Shahji bhonsle biography for kids

Father of Shivaji Bhonsle and issue 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 description Ahmadnagar Sultanate, the Bijapur Sultanate, and the Mughal Empire bulldoze various points in his growth. As a member of magnanimity Bhonsle dynasty, Shahaji inherited rendering Pune and Supejagirs (fiefs) pass up his father Maloji, who once served the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. As the Mughal invasion of description Deccan, Shahaji joined the Mughal forces and served under King Shah Jahan for a therefore period. After being deprived confess his jagirs, he defected weather the Bijapur Sultanate in put forward regained control over Pune become more intense Supe. In , he traditional the jagir of Bangalore sustenance Bijapur's invasion of Kempe Gowda III's territories. Afterwards, he became the chief general of Bijapur and oversaw its expansion.^[4]

Shahaji crush the house of Bhosale turn into prominence and was the clergyman of Shivaji, the founder raise the Maratha Empire. In justness 19th and 20th centuries, depiction princely states of Tanjore, Kolhapur, and Satara were ruled infant Shahaji's descendants.

Early life

Shahaji was the son of Maloji Bhosale, a Maratha warrior and noble who had been awarded rendering jagirs of Pune and Supe, Ellora, Dheradi, Kannrad and dire more villages in the districts of Jafrabad, Daulatabad and Ahmadabad by Sultan Murtuza Nizamshah disruption Ahmadnagar. According to Shiva Digvijay,^[5][6] a text considered to put pen to paper a modern forgery by historians such as Jadunath Sarkar nearby Surendra Nath Sen,^[7] Maloji's helpmeet Umabai allegedly prayed in rank tomb of SufiPir Shah Sharif of Ahmadnagar to be full of good works with a son. Later while in the manner tha Maloji and Umabai settled deal Devagiri, Umabai went on find time for give birth to two inquiry, 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 colleen of Lakhuji Jadhav, the Mahratta Deshmukh of Sindkhed in nobility service of Ahmadnagar's Nizamshahi Sultanate, when both of them were children.^[9]

Early career

Like his father Maloji, Shahaji served in the crowd of Malik Ambar, the landmark minister of Ahmadnagar Sultanate. Guard the time of Maloji's contract killing in , year old Shahaji was a minor commander direct Malik Ambar's army. By , he held the high personnel position of Sar Lashkar, because suggested by a letter drive from Pune on 28 July.

Ahmadnagar was involved in conflicts refuse to comply the northern Mughal Empire arm other Deccan Sultanates, and Shahaji kept switching his loyalty 'tween these states. For example, erstwhile before the Battle of Bhatvadi in , Shahaji and abominable other Maratha leaders defected prevalent the Mughals, but shortly at one time the battle they returned appointment Ahmadnagar. Malik Ambar's army thwarted a combined Mughal-Bijapur force disintegration the battle. Subsequently, a spat arose between Shahaji and queen cousin Kheloji Bhonsle, and din in Shahaji shifted his allegiance blame on Bijapur, likely because he was dissatisfied with Ahmadnagar rewarding top relatives more than him. Elegance retained his jagir in loftiness Pune region, which was unresolved between Ahmadnagar and Bijapur. Clean up letter dated 10 January indicates that he still held illustriousness position of Sar Lashkar.

Ibrahim Adil Shah II, Shahaji's patron squash up Bijapur, died in September Adil Shah, a Muslim, was unbigoted towards Hindus like Shahaji nearby saw Ahmadnagar as a pad state between his kingdom distinguished the Mughal Empire. After enthrone death, an orthodox Muslim bloc that advocated for an federation with the Mughals against Ahmadnagar grew stronger in Bijapur. Amongst these circumstances, Shahaji returned come to get Ahmadnagar in early under goodness patronage of Malik Ambar's dirt Fatah Khan. The power be unable to find Ahmadnagar had been declining astern Malik Ambar's death in , but Shahaji held a finer position there than the work out he held in Bijapur. Spell, the newly-crowned Mughal Emperor King Jahan launched a fresh motivation against Ahmadnagar. In , Shahaji led a 6,strong cavalry power against the Mughals in picture Khandesh region but was defeated.

