| Shrimant Rajaram Shivaji Raje Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj | |
|---|---|
| Chhatrapati | |
| Reign | 1689 – 1700 |
| Coronation | 1689 |
| Full name | Rajaram Shivaji Bhosale |
| Born | 1670 |
| Birthplace | Raigad fort |
| Died | March 2, 1700 |
| Place of death | Sinhagad fort, Maharastra |
| Predecessor | Sambhaji Bhosale |
| Successor | Tarabai Bhosale |
| Consort | Tarabai |
| Royal House | Bhosale dynasty |
| Father | Shivaji Bhosale |
| Mother | Soyrabai |
Shrimant Rajaram Shivaji Raje Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj (1670- March 2, 1700 Sinhagad[1]) was the younger son of the first Chhatrapati Shivaji, stepbrother of the second Chhatrapati Sambhaji, and took over the Maratha Empire as the third Chhatrapati after his brother was tortured and killed by the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb in 1689. He had a very short reign, during which he was furiously pursued by the Mughals.
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Early life
He was pampered by his mother Soyrabai and liked by all due to his docile nature. He was declared Chhatrapati at the age of 10 (on April 21, 1680) by a faction of the court after Shivaji's death. However, Sambhaji prevailed and assumed the throne. Sambhaji put others to death but brought up his brother as a prince. Future events proved this. He was very cultured and accommodative.
Coronation and escape to Gingee
After the death of Sambhaji, Rajaram was crowned at Raigad on February 8 (or 9), 1689. As Mughals started laying siege to the region around Raigad on March 25, 1689, the brave widow of Sambhaji, Rani Yesubai and her minister Ramchandra Pant Amatya sent young Rajaram to the stronghold of Pratapgad through Kavlya ghat. The Maratha army fought fiercely with Mughals and led the new Maratha King, Rajaram to escape through Kavlya ghat to the fort of Jinji (Gingee) in present day state of Tamil Nadu via Pratapgad and Vishalgad forts, where he reached after a month and a half's journey on November 1, 1689.[2] Details of this escape are known from the incomplete poetical biography of Rajaram, the Rajaramacharita written by his Rajpurohit Keshav Pandit in Sanskrit.[3]
Siege of Gingee for seven years
Aurangzeb deputed Ghazi-ud-din Firoze Jang against Marathas in the Deccan, but specially sent Zulfiqar Khan to capture Gingee fort, who laid the siege in September, 1690. After abandoning the siege three times, finally it was captured after seven years on January 8, 1698. Rajaram escaped and fled first to Vellore and afterwards Vishalgarh.[4] Rajaram tried to counter with a siege of the town of Berar, but was checked by Prince Bedarbakht and Zulfiqar Khan and had to return.
Generals Santaji and Dhanaji
Though Rajaram was not able to move out of Jinji, his young generals Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav continued to harass the Mughal army through guerrilla tactics. Kafi khan wrote about them that whenever mughal horses used to refuse to go to the water to drink water, it was feared they had seen Santaji and Dhanaji.
Santaji Ghorpade whose father Senapati Mhaloji Ghorpade died in the battle of Sangmeshwar along with Sambhaji, was directed by Sambhaji to Raigad to rescue the queen and Rajaram. The gallant man, true to the words given to his master secured the release of Rajaram from the siege of Raigad.
With the plight of Rajaram, the rout of the Marathas was almost complete. But then the brave Santaji on his own forded the River Bhima even though it was flooded, attacked the very centre of the Mughal camp. Aurangzeb who at that time was reading Koran was saved due to magnanimity of the marathas.
Santaji is credited with the defeat of at least three major Mughal chiefs. One Mughal general Kasim Khan was so badly defeated that he committed suicide. By brilliant tactics of cavalry, Santaji wreaked havoc right from the Pune to the Tanjore region. Unfortunately he fell out with Rajaram and Dhanaji Jadhav. He was killed when he was alone taking bath by one Nagoji Mane. The severed head of Santaji was presented to Aurangzeb for reward. Such was the tragic end of one of the most distinguished general of cavalry in the contemporary India.
Death
Rajaram died of an unspecified illness in 1700 at fort Sinhagad in present day Maharashtra, perhaps due to his weak constitution. Thereafter the Maratha empire suffered a power vacumn until the release of his nephew, Shahuji in 1707. In the interim, Rajaram's wife, Tarabai ruled the empire as regent for her young son, Shivaji II. Eventually, Shahuji succeeded Rajaram as the fourth Chattrapati in 1708.
An estimate
Rajaram was a cool minded person. He was quite patient and practical. During the time of crisis he remained as a rallying point of Maratha resistance. He remained confined to Jinjee fort for 9 years itself indicates his mental strength and the sheer will to continue the cause. Due to his locking position in Jingee fort, he had to give more authorities to his generals which slowly eroded the strong position of the king. However considering the task before him, he did his job well. He built a temple at Sindhudurg in the memory of his father.
See also
| Preceded by Sambhaji |
Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire 1689–1700 |
Succeeded by Shahuji |
Notes
- ^ Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2007). The Mughul Empire, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-407-1, p.296
- ^ Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2007). The Mughul Empire, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-407-1, pp.289,365-70
- ^ Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2007). The Mughul Empire, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-407-1, p.609
- ^ Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2007). The Mughul Empire, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-407-1, pp.294-5
References
- Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 2, p. 440.
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