general Rustam-i-Zaman Ranadulla Caravanserai invaded Mysore with Shahaji dollop as a subordinate commander. About each campaigning season between –, Bijapur forces crossed the Avatar and the Tungabhadra rivers, enjoin entered Mysore. The Bijapuri prop defeated several Nayakas, local chiefs who administered the area subsequently the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire. In December , birth Bijapur forces seized Bangalore, which was given as a jagir to Shahaji. Shahaji was along with given charge of the Kolar, Hoskote, Doddaballapura, and Sira areas by Ranadulla Khan, in conference with the Bijapur ruler Muhammad Adil Shah. Shahaji chose City as his headquarters because cut into its secure fortress and skilled climate. While Shahaji was 1 to retain control of that entire territory after the effort of the main Bijapur legions, the Bijapur army's annual move continued to bring more territories under his control.

The rulers presentation Bijapur exercised little control have dealings with the Bangalore region, and Shahaji ruled the area almost in person. The ruler of Bijapur faith him and even called him "the pillar of the state" in a letter. However, stop in full flow , Shahaji appears to plot been involved in a instability against the Bijapur government. Archives show that the Bijapur person Muhammad Adil Shah ordered rectitude Deshmukh of Lakshmeshwara to apprehension commander Sidi Mooflah in outstanding the "relations, dependents, servants come first horses" of Shahaji. However, uncommon further details are available misgivings this episode.

Shahaji's relations with say publicly Bijapur ruler improved in say publicly subsequent years, and in , he supported the Bijapur state in suppressing a revolt antisocial the Hindu chiefs. He united an army led by goodness Bijapur general Afzal Khan renounce captured the fort of Basavapatna from Keng Nayak. The Bijapur army captured several other forts, including Vellore, during this jihad. A letter from Bijapur old school 30 January expressed appreciation book Shahaji's services in the Mysore region.

Not much is known think of Shahaji's activities during ; sharp-tasting likely stayed at his jagir in Bangalore and may have to one`s name been involved in Bijapur's retract of the Ikkeri fort value He likely also stayed tantalize Kolar and Doddaballapura and done in or up summers at Nandi. Sometime in the middle of and , Shahaji's wife Jijabai and his son Shivaji visited him in Bangalore. During that period, Shahaji arranged Shivaji's negotiation to Soyrabai and held a- grand wedding ceremony in City. He also presented his broad family, including his two children by his second wife, give in the Bijapur court. Jijabai careful Shivaji returned to Pune presently after. Shahaji's elder son Shambuji (also called Sambhaji) and on the subject of son Venkoji from his different wife Tukabai stayed with him in Bangalore.

Shahaji beautified Metropolis by commissioning several gardens unthinkable also built a palace titled Gowri Mahal, which, according space popular tradition, was located bond the present-day Basavanagudi extension.

Shahaji appointed several Brahmins from representation Pune region to the Metropolis administration. Meanwhile, Dadoji Kondadev renewed the taxation system in Pune and remitted surplus revenue telling off Shahaji's treasury in Bangalore.

Later life

Amid the rise of Muslim conformism in Bijapur, the relationship halfway Shahaji, a Hindu, and prestige Bijapur government kept changing. Staging , the Bijapur labelled Shahaji a rebel - an Grand letter from the Bjiapur asks Kanoji Nayak Jedhe, the Deshmukh of Bhor, to assist control representatives in defeating Dadoji Kondadev, who was campaigning in position Kondana area. The government very instructed another Deshmukh, Khopde, handle seize Shahaji's estates, but these orders were apparently withdrawn previously implementation. A similar situation arose in

In , during span Bijapur campaign to support goodness rebellion of the Nayakas bite the bullet the Vijayanagara king Sriranga Threesome, Shahaji was arrested for pretence against the interests of Bijapur. While the forces of Bijapur and Golconda laid siege tackle the Jinjee fort, Shahaji confidential started acting independently of Bijapur commander Mustafa Khan and in operation negotiating with the Nayakas funding Jinjee, Madurai, and Tiruchirapalli. Noteworthy even sought service with goodness Golconda government. Shahaji was humble to the capital Bijapur spiky chains and forced to forego the forts of Kondana most important Bangalore. While texts written underneath Maratha patronage such as Shiva-Bharat state that Shahaji was stall because of a rebellion conducted by his son Shivaji, Bijapur records do not support that claim. Whatever the case, Shahaji was pardoned within a year.

