Shaistakhan’s invasion and the Surat campaign
If a guest settles in your house and will not leave, what happens to the family? Shaistakhan sat in Pune like that for two years.
After the Adilshahi, a big threat came to Swaraj from the Mughals. Emperor Aurangzeb sent his maternal uncle Shaistakhan against Swaraj.
Key idea 1 : Shaistakhan’s invasion — In February 1660 Shaistakhan left Ahmadnagar and entered the Pune province. Firangoji Narsala, killedar of Chakan fort, resisted strongly; finally the Mughals took Chakan. The Khan stayed in Lal Mahal in Pune and his forces plundered the people around.
Key idea 2 : Raid on Lal Mahal — Two years passed but the Khan would not leave Pune; people’s morale was falling. On the night of 5 April 1663 Maharaj raided Lal Mahal with select soldiers. In this raid Shaistakhan lost his fingers. Humiliated, he left Pune for Aurangabad.
Key idea 3 : The Surat campaign — In three years Shaistakhan had ruined a large part of Swaraj. To make good the loss Maharaj attacked Surat, a rich port under the Mughals, where the English and Dutch had factories. Subhedar Inayat Khan could not resist. Without troubling common people, Maharaj gained plenty of wealth.
- Easy : Where did Shaistakhan stay in Pune? — At Lal Mahal.
- Medium : When was Lal Mahal raided? — 5 April 1663.
- Exam-type : What was Surat famous for? — A rich trading port.
In the figure: Invasion, raid and the Surat campaign.
What happened before the raid on Lal Mahal? For two years Shaistakhan’s forces camped at Pune and plundered the people. Faith in Swaraj was shaking. Then Maharaj drew up the bold plan of a secret raid on Lal Mahal.
What happened after the raid on Lal Mahal? After losing his fingers in the raid Shaistakhan left Pune for Aurangabad. Aurangzeb was displeased and transferred him to Bengal. People’s faith in Maharaj grew further.
5 April 1663 = Lal Mahal; Khan lost fingers; Surat = blow to the Mughals.
At Lal Mahal Maharaj raided with select soldiers, not with a big army.
Memory clue: Khan = lost fingers; Surat = wealth gained.
Spot the difference
| Event | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Raid on Lal Mahal | 1663 | Khan left Pune; faith of people |
| Surat campaign | 1664 | Wealth; Aurangzeb’s prestige shaken |
Practice questions
- 1Whose maternal uncle was Shaistakhan?
- 2Who was the killedar of Chakan fort?
- 3State the result of the raid on Lal Mahal.
- 4Why did Maharaj undertake the Surat campaign?
- 5Who held Surat? Whose factories were there?
- 6What effect did Shaistakhan’s invasion have on the people?
- 7Find the route to Surat on a map and tell it in class.
- 8What happens if guests stay too long? Link it with this event.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Aurangzeb’s.
- 2Firangoji Narsala.
- 3The Khan lost fingers and left Pune; Aurangzeb was displeased.
- 4To make good Shaistakhan’s damage and to teach the Mughals a lesson.
- 5The Mughals’; the English and Dutch.
- 6The looting lowered people’s morale.
- 7E.g. the Pune–Nashik–Surat route.
- 8A foreign army staying long troubles the people.
Jaisingh’s invasion and the Treaty of Purandar
Facing two strong teams at once is hard; a player gives up a few points to prepare to win the next match. The Treaty of Purandar was such a thoughtful decision.
A treaty is a written agreement between two parties to stop fighting. In June 1665 the ‘Treaty of Purandar’ was signed between Mirzaraje Jaisingh and Shivaji Maharaj.
Key idea 1 : Jaisingh’s invasion — To curb Maharaj’s growing activities Aurangzeb sent the experienced Rajput sardar Mirzaraje Jaisingh. He tried to unite against Maharaj the Portuguese of Goa and Vasai, the Dutch of Vengurla, the English of Surat and the Siddis of Janjira.
Key idea 2 : Siege of Purandar — Jaisingh and Dilerkhan besieged Purandar. Killedar Murarbaji Deshpande fought with great courage and died a hero’s death.
Key idea 3 : Terms of the treaty — Realising the seriousness, Maharaj met Jaisingh personally and held talks. The treaty was made in 1665 (11 June). Maharaj gave the Mughals 23 forts and territory yielding four lakh hons a year, and promised help against the Adilshahi. Aurangzeb ratified the treaty.
- Easy : How many forts were given in the treaty? — 23.
- Medium : Who defended Purandar? — Murarbaji Deshpande.
