Shivaji | Brief Biography
Shivaji Bhonsle | Brief Biography
Shivaji Bhonsle, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was a Maratha warrior king who lived from 1630 to 1680 CE. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in Indian history and is widely regarded as a hero and a symbol of resistance against foreign rule.
Early Life and Background:
Shivaji was born on April 6, 1630, in the hill fort of Shivneri in present-day Maharashtra, India. He was the son of Shahaji Bhonsle, a prominent Maratha nobleman, and Jijabai, his wife. Shivaji was the third of their six children.
As a child, Shivaji was exposed to the military and political affairs of the region through his father, who was a general in the service of the Sultan of Bijapur. Shivaji was also greatly influenced by his mother, who was a devout Hindu and instilled in him a strong sense of religious and cultural pride.
Early Military Campaigns:
At the age of 16, Shivaji began his military career by seizing the hill fort of Torna from the Adil Shahi Sultanate. This was the first of many successful military campaigns that Shivaji would undertake over the course of his life.
Shivaji established a network of forts throughout the region and used them as a base to launch attacks on neighboring kingdoms. He also formed an army of skilled and loyal soldiers, many of whom were from lower castes, and implemented innovative tactics and weapons.
Establishment of the Maratha Empire:
By the mid-1650s, he had become a powerful force in the region and had established his own independent kingdom, the Maratha Empire. Shivaji was crowned as the king of the Marathas in 1674 and took the title of “Chhatrapati,” meaning “lord of the umbrella.”
Under his leadership, the Maratha Empire expanded rapidly and became one of the most powerful and influential kingdoms in India. Shivaji implemented a range of policies and reforms that helped to promote trade, agriculture, and infrastructure development, and he also sought to protect the interests of the common people.
Legacy and Influence:
Shivaji’s legacy has had a lasting impact on Indian history and culture. He is celebrated as a hero and a symbol of resistance against foreign rule, and his life and accomplishments have been the subject of numerous books, films, and other forms of media. 0 0 0.
Sources:
Some of the key sources for Shivaji‘s life and legacy include the contemporary accounts of his life, such as the writings of the historian Sabhasad Bakhar and the accounts of his own court poets. Other important sources include the biographies and historical accounts written by later scholars, such as the British historian James Grant Duff and the Indian nationalist Bal Gangadhar Tilak. ***
N.B. This article originally belongs to the book entitled ‘Brief Biographies of Eminent Generals and Conquerors’ by Menonim Menonimus.
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