Thread by @GujaratHistory

In 17 century Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj attacked & looted Mughal's major port & prosperous city Surat twice to humiliate Mughal power.On followers demand,we repeat our old tweets on first attack of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in thread form from today. Dutch portrait of Shivaji

In 1663 Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj planned to attack & to loot Surat which was a wealthy major port & prosperous city of Mughal Empire of India to avenge & to humiliate Mughal power and to improve his finances from Surat which generated a million rupees in taxes.

In 1663 AD. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj sent his spy Bahirji Jadhav Naik to Surat to collect vital information for the strategy & planning of Surat attack. He returned with information & he told Shivaji Maharaj that attack with surprise element would be succeeded.

In 1663 AD Chhatrapati Shivaji's Maratha army detachments were already stationed at Kalyan & Dandarajpuri. Army was ready to march at any time.Shivaji Maharaj spread a rumour that he was going Nasik for a holy bath in Godavari river & marched with 10000 soldiers to Nasik.

In 1663 AD Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj selected 4000 special soldiers from his army at Nasik & began the march towards Surat. On way rulers of Javhar & Ramnagar(now Dharampor) joined with their soldiers with Shivaji's striking force. Total strength of Shivaji army became 10000.

In 17th century Surat city was not protected by a fort.There was fence like an earthen wall around city.Surat was undefended against attack from outside.A strong castle fort was in Surat which was for protection of Mughal officials,their families,army & staff in time of invasion.

On 5-1-1664 news of coming of Chhatrapati Shivaji to attack reached in Surat.People & authority not believed that Shivaji could come so far. But it was confirmed when Shivaji's force arrived at Gandevi. Now people frightened & panicked as Surat was looted 4 times in past history.

In 1664 Mughal administrator of Surat was Inayatkhan who was coward, corrupt & dishonest.Surat rich traders & people went to him to make arrangements for protection against arriving Shivaji.Inayatkhan asked directors of British & Dutch Companies to help but they refused to do so.

On 5-1-1664 people of Surat started to flee in boats through Tapi river.Inayaykhan hid with his family in castle fort. Rich traders paid him bribe & took shelter with him in strong fort of Surat.Inayatkhan sent a messenger with a Dutch to Shivaji at Gandevi.Shivaji detained them.

In 1664 AD there were many billionaires & millionaires traders in Surat who lived in palace-like mansions.Among them Virji Vhora, Sheth Haji Zahid & Sheth Haji Kasim were top rich traders of Surat. Chhatrapati Shivaji sent a message to surrender them but Inayatkhan did not reply.

Volcard Iversen was an official of Dutch East India Company at Surat in 1664 AD. He wrote a detailed description of Chhatrapati Shivaji attack on Surat. The French traveller Francois Bernier also wrote in his book 'Travels in Mughal India' about this attack on Surat.

On Wednesday 6-1-1664 at 11 a.m. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj & his horsemen arrived at Burhanpuri Bhagol of Surat.Soldiers were posted outside castle fort to check & prevent Mughal soldiers coming out of fort.Arson, destruction & sacking of Surat began which continued for 4 days.

On Wednesday 6-1-1664 at 11 a.m. Shivaji's Maratha soldiers started arson & sacking of Surat at jetty. Top rich trader Virji Vhora's Haveli-mansion was looted & burnt. It was best mansion of Surat. Jewellery,cash,gold,silver,diamonds,gems with 11kg precious pearls were looted.

Dutch East India Co.'s Kothi/factory (trade HQ) was adjoining Virji Vhora's house.Dutch official noted that fire in Vhora house was so intense that 6 barrels containing gold,pearls,diamonds turned into ashes.Then Maratha reached to Haveli of another top rich Sheth Haji Zahid Beig

Surat top rich Sheth Haji Zahid was hidden in castle fort. In his absence his Haveli (mansion),houses & warehouses were looted & burnt by Maratha. At that time a Jew trader from Istambul was in Surat.He came to India to sell jewellery to Emperor Aurangzeb.He was caught & freed.

Christain missionary Father Embroz went to Shivaji & requested him not to loot/damage his monastery.Shivaji ordered his Maratha soldiers not to loot/damage missionary premises. So people buried their cash & valuables in courtyard of monastery but Maratha soldiers dug out wealth.

Mohandas Parekha was top rich of Surat.He was broker of Dutch East India Co.He died before Shivaji's attack on Surat.Shivaji knew that his house was full of wealth but he ordered his Maratha soldiers not to touch wealth of his house as Mohandas was a kind,honest & charitable man.

In 1664 Surat city administrator Inayatkhan planned to murder Shivaji.He sent a killer in disguised as emissary to Shivaji in his camp.He attacked Shivaji with dagger while giving letter but Shivaji's bodyguard cut off his hand in a stroke of sword.Shivaji lost balance in attack.

In 1664 AD during attack on Surat, Maratha army rounded up & caught many men of city as prisoners to gather information about city rich people. When Maratha Sardars heard about attempt of life on Shivaji, they became furious & beheaded 4 prisoners & cut off hands of 24 prisoners.