- Exam-type : Year of the treaty? — 1665.
In the figure: The sequence from the invasion to the treaty.
What happened before the Treaty of Purandar? Jaisingh besieged Purandar and Murarbaji defended the fort to the end. After his heroic death the situation turned grave, since Mughal forces had ruined many parts of Swaraj.
What happened after the Treaty of Purandar? After the treaty 23 forts went to the Mughals and Maharaj helped Jaisingh in his campaign against the Adilshahi. Later Jaisingh proposed that Maharaj visit Agra.
June 1665; 23 forts; 4 lakh hons; Murarbaji.
A treaty is not defeat; it was time gained to prepare for the next step.
Memory clue: Treaty = 23 forts = 65.
Spot the difference
| Point | Detail | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Jaisingh | Mughal sardar | Led the invasion |
| Murarbaji | Killedar of Purandar | Valour, heroic death |
| Treaty | 23 forts given | Pause in conflict |
Practice questions
- 1Why did Aurangzeb send Jaisingh?
- 2Write about Murarbaji Deshpande.
- 3Write three terms of the Treaty of Purandar.
- 4What is a treaty?
- 5Why did Maharaj make the treaty? Give reasons.
- 6Which foreign powers did Jaisingh try to unite?
- 7What happened after the treaty?
- 8Why is retreating sometimes also wisdom? Give an example.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1To curb Maharaj’s growing activities.
- 2Killedar of Purandar; fought bravely in the siege and died a hero’s death.
- 3Giving 23 forts and territory of four lakh hons; help against the Adilshahi.
- 4A written agreement between two parties to stop fighting.
- 5The situation was grave, damage to Swaraj was growing and time was needed to prepare.
- 6The Portuguese, Dutch, English and Siddis.
- 7Maharaj went to Agra.
- 8E.g. giving up one point in a game to win the next match.
Agra visit and escape
Sometimes there is an invitation but no welcome. Aurangzeb called Maharaj to Agra, but gave him no due honour at court.
House arrest means keeping a person under guard in one place. At Agra, while under house arrest, Maharaj escaped cleverly.
Key idea 1 : Why he went to Agra — After the Treaty of Purandar Jaisingh’s campaign against the Adilshahi did not succeed. Jaisingh and Aurangzeb felt Maharaj should stay away from Deccan politics for a while. Jaisingh suggested that Maharaj visit Agra and gave a guarantee of safety.
Key idea 2 : What happened at Agra — Maharaj went to Agra with Prince Sambhaji and some trusted men. Aurangzeb did not honour him at court; Maharaj expressed his displeasure. The Emperor placed him under house arrest.
Key idea 3 : The escape — Not losing heart even under house arrest, Maharaj planned his escape. He slipped out of Agra cleverly and reached Rajgad safely in a few days. On the way back he left Sambhaji at Mathura; later he was safely brought to Rajgad. In the meantime Jijabai and associates looked after the administration of Swaraj.
- Easy : Who went with Maharaj to Agra? — Sambhaji and trusted men.
- Medium : Where did Maharaj reach after Agra? — Rajgad.
- Exam-type : Where was Sambhaji left? — Mathura.
In the figure: Four steps from the Agra visit to Rajgad.
What happened before the Agra visit? After the Treaty of Purandar Jaisingh suggested that Maharaj go to Agra to meet Aurangzeb and guaranteed his safety. Maharaj left the administration with Jijabai and his associates and set out.
What happened after the Agra visit? After escaping, Maharaj did not start fighting the Mughals at once. After some time he planned a big campaign to take back the forts given in the treaty.
The escape is recorded on 17 August 1666. Large baskets of sweets were being sent daily to nobles and Brahmins. It is said that Maharaj and Sambhaji left Agra hidden in such baskets. (check the date and details with the textbook)
1666; Agra → house arrest → escape → Rajgad.
Maharaj did not fight his way out of Agra; he slipped out cleverly.
Memory clue: Agra = insult → arrest → cleverness.
Spot the difference
| Step | What happened | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Visit | No honour at court | Maharaj’s displeasure |
| House arrest | Emperor’s decision | Plan of escape |
| Escape | Arrival at Rajgad | Preparation for a new campaign |
Practice questions
- 1What is house arrest?
- 2Why did Maharaj go to Agra?
- 3Who was with him at Agra?
- 4Why did Aurangzeb place Maharaj under house arrest?
- 5Where was Sambhaji left after the escape?
- 6Who looked after Swaraj while Maharaj was at Agra?
- 7What did Maharaj do after escaping from Agra?
