Sambhaji I

eldest son of Shivaji Maharaj and 2nd Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire (1657-1689)

Sambhaji Bhonsle was the eldest son of Shivaji form his first wife Saibai. He was born in 1657 at Purandar. He became the second Chhatrapati of Maratha Empire after the death of Shivaji. He was executed by Aurangzeb in 1689 at Tulapur.[1][2]

Sambhaji
Dharmaveer
Sambhaji of Maratha Empire
2nd Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire
Reign1680-1689
Coronation20 July 1680, Panhala (symbolic) or 16 January 1681, Raigad fort (official)
PredecessorShivaji
SuccessorRajaram I
Born14 May 1657
Purandar Pune Maharashtra
Died11 March 1689 (aged 31)
Tulapur (present day Maharashtra, India)
SpouseYesubai
IssueShahu (Shivaji II)
Bhavani Bai
HouseHouse of Bhonsale
FatherShivaji
MotherSai bai
ReligionHinduism

Millitary Career

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Sack of Bhuranpur

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In 1681 Sambhaji sacked the city of Bhuranpur of Mughal Empire and looted it completely Routing the enemies.[1][3]

Siege of Ramsej (1682)

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Mughals laid siege to Fort of Ramsej the killedar put up a considerable defend while Sambhaji providing necessary supplies atlast the Mughals captured the Fort through negotiation with the new killedar and was captured after a Siege of 6-7 years.[1][3]

Siege of Janjira(1681-82)

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Sambhaji laid siege to Fort of Janjira tho initially successful he have to leave the siege in between to go fight with Mughals he gave the command to dadaji Raghunath but he failed miserably.[1][2]

Battle of Kalyan Bhiwandi

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In 1682 Mughals captured the Fort of Kalyan. Tukoji tired to repulse him but failed and was killed. Sambhaji along with Hammbirrao Mohite, Manaji Moré and Rupaji Bhosale attacked the grassion and defeated them at Kalyan Bhiwandi on 1683 with heavy casualties on both sides.[1][3]

Mughal Invasion of Konkan

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Mughal Under command of Shah Alam the son of Aurangzeb Invaded Konkan with army of one lakh but were defeated and buy Sambhaji with army of 60,000 the Mughals fled for life.[1][3]

Maratha Invasion of Goa

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Sambhuji Maharaja invaded Goa of Portugese in 1683 various sirkimish were fought, Goa was almost captured but due to Mughal threat Peace treaty was signed between the two.[1]

Maratha Mysore war

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In 1682 Sambhaji invade Mysore tho initially unsuccessful[4][5]he defeated Mysore ruler Chikka Dev Raya at Trichinopoly [5]and later in 1686.[6][1]

In 1689 Sambhaji was captured by Mughal Subedar Muqqrab Khan (Shaikh Nizam) with the help of traitors named Kanhoji Shirke and Ganoji Shirke (close relatives of Sambhaji) he was tortured badly and killed along with his friend Kavi Kalash. Some historians says that he was cut into pieces and fled to dogs, while some says his body was flown into the river.[1] He was succeeded by his brother Rajaram[7]

Family

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Sambhaji was born to Shivaji and Saibai. He was married to Yesubai from whom he got two issues namely Shahu and Bhawani Bai. Bhawani Bai was married to Son of Hiraji Mahadik and had 2 sons namely Durgoji and Arjoji she committed Sati after death of her husband in 1727. While Shahu became the 5th Chhatrapati of Maratha Empire. Massir e alamgiri mentions another wife of Sambhaji who was in Mughal camp during his desertion to Mughals. Another Wife with 3 issues is mention Madansingh Madhosingh and a daughter who was married to a muslim gond. However this claim don't have any Historical Evidence hence we can say that the wives mention were just Concubines however it is just an estimation.[1]

References

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  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Joshi, Pandit Shankar (1980). Chhatrapati Sambhaji, 1657-1689 A.D. S. Chand.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Sardesai Govind Sakharam (1946). New History Of Marathas.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Gordon, Stewart (1993-09-16). The Marathas 1600-1818. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-26883-7.
  4. B. Muddachari. Mysore-Maratha Relations Under Shahji, Shivaji, Sambhaji And Rajaram (As Revealed In Kannada Sources).
  5. 5.0 5.1 B. Muddhachari (1965-05-04). The Mysore-Maratha Relations in the 17th Century.
  6. Robert Orme (1805). Historical Fragments Of The Mogul Empire.
  7. Pāṭīla, Śālinī (1987). Maharani Tarabai of Kolhapur, C. 1675-1761 A.D. S. Chand & Company. ISBN 978-81-219-0269-4.