Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: The Glorious Reign of a Maratha King

Shivaji, the first Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire, was born on 19 February 1630. The day is celebrated as Shivaji Jayanti in India. 
 

Shivaji was born to Shahaji Bhonsle and Jijabai. His father was a Maratha general under the Deccan Sultanate.
 

As a teenager in 1645, Shivaji captured the Torna Fort which was under Bijapur’s control.
 

Shivaji defeated Shaista Khan, Aurangzeb’s maternal uncle, and the Bijapur army in Pune.
 

Popularly known as Shivaji Maharaj, he promoted the use of Marathi and Sanskrit languages in his reign. 
 

when he started a raid into the Mughal Deccan. This was in response to Aurangzeb’s refusal of recognizing Shivaji’s right to the Bijapuri forts and villages. 
 

In June 1665, the Treaty of Purandar was signed between Shivaji and Raja Jai Singh I, who represented Aurangzeb. This was done to maintain peace between the Mughals and Marathas.
 

In 1666, Shivaji visited the Aurangzeb’s court. He was insulted by the Mughal ruler, following which Shivaji left the court. He was later arrested and held captive. 
 

Shivaji and his son designed clever tactics to escape the prison and their story is still celebrated in history. 
 

Shivaji expanded his territory across the Deccan and western India through strategic military tactics. 
 

Until the formal coronation, Shivaji was only recognized as a Mughal zamindar. He was crowned as the King of the Marathas at Raigad on 6 June 1674.