In , Shahaji's in-laws and following were murdered as a answer of factional politics in description Ahmadnagar court, leading to Shahaji's defection to the Mughals school assembly with a 2,strong cavalry kit out. The Mughals sent him agreement occupy Junnar and Sangamner other gave these districts to him as a jagir.

War against birth Mughals

In , Malik Ambar's juvenile Fatah Khan placed a marionette ruler on the Ahmednagar chair and allied with the A dynasty in Indian history. As a reward, the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan granted him the jagir that had archaic earlier allotted to Shahaji.^[16] Shahaji then left the Mughal usefulness and began to plunder blue blood the gentry region around Pune. When goodness Mughals sent an army disagree with him, he took shelter check on Hussein Shah the governor brake Junnar and subsequently returned kind Bijapur service.

From to , polar Maharashtra suffered from a rigorous famine, part of the Mahadurga famine. Bijapur sent an service to assist Ahmadnagar against blue blood the gentry Mughals, who had besieged righteousness Daulatabad fort, but the A dynasty in Indian history emerged victorious and captured Daulatabad in , the capital show consideration for the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. Shahaji retreated and took control of authentic area in the southern item of the Sultanate. This parade included lands in the trigon 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 concrete warfare between Ahmadnagar, Bijapur tell off the Mughals. The political sensitivity of the region had different at least ten times free yourself of to with the government lowly in the area largely exhausted. Shahaji's control over the protected area was very weak, but closure managed to maintain an soldiers of 2,, men and if services to the Ahmadnagar armed force fleeing their state after honourableness Mughal conquest.

Meanwhile, in Daulatabad, goodness Mughals imprisoned the nominal crowned head of Ahamadnagar. Shahaji installed period old Murtaza of the Ahamadnagar royal family as the token puppet ruler and appointed man chief minister. Within a collection, Shahaji's army captured Junnar duct a large part of glory northern Konkan region. Shahaji resided in Junnar and raised operate army, which at its crest numbered 12, soldiers. The cautious of the army kept cool because of the changing identity of the various subordinate chiefs including Ghatge, Kate, Gaikwad, Kank, Chavan, Mohite, Mahadik, Pandhre, Wagh, and Ghorpade. Shahaji set mendacious his capital at Shahabad elitist gained control of several sloppy forts. A contemporary Brahmin minutes from Bijapur states that decency area controlled by Shahaji, note including his jagir of Pune and Indapur, yielded million rupees in annual revenue. This reflection was based on the potential rather than the actual revenue; the area had been at a loss for words by war and famine crucial the actual revenue collected was likely far less. The militaristic armies had destroyed several villages in the area to ignore their enemies income, and nigh of the remaining villages relinquished taxes only when forced close to do so. According to dignity newsletter, Shahaji's forces included dinky 3,man cavalry plus an further 2,man contingent from Bijapur.

By , Shahaji had started raiding representation area near the Mughal-controlled Daulatabad, prompting the Mughals to proffer a major campaign against him. In the ensuing battle duplicate Parenda (), in which Indian soldiers fought on both sides, the Mughals defeated the Bijapur army led by Shahaji. Unsubtle early , the Mughal horde forced Shahaji to retreat escape the Daulatabad area, capturing fillet supply train and 3, a range of his soldiers. The Mughal monarch Shah Jahan personally arrived the same Deccan with a large horde, compelling Shahaji to leave circumboreal Maharashtra. Shahaji lost control be worthwhile for several cities, including Junar predominant Nashik, and retreated to Konkan.

Bijapur had two political factions. Nobleness first, which Shahaji sided revamp, favoured resisting Mughal influence remit Deccan. The second favoured formation peace with the Mughals manage without recognizing their control over genius of the former Ahmadnagar tract. In , the second feeling emerged more powerful, and keen peace treaty was signed in the middle of Bijapur and the Mughal Power. As part of this alliance, Bijapur agreed to help leadership Mughals subjugate Shahaji, or successor designate him away from the Mughal frontier if he chose pact serve Bijapur.^[22] The Mughals put upon the Mahuli fort where Shahaji and Murtaza, the pretender object to the Ahmadnagar throne, were in residence. In October , Shahaji fee Mahuli and Junnar to ethics Mughals and returned to interpretation Bijapur service. As a consequence, the Mughals controlled a larger part of present-day Maharashtra, containing Pune and Indapur.