- 8Why is finding a way without losing courage in trouble important? Write.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Keeping a person under guard in one place.
- 2On Jaisingh’s suggestion, due to the treaty and Deccan politics.
- 3Prince Sambhaji and some trusted men.
- 4Because of his displeasure at court the Emperor kept him under watch.
- 5At Mathura.
- 6Jijabai and Maharaj’s associates.
- 7Planned to recapture the forts given in the treaty.
- 8A calm mind finds a good solution.
Recapture of forts, coronation and the southern campaign
To recover something lost you need a calm mind and a firm plan. Maharaj drew up such a plan to recover the forts given in the treaty.
A coronation is the formal ceremony of seating a king on the throne. On 6 June 1674 Maharaj was crowned at Raigad.
Key idea 1 : Recapturing forts — Maharaj sent a ready army to take forts on one side and on the other kept the Mughals unsettled by attacking their territories in the Deccan. He attacked the Mughal territories of Ahmadnagar and Junnar; he recaptured Sinhgad, Purandar, Lohagad, Mahuli, Karnala and Rohida. He attacked Surat a second time and on the way back defeated the Mughal sardar Daudkhan at Vani-Dindori. Moropant Pingale captured Trimbakgad.
Key idea 2 : The coronation — After over thirty years of struggle a formal coronation was needed so that Swaraj would win recognition as a sovereign State. On 6 June 1674 the coronation was performed at Raigad by the scholar Gagabhatt. Maharaj became ‘Chhatrapati’. A new era (Rajyabhisheka shaka) was started. A gold ‘Hon’ and a copper ‘Shivrai’ coin were minted. On 24 September 1674 a second coronation was held under the guidance of Nischalpuri Gosavi; he honoured both the Vedic and Tantric traditions.
Key idea 3 : Southern campaign and Maharaj’s death — In October 1677 Maharaj set out on the southern campaign. At Golconda he made a treaty of friendship with Qutubshah. Later he won forts like Bengaluru, Hoskote, Jinji, Vellore and some Adilshahi territory; Raghunath Narayan Hanamante was made chief administrator. Jinji later proved very useful; when Aurangzeb came to Maharashtra Rajaram Maharaj took shelter there and ran the administration. Maharaj passed away at Raigad on 3 April 1680.
- Easy : Date of coronation? — 6 June 1674.
- Medium : Who performed the coronation? — Gagabhatt.
- Exam-type : Which southern fort proved useful later? — Jinji.
In the figure: Four steps from regaining forts to death.
What happened before the coronation? After returning from Agra Maharaj did not fight the Mughals at once, but made a firm plan to take back the forts given in the treaty. Sardars planned campaigns and, as Sabhasad notes, many forts were regained in about four months.
What happened after the coronation? After the coronation the Rajyabhisheka era began and royal letters carried a new style of address. Three years later Maharaj began the southern campaign and added forts like Jinji to Swaraj.
At the coronation Sambhaji, about 17 years old, was present. He described the ceremony in the treatise ‘Budhabhushanam’; it mentions limitless wealth, clothes, elephants and horses donated to the scholars who came. (as per the textbook)
6 June 1674 = coronation; 1677 southern campaign; 3 April 1680 death.
There were two coronations: the first on 6 June and the second on 24 September 1674.
Memory clue: 6-6-74 = coronation.
Spot the difference
| Event | Year | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Coronation | 1674 | Recognition as a sovereign State |
| Southern campaign | 1677 | Jinji fort |
| Death | 1680 | End of an era |
Recapture of forts, coronation and the southern campaign
In the app you can move this figure with your finger.
Open in the appPractice questions
- 1Where and when was the coronation held?
- 2What new changes followed the coronation?
- 3Why was the coronation performed twice?
- 4Write the names of three forts in the southern campaign.
- 5Why did Jinji fort prove useful later?
- 6What is the ‘Rajya-vyavahara-kosha’?
- 7Write two events of the campaign of regaining forts after Agra.
- 8How do we prepare for our country’s Independence Day? Write.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1At Raigad, on 6 June 1674.
- 2Maharaj became Chhatrapati; a new era began; Hon and Shivrai coins were minted.
- 3To honour both the Vedic and Tantric traditions.
- 4Bengaluru, Hoskote, Jinji, Vellore.
- 5When Aurangzeb came to Maharashtra, Rajaram Maharaj took shelter there.
- 6A dictionary giving Sanskrit equivalents for Persian words.
- 7Regained Sinhgad, Purandar; defeated Daudkhan at Vani-Dindori.
- 8E.g. flag hoisting, programmes, patriotic songs.