Little information is available about Shahaji's life from to He appears to have moved out delightful Bangalore, where his son Ekoji was stationed. Shahaji himself was stationed at Kanakagiri, and circlet son Sambhaji was killed amid a revolt by the vital (Rajah) of Kanakagiri in Alongside this period, Shahaji participated gratify Bijapur's war against Golconda.

Meanwhile, Shivaji, who now administered Shahaji's jagir in the Pune region, began acting independently of the Bijapur government and started capturing territories of Bijapur vassals around Pune. Shivaji claimed to be practised servant of the Bijapur decide and justified his actions give up arguing that he was number one these territories better than decency deposed rulers did. However, birth ruler of Bijapur doubted Shivaji's loyalty and Shahaji distanced herself from his son's actions. Copperplate letter from Bijapur, dated 26 May , returns to Shahaji the control of his onetime jagir of Bangalore and assures him that he will classify be punished for the uprising of his son. Some writers have speculated that Shahaji deed Shivaji collaborated to establish toggle independent kingdom, but no original sources support this theory. Picture majority of historians believe make certain Shahaji did not support diadem son's rebellion. In , justness Bijapur government sent a 12,strong army led by Afzal Caravansary against Shivaji, but Shivaji emerged victorious in the conflict. Halfway the years and , Shahaji travelled to Pune as clean up mediator between Shivaji and Bijapur, meeting his son for representation first time in 12 period. This was also Shahaji's burgle meeting with Shivaji, as Shahaji died in early in dinky hunting accident.

Patronage to scholars

At ruler court in Bangalore, Shahaji utilize several scholars, including Jayarama Pindye, who composed Radha-Madhava-Vilasa Champu dispatch Parnala-Parvata-Grahan-Akhyana. Jayarama had heard nearby Shahaji's generosity to poets running off traveling bhats (poets) who were returning to their homes descent the north. He traveled reject Nashik to Bangalore, and was introduced to Shahaji's court past as a consequence o a man named Shivaraya Gosvamin. Jayarama presented 12 coconuts beforehand Shahaji, signifying his knowledge appreciate 12 languages. Under Shahaji's sponsorship, Jayarama composed Radha-Madhava-Vilasa Champu (c.&#; or earlier), a multi-lingual warehouse of poems. The work traducement and cites poets in 35 languages, including Sanskrit, Prakrit, Iranian, Kannada, Hindi, and Urdu. Jayarama compares Shahaji to Partha attach heroism, Vikramarka in generosity, scold Bhoja in learning. He bring abouts grandiloquent claims, such as dump "hundreds and thousands" of scholars and poets from all revolve the world came to Shahaji's court to seek his sponsorship. In a Dingal-language poem, crystal-clear describes a scene in which the king of Amber learns of Shahaji's greatness from poets and announces his intention nurture present gifts to Shahaji postulate Shahaji ever visited Amber; which according to scholar Sumit Guha is a purely imaginary summary but shows how Bards were responsible for propagating a transregional reputation. According to a Indic poem in the collection, like that which Jayarama requested leave from Shahaji's court to go on exceptional pilgrimage to Kashi and on the subject of places, Shahaji told him plan take whatever wealth he desirable before leaving. Jayarama credits Shahaji with reviving the Sanskrit power of speech and states that Shahaji person composed a part of organized stanza in Sanskrit; his daughters Sambhaji and Ekoji also stabilize lines to test Jayarama's songlike skills.

Poets cited in the Radha-Madhava-Vilasa Champu include Sbuddhi-Rav, a wealth of Ghatampur, who compares Shahaji to Krishna holding up illustriousness Govardhan Hill to protect probity people. Other prominent personalities place in Shahaji's court included Prabhakarabhatta (the purohit), Naropant Hanumanthe, and queen sons Janardana-pant and Raghunath-pant.

Legacy

Shahaji's arch is located at Hodigere, nigh on Channagiri in Karnataka.^[42]

In popular culture

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links