Rise of the Marathas – Early Career of Shivaji
Medieval History › Mughal Period · Topic 6.27
The Marathas rose from posts in the Deccan sultanates to a state of their own under Shahji Bhonsale's son Shivaji, who seized hill forts near Poona from 1645, took Javli in 1656, killed Afzal Khan in 1659, survived Shaista Khan's occupation of Poona by his night attack of 1663 and looted Surat in 1664. By then he was the leading challenger of both Bijapur and the Mughals.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Mughal Period
At a Glance
- Background Shahji Bhonsale in Ahmadnagar and Bijapur
- First forts Rajgarh, Kondana and Torna, 1645 to 1647
- Javli 1656
- Afzal Khan 1659
- Surat Looted in 1664
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Mughal Period
Where Does It Fit?
This is the twenty-seventh topic of the category on the Mughal period. The previous topic covered Shah Jahan’s architecture, and this topic opens the story of Shivaji. The next topic covers his administration. Previous topic: Mughal Architecture Under Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid).
What Was the Background?
In short: the Marathas were already important in the Deccan sultanates but had no large state until Shahji and Shivaji.
The Marathas held important positions in Ahmadnagar and Bijapur, and their influence grew as the Mughals advanced south. Both the Deccani sultans and the Mughals bid for their support, and Malik Ambar used them as loose auxiliaries. Influential families such as the Mores, Ghatages and Nimbalkars exercised local authority, but the Marathas lacked large, well-established states like the Rajputs. The credit for setting up such a state goes to Shahji Bhonsale and his son Shivaji. Shahji acted as kingmaker in Ahmadnagar and defied the Mughals, but by the 1636 treaty he yielded the territories he dominated, joined Bijapur’s service and turned to Karnataka, where he tried to set up a semi-independent principality at Bangalore. This was the background to Shivaji’s effort to carve out a principality around Poona. See Malik Ambar’s Resistance to Mughal Expansion in the Deccan and Mughal Conquest of the Deccan Sultanates (Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda).
How Did Shivaji Begin?
Shahji left the Poona jagir to his neglected senior wife Jija Bai and their minor son Shivaji. At 18, Shivaji overran hill forts near Poona, Rajgarh, Kondana and Torna, between 1645 and 1647. After the death of his guardian Dadaji Kondadeo in 1647 he became his own master and controlled the jagir fully. His real career of conquest began in 1656 with Javli, taken from the Maratha chief Chandra Rao More, by treachery, along with the Mores’ treasure. This made him master of the Mavala highlands and opened the way to the Satara area and the Konkan coast. Mavali foot soldiers became a strong part of his army, and he acquired more hill forts near Poona.
How Did He Deal with Bijapur and the Mughals?
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1657 | The Mughal invasion of Bijapur saved Shivaji from Bijapuri reprisal; he first negotiated with Aurangzeb, then changed sides and raided Mughal areas; Aurangzeb pardoned him when he made terms with Bijapur but distrusted him |
| After 1657 | With Aurangzeb away, Shivaji seized the northern Konkan and more hill forts |
| 1659 | Bijapur sends Afzal Khan with 10,000 troops to capture him by any means; Afzal invites him to a meeting; suspecting a trap, Shivaji goes prepared and kills the Khan in a cunning but daring manner, routs the leaderless army and takes its artillery; Maratha troops overrun Panhala and south Konkan and the Kolhapur districts |
| 1660 | Shaista Khan, new Mughal governor of the Deccan and related to Aurangzeb by marriage, occupies Poona and secures north Konkan |
| 1663 | Shivaji infiltrates Shaista Khan’s camp at night, attacks him in his haram, kills his son and a captain and wounds the Khan; Aurangzeb transfers Shaista Khan to Bengal and refuses him an interview |
| 1664 | Shivaji attacks Surat, the premier Mughal port, and loots it |
Treachery was common in those days, and both Afzal Khan and Shivaji had used it on several occasions. His exploits made him a legend, credited with magical powers; people flocked to join him, and even Afghan mercenaries once in Bijapur’s service joined his army.