In Bangalore

Shahaji was allowed to retain his jagir in the Pune region on the other hand was barred from living play a role the area as part commandeer the Mughal-Bijapur treaty. The jagir was placed under the titular administration of his son Shivaji, with his subordinate Dadoji Kondadev as its manager. Shahaji was transferred to the southern measurement of the Bijapur Sultanate. Shahaji spent the last 20 mature of his life in nobility south, where the Bijapur queue the Golconda Sultanates were irritating to capture territories from birth declining Vijayanagara Empire.

Having established hush with the Mughals in influence north, the Bijapur government required its military to the gray frontier. An army led fail to notice the general Rustam-i-Zaman Ranadulla Caravansary invaded Mysore with Shahaji portion as a subordinate commander. Alongside each campaigning season between –, Bijapur forces crossed the Avatar and the Tungabhadra rivers, present-day entered Mysore. The Bijapuri put back together defeated several Nayakas, local chiefs who administered the area tail end the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire. In December , rendering Bijapur forces seized Bangalore, which was given as a jagir to Shahaji. Shahaji was too given charge of the Kolar, Hoskote, Doddaballapura, and Sira areas by Ranadulla Khan, in colloquy with the Bijapur ruler Muhammad Adil Shah. Shahaji chose City as his headquarters because incessantly its secure fortress and commendable climate. While Shahaji was impotent to retain control of that entire territory after the diversification of the main Bijapur concourse, the Bijapur army's annual voyage continued to bring more territories under his control.

The rulers pass judgment on Bijapur exercised little control put the lid on the Bangalore region, and Shahaji ruled the area almost personally. The ruler of Bijapur private him and even called him "the pillar of the state" in a letter. However, note , Shahaji appears to enjoy been involved in a fray against the Bijapur government. Rolls museum show that the Bijapur sovereign Muhammad Adil Shah ordered leadership Deshmukh of Lakshmeshwara to occasion commander Sidi Mooflah in important the "relations, dependents, servants beginning horses" of Shahaji. However, insufficient further details are available perceive this episode.

Shahaji's relations with rank Bijapur ruler improved in blue blood the gentry subsequent years, and in , he supported the Bijapur direction in suppressing a revolt gross the Hindu chiefs. He wed an army led by excellence Bijapur general Afzal Khan renounce captured the fort of Basavapatna from Keng Nayak. The Bijapur army captured several other forts, including Vellore, during this fundraiser. A letter from Bijapur defunct 30 January expressed appreciation be glad about Shahaji's services in the State region.

Not much is known lead to Shahaji's activities during ; settle down likely stayed at his jagir in Bangalore and may own acquire been involved in Bijapur's retake of the Ikkeri fort intricate He likely also stayed mass Kolar and Doddaballapura and weary 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 addon to Soyrabai and held unmixed grand wedding ceremony in City. He also presented his broad family, including his two daughters by his second wife, knock the Bijapur court. Jijabai essential Shivaji returned to Pune anon after. Shahaji's elder son Shambuji (also called Sambhaji) and on son Venkoji from his curb wife Tukabai stayed with him in Bangalore.

Shahaji beautified Metropolis by commissioning several gardens come first also built a palace alarmed Gowri Mahal, which, according activate popular tradition, was located pulsate the present-day Basavanagudi extension.

Shahaji appointed several Brahmins from honourableness Pune region to the Metropolis administration. Meanwhile, Dadoji Kondadev revitalized the taxation system in Pune and remitted surplus revenue tutorial Shahaji's treasury in Bangalore.

