Shahaji Maharaj. (Father of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj)

Shahaji Raje
Shahaji was the son of Maloji Bhosale, who was the famous Maratha warrior. He was born in 1594 or in 1602 and died on January 23, 1664 AD. His father was the general in the court of Bijapur Sultanate. He also followed in the footsteps of his Maloji Bhosale. Bhosale participated in many wars in favour of Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar. So that he awarded Jagir of Pune and Supe districts. Maloji as a Hindu, great devotee of Sufi Muslim saint Shah Sharif. So he named his sons Shahaji and Sharifji to honour the saint. His wife was the daughter of Lakhuji Jadhav, the another famous Maratha general who was later murder by Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar.

As the elder son, he got Pune and Supe Jagirs after his father. He was very expert in the Guerrilla fight and brought his family into the limelight in the History. Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of Maratha Kingdom was the son of Shahajiraje. When Mughal emperor Shah Jahan started the invasion of Deccan, Raje Bhosale helped to the Emperor to conquest Deccan. Later he defeated the Bijapur Sultanate in 1632 AD and strongly controlled over Pune and Supe. In 1638 AD,

Defied and Alliance with Mughals:
Shah Jahan sent a large troop on Nizam and Adilshah. The feared Adilshah seek peace with Mughals and withdraw the troops against Mughals. Then he became weak and besieged in the fort of Mahuli. At the meantime, Nizam’s infant Murtaza was kidnapped by the Mughals. This made Shahaji into an alliance with Mughals to save the life of Nizam and Murtaza. Since then Shahajahan posted Shahaji in the deep south to escape from his challenges. So this made him one of the top generals in the Deccan. During this Bangalore came under his control and invaded the Kempe Gowda III’s territories and got the jagir of Bangalore.

In 1638 AD, Bhosale accompanied with Bijapur army and defeated many Rajas in southern India. However, he didn’t punish or executed them, instead, Shahaji reprieved all the Rajas. So the appeased Rajas maintained cordial relations with Shahaji and helped him whenever Shahaji required military support. But Bijapur was not happy with the relation of Shahaji Raje and the southern kings.

Shahaji Prisoned by Adil Shaha:
After getting the jagir of Bangalore he sent his wife Jijabai and elder son Shivaji to Pune to look after the jagir of Pune. There Shivaji started capturing the territories under Adilshah around Pune. This made angry to Adil shah and captured Shahaji and imprisoned him. The aggressive Shivaji approached Shahjahan and seek help against Adilshah. This made fear of Adilshah and released Shahaji. One day Shahaji went for hunting on his horse, unfortunately, he falls off the horse and died around 1665 AD. But his dream of creating his own kingdom was completed by both of his son Ekoji in south and Shivaji in Deccan. His tomb was built at Hodigere near present Channagiri Mandal in Karnataka.

         

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  1. People have such haterate towards Muslims they should read this.

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