Why Was He Different from Other Maratha Chiefs?
Most Maratha sardars were military adventurers who shifted loyalty with the wind and led no clans behind them. Shivaji built a compact territory, a base of Mavali infantry, and a string of forts, and he fought both Bijapur and the Mughals. As an analytical point, his early success depended on terrain and speed: hill forts, a loyal infantry and surprise attacks neutralised the heavier armies of the sultanates and Mughals. His next test, the Mughal reaction led by Raja Jai Singh, is in Treaty of Purandar (1665) and Shivaji’s Visit to Agra, and the organisation he created is in Shivaji’s Administration (Ashtapradhan Council of Eight Ministers).
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Dated sequence Javli, Afzal Khan, Shaista Khan, Surat
- Background Why Marathas were ready to form a state
- Link Prepares Aurangzeb’s Deccan policy
What Came Next?
The next topic describes Shivaji’s administration and the Ashtapradhan. Next topic: Shivaji’s Administration (Ashtapradhan Council of Eight Ministers).
Key People and Terms
- Shahji Bhonsale Shivaji’s father
- Jija Bai Shivaji’s mother
- Mavali Foot soldiers from the Mavala highlands
- Javli Territory of the Mores
- Afzal Khan Bijapuri noble killed by Shivaji
- Shaista Khan Mughal governor of the Deccan
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Forts: Rajgarh, Kondana, Torna.
- Javli: 1656.
- Afzal Khan: 1659.
- Shaista Khan attacked at night in 1663.
- Surat looted in 1664.
Do Not Confuse With
- Shahji and Shivaji Father in Bijapur service versus the founder of the state
- Afzal Khan and Shaista Khan Bijapuri noble versus Mughal governor
- Javli and Purandar More territory taken in 1656 versus fort yielded in 1665
Memory Hook
Forts at 18, Javli by guile, Afzal falls, Shaista wounded, Surat sacked.
Mains Angle
Questions on Shivaji’s rise ask for factors and phases. These points add depth.
- Background Maratha role in the sultanates
- Methods Forts, infantry, surprise
- Opponents Bijapur and the Mughals
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Trace the rise of Shivaji up to 1664 and explain the factors behind it.”
How to Answer
- Background Shahji and the Marathas.
- Start Forts and Javli.
- Conflicts Afzal Khan and Shaista Khan.
- Peak Surat, 1664.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Shivaji's father?
Shivaji's father was Shahji Bhonsale, who acted as a kingmaker in Ahmadnagar, then joined Bijapur's service after the 1636 treaty and turned to Karnataka, leaving the Poona jagir to his senior wife Jija Bai and their young son Shivaji.
How did Shivaji begin his conquests?
At 18 Shivaji overran the hill forts of Rajgarh, Kondana and Torna near Poona between 1645 and 1647. His real career of conquest began in 1656 with Javli, which made him master of the Mavala highlands.
What happened between Shivaji and Afzal Khan?
In 1659 Bijapur sent Afzal Khan with 10,000 troops to capture Shivaji by any means. At a personal interview, which Shivaji suspected was a trap, he went prepared and killed the Khan, then routed his leaderless army and took its artillery.
What was Shivaji's attack on Shaista Khan?
In 1663 Shivaji infiltrated Shaista Khan's camp at Poona at night and attacked him in his haram, killing his son and a captain and wounding the Khan. Aurangzeb transferred Shaista Khan to Bengal in anger.
When did Shivaji loot Surat?
Shivaji attacked and looted Surat, the premier Mughal port, in 1664 and returned home laden with treasure. He sacked it a second time in 1670, after his breach with the Mughals that followed the treaty of Purandar.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Shivaji captured Javli from Chandra Rao More in 1656.
By treachery, per the account.
2 Afzal Khan was sent by Shaista Khan against Shivaji.
He was a Bijapuri noble.
3 Shivaji looted Surat in 1664.
It was the premier Mughal port.
4 Shahji Bhonsale was Shivaji's father.
He later served Bijapur.
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