Lesson 9: The Maratha War of Independence

Key idea 1 : About Sambhaji Maharaj — Sambhaji Maharaj was Shivaji Maharaj’s eldest son, born on 14 May 1657 at Purandar fort. He got excellent training in civil administration and military campaigns from Shivaji Maharaj; from age fourteen he took interest in administration and army command. The French traveller Abbe Carre praised his battle skills.

Key idea 2 : Aurangzeb’s invasion of the South — Aurangzeb’s son Prince Akbar rebelled against his father, failed, and came to Sambhaji Maharaj for shelter in the Deccan. To deal with him Aurangzeb himself descended on the South in 1682 with a huge army and artillery. He asked the Siddi of Janjira to march on the Marathas and also won the Portuguese to his side.

Key idea 3 : Siege of Ramsej and other campaigns — Aurangzeb thought that once the Maratha forts were captured their rule would end; so he besieged Ramsej fort near Nashik. Aurangzeb’s army was huge, the Marathas’ small; yet they fought with perseverance. In 1682 Sambhaji Maharaj began a campaign against the Siddi (siege of Dandarajpuri) but had to abandon it due to the Mughal invasion. In 1683 he attacked the Portuguese fort of Revdanda; Yesaji Kank showed great valour in the Goa battle, but on news of the Mughal attack on South Konkan Maharaj had to give up the Goa campaign and return.

• Easy : How long did the Maratha War of Independence last? — About 27 years.
• Medium : When did Aurangzeb come to the South? — In 1682.
• Exam-type : Where is Ramsej? — Near Nashik.

In the figure: Steps from his birth to the Goa campaign.

Spot the difference

Key idea 1 : End of Adilshahi and Qutubshahi — As his campaign against the Marathas did not succeed Aurangzeb suspended it, turned to the kingdoms of the Adilshah and Qutubshah and conquered them. Their wealth and army passed to the Mughals and Aurangzeb grew stronger.

Key idea 2 : Death of Hambirrao Mohite — Then he concentrated all his might on defeating the Marathas and attacked from all sides. The Maratha commander Hambirrao Mohite was killed in a clash with the Mughals; this blow weakened Sambhaji Maharaj’s military strength.

Key idea 3 : Capture and death — Aurangzeb had placed Mukarrabkhan in charge of the Kolhapur province. On learning that Sambhaji Maharaj was at Sangameshwar in Konkan Mukarrabkhan raided it and captured him. When taken before the Emperor Maharaj faced him fearlessly; by the Emperor’s orders he was brutally put to death on 11 March 1689. Without compromising self-respect he showed courage in facing death nobly. Taking inspiration from his sacrifice the Marathas intensified their fight.

Key idea 4 : Administration and writing — Though busy on many battle fronts Sambhaji Maharaj continued the prompt justice and revenue system of Shivaji Maharaj. He punished severely landlords who harassed common people and rebelled against Swaraj. He gave administrative powers to Maharani Yesubai and her own seal. He knew Sanskrit and many other languages well; after studying ancient books on polity he wrote their gist in the book ‘Budhbhushanam’.

• Easy : Where was Sambhaji Maharaj captured? — Sangameshwar.
• Medium : When did he die? — 11 March 1689.
• Exam-type : Which was Maharaj’s book? — Budhbhushanam.

In the figure: From Hambirrao’s death to Sambhaji’s death.

Spot the difference

Key idea 1 : Yesubai’s decision — Aurangzeb sent Zulfikarkhan to besiege Raigad. Rajaram Maharaj, Tarabai, Yesubai and her son Shahu were on Raigad; it was risky for the whole royal family to stay in one place. Yesubai resolved never to surrender to the Mughals. It was decided that Rajaram Maharaj should escape from Raigad, go if necessary to a far place like Jinji, and that the fight for Raigad should continue under Yesubai. Her decision to make Rajaram Maharaj, not her own son, the Chhatrapati is an example of her love for Swaraj and selflessness.

Key idea 2 : Journey to Jinji — On 5 April 1689 Rajaram Maharaj escaped with a few associates from the besieged Raigad. The Jinji fort was invincible. With faithful sardars like Pralhad Niraji, Khando Ballal and Rupaji Bhosale he reached Jinji. Before leaving he assigned the task of fighting the Mughals to Ramchandrapant Amatya, Shankaraji Narayan Sachiv, Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav. In November 1689 the Mughals captured Raigad and arrested Yesubai and Shahu.

Key idea 3 : Santaji-Dhanaji and the siege of Jinji — Aurangzeb had won over many Maratha sardars with vatans and jagirs; Rajaram Maharaj used the same method: whichever sardar captured Mughal territory would get it as jagir. So many sardars came forward. Against the guerrilla attacks of Santaji and Dhanaji the huge Mughal artillery was of little use. Zulfikarkhan besieged Jinji; the Marathas defended the fort for about eight years and from outside Santaji and Dhanaji fell upon the Mughals. Rajaram Maharaj escaped through the siege and returned to Maharashtra; later the Mughals took Jinji. On 2 March 1700 Rajaram Maharaj died at Sinhgad after a short illness.

• Easy : When did Rajaram Maharaj leave Raigad? — 5 April 1689.
• Medium : Whom did Yesubai make Chhatrapati? — Rajaram Maharaj.
• Exam-type : Where did Rajaram Maharaj die? — At Sinhgad.

In the figure: From the siege of Raigad to Jinji.

Spot the difference

Key idea 1 : Tarabai’s leadership — After Rajaram Maharaj’s death Aurangzeb thought he had won against the Marathas; but it was not so. Maharani Tarabai took the lead of the Swaraj struggle in extremely unfavourable circumstances. She managed the administration singlehandedly and encouraged sardars to join the mission of Swaraj. Maratha sardars fought the Mughals as far as Sironje, Mandsaur and Malwa. Khafi Khan recorded that Tarabai achieved great things and displayed leadership.

Key idea 2 : The safe-deposit locker method — Aurangzeb used to win forts by besieging them. When the rainy season approached the Maratha killedar pretended to side with Aurangzeb, took a bribe and handed the fort to the Mughals. He deposited the bribe in the Maratha treasury. When Aurangzeb had refilled the fort with grain and ammunition, Tarabai captured it again. This strategy is called the ‘safe deposit locker system’.

Key idea 3 : Aurangzeb’s end — Aurangzeb grew frustrated by the forceful Maratha campaigns. The Mughal-Maratha fight went on for about 25 years, yet the Mughals could not defeat the Marathas. In 1707 Aurangzeb died at Ahmednagar and with it the Maratha War of Independence ended. This war was a struggle between the Mughal Emperor’s greed for expanding his empire and the spirit of independence of the Marathas; the Marathas emerged victorious. In the political vacuum after Aurangzeb the Marathas took the lead; so the eighteenth century is known as the century of the Marathas.

• Easy : Where did Aurangzeb die? — Ahmednagar.
• Medium : What is guerrilla warfare? — Method of surprise attacks.
• Exam-type : Whose century is the 18th century? — The Marathas’.

In the figure: Tarabai’s leadership and Aurangzeb’s end.

Spot the difference