Thread by @HindutvaItihas

1.
#Thread on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj who thwarted Aurangzeb's efforts to annex the Marathas.

This thread forms the 2nd part of our series on the 27-Year-War epic saga, which proved to be death sentence for the Mughal Empire.

#Mughals #Marathas #Hindutva #History

2.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was coronated Chhatrapati on 20 July 1680.

At the time of his accession, the nascent Maratha state was surrounded by Mughals, Adilshah, English, Siddis, and the Portuguese.

3.
Close to end of Shivaji’s reign, he had made it a policy to hurt the Mughal economy by targeting its economic centres. Sambhaji Maharaj continued his policy more aggressively.

Burhanpur was attacked in 1680-81. Maulav!s there lamented on being unable to do Friday-namaz

4.
1681-83: Vidarbha-Marathwada attacked.

Wealth from Prayagraj was being brought to Aurangzeb in Deccan, hence Sambhaji Maharaj ordered attacks to intercept. Aurangzeb’s dire instructions to his officers in Berar give us ample idea of the efficiency of Maratha strategy.

5.
The Siddis engaged in regular plunder of Maratha territories of Konkan coast, & committing cruelties on the captured Maratha shipmen. According to Ramchandra Pant Amatya's instructions, Siddi was an enemy who should be 'uprooted first & foremost'.

6.
1681: Since Siddis used to take shelter with the English at Mumbai after piracy & plunder, Sambhaji Maharaj choked the grain supplies to the English & forced them to evict Siddis.

In Jun, Akbar arrived in Deccan, followed by Aurangzeb in Nov-Dec. Aurangzeb enlisted Siddi & ..

7.
Portuguese help against Marathas. Portuguese joined Mughals in 1682.

1682-83: To counter this alliance, Sambhaji Maharaj told English to obstruct the Siddis in the seas with Maratha Navy. Marathas sieged down Siddis' forts at Janjira, Chaul-Revadanda, Underi.

8.
Parallely, Mughals had sieged various Maratha forts in Nashik district (Baglana region) since 1681 - Salher, Ramsej, Trimbakgad & others. These sieges & Mughal outposts cut off the grain supplies to Marathas in Konkan. In addition, Mughal armies were sent to Thane district.

9.
The Mughal armies faced very stiff resistance in N.Konkan. The Mughal supply ships were seized to starve Mughals.

Aurangzeb sent his best generals for the battles here, countered by the best Maratha generals sent by Sambhaji too. Marathas defeat Mughals at Titvala in Mar '83.

9.
1682: Sambhaji Maharaj also helped Gangaram to rebel in Bihar by supplying 10,000 men. Gangaram was diwan of Khan-i-Jahan (Mughal subhedar) who wished to rebel against him, & appealed to Akbar & Sambhaji Maharaj for help. He was put down by Mughals at Patna however.

10.
1683: Marathas attacked Portuguese in north Konkan (Daman to Vasai) & Goa. Sambhaji Maharaj personally led the campaign to Goa in Nov-Dec '83. He captured Bardes, Salcette; cru$hed the Portuguese in unprecedented battles at Durbhat & Juve Fort.

Hindu persecution was avenged.

11.
Seeing Sambhaji in Goa, Aurangzeb deployed a large army to pincer him between Mughals & Portuguese. But, Sambhaji Maharaj escaped to Raigad in Jan '84. He ordered more recruitments in Maratha army. Marathas seize Mughal supply ships going to Goa from Surat & Mumbai.

12.
So, Mughals were forced to return from Goa to the plateau. Marathas h@rassed the Mughals all along their way; disease & food shortages made the Sahyadri mountains a living hell for the Mughal army under Prince Muazzam.

Marathas defeated them near Adilshahi border (May '84)

13.
1685, Jan: A large Mughal army attacked Raigad, the Swarajya's capital itself! But, the Mughals were defeated at the hands of Chhatrapati Sambhaji himself, Kavi Kalash, Hambirrao Mohite & Rupaji Bhosle.

Sambhajiraje also defeated Mughals at Battle near Sinhgad in Feb '85.

14.
Due to Mughal failures in Konkan, Goa & other places like Pune, Raigad, Aurangzeb diverted most of the Mughal attack on the Adilshah & Qutbshah in Mar 1685.

1687, Dec: Battle of Wai. Marathas win the battle, but lose Hambirrao Mohite. Mahloji Ghorpade was appointed Senapati.

15.
1689: Chhatrapati Sambhaji was captured at Sangmeshwar by Mughals after battle. His Sarsenapati, father of legendary Santaji Ghorpade, also died defending Chhatrapati.

Sambhaji Maharaj faced a very cruel d3ath at the hands of Aurangzeb (Thread 👇)

16.
The reign of Chhatrapati Sambhaji built upon the foundation of Shivaji Maharaj.

The Maratha naval strength & experience enhanced due to battles with Siddis & Portuguese. Generals like Santaji Ghorpade, who were to save Hinduism, were *battle-hardened* under his service.

17.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji also authored Sanskrit work - Budhbhushan. The administrative documents during his reign give us the impression of governance running in good order as far as possible,under the trying circumstances.

Naman to Chhatrapati Sambhaji 🙏🚩

#Hindutva #Marathas

18.
The thread-series on 27-Year-War continues 👇

@rattibha