In 1664 during Shivajis attack on Surat,there was an attempt at life on Shivaji by Mughal administrator.Maratha Sardars became furious & ordered to set fire in city & whole city ablaze.If such attempt of life on Shivaji not happened,Surat city would have been saved from the fire.

In 1664 staff of British & Dutch East India Companies show courage & bravery during Shivaji's raid on Surat. They anchored their ships in a row next to next.Britishers flag marched with playing drums & bugles under command of Company President Sir George Oxenden in Surat streets.

In 1664 there was staff of 210 persons (150 Europeans & 60 Indians) in British East India Co. in Surat at time of Shivaji raid.They were deployed on guard duty at Co.'s premises & godowns.4 small cannons were brought from Co.'s ships & mounted on walls of their Kothi (trading HQ)

In 1664 British & Dutch show courage during Shivaji's attack on Surat. It inspired Turkey & Armenian traders. An Englishman Antony Smith was caught by Maratha soldiers but was freed soon as Shivaji was not wanted conflict with foreign traders.He was in hurry to return immediately

Tomorrow we shall conclude our thread series of tweets on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's attack on Surat. This detailed information is not available on the internet. We have tweeted a detailed history of #Surat from 12 Nov..2020 to 23 Nov.2020 with rare pictures.

In 1664 when Shivaji attacked Surat there was a stock of valuable goods, ivory, cloth & cash valuing 80000 British Pound (current value 104 million Pounds) in warehouses of British East India Co. It's President Oxenden & Gerald Angeer saved goods from looting by showing courage.

On Sunday 10-1-1664 at 10 a.m. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj & his Maratha army left Surat for Raigad fort in Deccan taking with them a wealth of Rs.10 million (current value Rs. 11000 million ) in form of cash, gold, silver, pearls, rubies, diamonds and emeralds for Maratha State.

In 1664 after Shivaji departure,Surat remained deserted.People came back in city after arrival of Mughal army under command of Dilerkhan on 17-1-1664.Administrator Inayatkhan came out of castle fort.He was insulted & humiliated by people. So his son became angry & killed a trader

In 1664 after 15 days of Shivaji attack on Surat, Gujarat Mughal Suba (Governor) Mahabatkhan with army came Surat from Ahmedabad. He stayed in Surat for 3 months. He sacked Surat administrator Inayatkhan for his non-performance of duty during Shivaji attack.

In 1664 AD Mughal authority honoured British East India Co.'s President George Oxenden (later Sir) for showing courage & bravery during Shivaji attack on Surat.He was given a horse & sword on behalf of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.He demanded more trading facilities for his C0mpany.

In 1664 Shivaji attacked & looted Mughal Empire major port Surat. It was great humiliation of Mughal power.This enraged Aurangzeb as this was a crippling blow to the Mughal Empire. The revenue was reduced as trade did not flourish as much after Shivaji's raid on the Port of Surat

In 1664 Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb declared Surat free port without any custom duty for foreign traders for 1 year thereafter 1% rebate on customs duty on import of goods to encourage trade.Riayatkhan was appointed as a new city administrator.He was replaced by Giyasuddin in 1 year

In 1664 Emperor Aurangzeb ordered to build a Kot (fort) around Surat city for protection. It foundation brick was laid at Variyavi Bhagol (gate).Kot had 12 Bhagol (gate)-Variyavi,Saiyadpuri,Burhanpuri,Navsari,Majura,Makkai,Badshahi,Dakka,Rajaovara,Furja,Mir Behar & Mulla Khadaki.

238 years old drawing of castle fort of Surat was drawn around 100 years after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj raid on Surat in 1664 AD. Surat Mughal administrator Inayatkhan & his 1000 soldiers hid in this castle fort during Shivaji's raid on Surat.

17th century drawing of British East India Company Kothi/Factory (trading HQ) at Surat at the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj attack on Surat in 1664 AD. Surat was a major port of Indian Mughal Empire & one of the biggest port in the world.

Portrait of Sir George Oxenden (1620-1669) who was President of British East India Company at Surat at the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji attack on Surat in 1664 AD.He showed courage & bravery during attack.He was first governor of the Bombay Presidency.He died at Surat in 1669 AD.

127 years old photo of Sir George Oxinden's tomb in Surat.He was President of British East India Company at Surat at time of Shivaji's attack on Surat in 1664 AD.He showed courage & bravery during attack.He was first governor of the Bombay Presidency.He died at Surat in 1669 AD.

100 years old photo of 17th century Mughal period cemetery at Surat was taken in 1920 AD. Graves of English, Dutch, Portuguese & Armenians are here. Chhatrapati Shivaji attacked Surat in 17th century.

This tweet thread on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's 1st attack on Surat in 1664 is ended. We have tweeted a detailed history of #Surat from 12 Nov.2020 to 23 Nov.2020 with rare pictures.