Shahuji
Encyclopedia
Shahu Sambhaji Raje Bhosale Chhatrapati Maharaj (Marathi
: शाहू संभाजी राजे भोंसले छत्रपती महाराज) (1682–1749) was the fourth ruler of the Maratha Empire
created by his grandfather, Chhatrapati Shivaji, and was officially the Raja of Satara
(now in the state of Maharashtra
, India
). More popularly known as Chattrapati Shahuji, he came out of captivity by the Mughals and survived a civil war
to gain the throne in 1707. .
He was the son of the second Chattrapati Sambhaji
, who was killed by the Mughals in 1689.
Shahuji was imprisoned by the Mughals at the age of 7 years after the fall of Raigad fort, the Maratha capital in Feb. 1689 when his parents were also captured.
During his captivity, Mughals had raised him as a prince and never compromised his honor or that of his mother. He spent his entire childhood and youth, from age 7 to age 25 in the custody of the Mughals. He had passed through hardships and all uncertainties of life. Born as a prince, he became a prisoner at the age of 7, became a Chattrapati at the age of 26 and saw the empire spreading all over the continent. These events strengthened him.
When Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
died in 1707 a war of succession ensued between his surviving sons. Shahu at the insistence of Mughal general Zulfiqar Khan and Nusrat Jang was freed from imprisonment by Prince Muhammad Azam Shah. After the Battle of Jajua, the victor and next Emperor Bahadur Shah
also took the side of Shahuji against Tarabai
at the insistence of his general Zulfiqar Khan but under conditions which rendered him a vassal of the Mughal Empire
. His mother was still held captive to ensure good behavior by him and her release could be obtained only in 1719 when Maratha
s became strong enough.
After his release Shahuji had to contend with a competing claim by his aunt, Tarabai
and her son, Raja Sambhaji II (son of Rajaram). She set up a competing Kingdom of Kolhapur
. With the assistance of Balaji Vishwanath
who was later appointed the Peshwa
or Prime Minister and Sardar Khanderao Dabhade who was later appointed the ‘‘Senapati
(Marathi
for Commander-in-Chief), Shahuji outmaneuvered Tarabai in 1714 and consolidated his power.
and Pawar, in the east by Bhonsle
, in the west by Dabhades and Gaikwad and in the south by Fateh-Singh Bhosale and others.
1)Shahuji's primary accomplishment was in stabilising the fractured Maratha empire after the defeat of the Mughals by Marathas. During the War of 27 Years
many Maratha nobles became powerful. He was the binding force of the Marathas.
2)Shahuji was instrumental in giving space to new talents irrespective of their background. During his tenure almost all sections of society rose to power. Perhaps Maratha empire was the most socially mobile empire which accommodated many new socio-economic groups which were hitherto miles away from the power that caused a socio-political revolution as below.
He appointed a young Bajirao as Peshwa on April 17, 1719 after the premature death of his father Balaji Vishwanath
in the teeth opposition of old nobles. After 20 years tenure of Bajirao, he appointed Nanasaheb, as Peshwa. These three Peshwas were extremely efficient and Shahu always acknowledged their efforts to enhance the Maratha Empire
. He is also responsible for appointing Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre
to the position of the first Maratha naval chief, in return for his moving loyalty from the Tarabai camp. Shahu appointed Sardar Khanderao Dabhade
as his "Sarsenapati" or Commander-in-Chief.
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
: शाहू संभाजी राजे भोंसले छत्रपती महाराज) (1682–1749) was the fourth ruler of the Maratha Empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
created by his grandfather, Chhatrapati Shivaji, and was officially the Raja of Satara
Satara
Satara is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna and its tributary river Venna. The city was the capital of the Maratha empire in the 17th century, hence one of the the historical cities of...
(now in the state of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
). More popularly known as Chattrapati Shahuji, he came out of captivity by the Mughals and survived a civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
to gain the throne in 1707. .
He was the son of the second Chattrapati Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
, who was killed by the Mughals in 1689.
Imprisonment
During Mughal-Maratha war of 27 yearsWar of 27 years
The Maratha War of Independence The Maratha War of Independence The Maratha War of Independence (also termed the War of 27 yegfuyfyuffygement in the history of India. The Maratha Empire eventually emerged victorious.-Background:...
Shahuji was imprisoned by the Mughals at the age of 7 years after the fall of Raigad fort, the Maratha capital in Feb. 1689 when his parents were also captured.
During his captivity, Mughals had raised him as a prince and never compromised his honor or that of his mother. He spent his entire childhood and youth, from age 7 to age 25 in the custody of the Mughals. He had passed through hardships and all uncertainties of life. Born as a prince, he became a prisoner at the age of 7, became a Chattrapati at the age of 26 and saw the empire spreading all over the continent. These events strengthened him.
When Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
died in 1707 a war of succession ensued between his surviving sons. Shahu at the insistence of Mughal general Zulfiqar Khan and Nusrat Jang was freed from imprisonment by Prince Muhammad Azam Shah. After the Battle of Jajua, the victor and next Emperor Bahadur Shah
Bahadur Shah
Bahadur Shah may refer to*Bahadur Shah of Gujarat *Bahadur Shah I , Mughal Emperor*Bahadur Shah II , the last Mughal Emperor and final ruler of the Timurid dynasty...
also took the side of Shahuji against Tarabai
Tarabai
Tarabai was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India. Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji. Tarabai was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite...
at the insistence of his general Zulfiqar Khan but under conditions which rendered him a vassal of the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
. His mother was still held captive to ensure good behavior by him and her release could be obtained only in 1719 when Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s became strong enough.
After his release Shahuji had to contend with a competing claim by his aunt, Tarabai
Tarabai
Tarabai was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India. Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji. Tarabai was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite...
and her son, Raja Sambhaji II (son of Rajaram). She set up a competing Kingdom of Kolhapur
Kolhapur (princely state)
Kolhapur State was a princely State of British India, under the Deccan Division of the Bombay Presidency, and later the Deccan States Agency. It was considered the fourth most important Mahratta principalities, the other three being Baroda State, Gwalior State and Indore State...
. With the assistance of Balaji Vishwanath
Balaji Vishwanath
Balaji Vishwanath Bhat , better known as Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, was the first of a series of hereditary Peshwas hailing from the Brahmin family who gained effective control of the Maratha Empire during the 18th century...
who was later appointed the Peshwa
Peshwa
A Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...
or Prime Minister and Sardar Khanderao Dabhade who was later appointed the ‘‘Senapati
Senapati
Senapati is the Hindi word for general and Mahasenapati means great general. It is cognate with duke or Herzog and like this word means army leader .-List of few Maratha "Senapati" or "Commander-in-Chief":...
(Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
for Commander-in-Chief), Shahuji outmaneuvered Tarabai in 1714 and consolidated his power.
Expansion of the empire
It was under the Shahu when Marathas became largest empire in India during this time. The Maratha empire expanded in four directions, north under Peshwa and THE deputies Scindia, HolkarHolkar
The Holkar dynasty , whose earliest known clan-man was Malhar Rao, who joined the service of the Peshwa in 1721, and quickly rose to the ranks of Subedar...
and Pawar, in the east by Bhonsle
Bhonsle
The Bhonsle were a prominent clan within the Maratha clan system who served as rulers of several states in India.The most prominent member of the clan was Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire...
, in the west by Dabhades and Gaikwad and in the south by Fateh-Singh Bhosale and others.
1)Shahuji's primary accomplishment was in stabilising the fractured Maratha empire after the defeat of the Mughals by Marathas. During the War of 27 Years
War of 27 years
The Maratha War of Independence The Maratha War of Independence The Maratha War of Independence (also termed the War of 27 yegfuyfyuffygement in the history of India. The Maratha Empire eventually emerged victorious.-Background:...
many Maratha nobles became powerful. He was the binding force of the Marathas.
2)Shahuji was instrumental in giving space to new talents irrespective of their background. During his tenure almost all sections of society rose to power. Perhaps Maratha empire was the most socially mobile empire which accommodated many new socio-economic groups which were hitherto miles away from the power that caused a socio-political revolution as below.
Socio-political revolution
His reign saw rise of many like Balaji, Shinde and many more talented people who later became the strong support on which the Maratha empire expanded and flourished, especially Bajirao Peshwa and Holkars in North. He is credited with establishing the position of Peshwa, which later became a hereditary position who were from humble background.He appointed a young Bajirao as Peshwa on April 17, 1719 after the premature death of his father Balaji Vishwanath
Balaji Vishwanath
Balaji Vishwanath Bhat , better known as Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, was the first of a series of hereditary Peshwas hailing from the Brahmin family who gained effective control of the Maratha Empire during the 18th century...
in the teeth opposition of old nobles. After 20 years tenure of Bajirao, he appointed Nanasaheb, as Peshwa. These three Peshwas were extremely efficient and Shahu always acknowledged their efforts to enhance the Maratha Empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
. He is also responsible for appointing Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre
Kanhoji Angre
Kanhoji Angre or Conajee Angria or Sarkhel Angre was the first notable chief of the Maratha Navy in 18th century India. He fought successfully all his life against the British, Dutch and Portuguese naval interests in the Indian Ocean during the 18th century, and hence was alleged by them to be a...
to the position of the first Maratha naval chief, in return for his moving loyalty from the Tarabai camp. Shahu appointed Sardar Khanderao Dabhade
Khanderao Dabhade
Sarsenapati Khanderao Dabhade is the founder of the Sarsenapati Dabhade Family of Talegaon Dabhade. He was conferred the title of "Sarsenapati" by Chhattrapati Shahu Maharaj of Satara on 11 January 1717....
as his "Sarsenapati" or Commander-in-Chief.