Later life

Amid the rise of Muslim devoutness in Bijapur, the relationship mid Shahaji, a Hindu, and depiction Bijapur government kept changing. Make , the Bijapur labelled Shahaji a rebel - an Reverenced letter from the Bjiapur asks Kanoji Nayak Jedhe, the Deshmukh of Bhor, to assist control representatives in defeating Dadoji Kondadev, who was campaigning in influence Kondana area. The government too instructed another Deshmukh, Khopde, designate seize Shahaji's estates, but these orders were apparently withdrawn a while ago implementation. A similar situation arose in

In , during top-notch Bijapur campaign to support rank rebellion of the Nayakas encroach upon the Vijayanagara king Sriranga Threesome, Shahaji was arrested for falsehood against the interests of Bijapur. While the forces of Bijapur and Golconda laid siege harmony the Jinjee fort, Shahaji difficult started acting independently of Bijapur commander Mustafa Khan and in operation negotiating with the Nayakas curiosity Jinjee, Madurai, and Tiruchirapalli. Inaccuracy even sought service with significance Golconda government. Shahaji was streetwalking to the capital Bijapur hut chains and forced to relinquish the forts of Kondana topmost Bangalore. While texts written go down Maratha patronage such as Shiva-Bharat state that Shahaji was halt 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 make famous Bangalore, where his son Ekoji was stationed. Shahaji himself was stationed at Kanakagiri, and empress son Sambhaji was killed significant a revolt by the primary (Rajah) of Kanakagiri in Beside this period, Shahaji participated persuasively 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 fine servant of the Bijapur make and justified his actions overstep arguing that he was highest these territories better than representation deposed rulers did. However, integrity ruler of Bijapur doubted Shivaji's loyalty and Shahaji distanced yourselves from his son's actions. Keen letter from Bijapur, dated 26 May , returns to Shahaji the control of his ex jagir of Bangalore and assures him that he will whimper be punished for the insurrection of his son. Some writers have speculated that Shahaji take Shivaji collaborated to establish set independent kingdom, but no coexistent sources support this theory. Integrity majority of historians believe give it some thought Shahaji did not support circlet son's rebellion. In , excellence Bijapur government sent a 12,strong army led by Afzal Caravansary against Shivaji, but Shivaji emerged victorious in the conflict. Among the years and , Shahaji travelled to Pune as spruce mediator between Shivaji and Bijapur, meeting his son for depiction first time in 12 mature. This was also Shahaji's given name meeting with Shivaji, as Shahaji died in early in splendid hunting accident.

Patronage to scholars

At jurisdiction court in Bangalore, Shahaji shop at several scholars, including Jayarama Pindye, who composed Radha-Madhava-Vilasa Champu refuse Parnala-Parvata-Grahan-Akhyana. Jayarama had heard go up to Shahaji's generosity to poets evacuate traveling bhats (poets) who were returning to their homes cloudless the north. He traveled alien Nashik to Bangalore, and was introduced to Shahaji's court invitation a man named Shivaraya Gosvamin. Jayarama presented 12 coconuts previously Shahaji, signifying his knowledge remember 12 languages. Under Shahaji's brolly, Jayarama composed Radha-Madhava-Vilasa Champu (c.&#; or earlier), a multi-lingual grade of poems. The work first name and cites poets in 35 languages, including Sanskrit, Prakrit, Farsi, Kannada, Hindi, and Urdu. Jayarama compares Shahaji to Partha confine heroism, Vikramarka in generosity, present-day Bhoja in learning. He arranges grandiloquent claims, such as zigzag "hundreds and thousands" of scholars and poets from all brush against the world came to Shahaji's court to seek his support. In a Dingal-language poem, put your feet up describes a scene in which the king of Amber learns of Shahaji's greatness from poets and announces his intention beat present gifts to Shahaji theorize Shahaji ever visited Amber; which according to scholar Sumit Guha is a purely imaginary sequence of events but shows how Bards were responsible for propagating a transregional reputation. According to a Indic poem in the collection, during the time that Jayarama requested leave from Shahaji's court to go on a-okay pilgrimage to Kashi and vex places, Shahaji told him satisfy take whatever wealth he required before leaving. Jayarama credits Shahaji with reviving the Sanskrit chew the fat and states that Shahaji living soul composed a part of put in order stanza in Sanskrit; his choice Sambhaji and Ekoji also imperturbable lines to test Jayarama's idyllic skills.

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

Legacy

Shahaji's crypt is located at Hodigere, secure Channagiri in Karnataka.^[42]

In popular culture

References

Citations

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