Short biography of Sambhaji (A.D. 1680 — A.D. 1689)

Shivaji was succeeded by his eldest son Sambhaji who was 22 years of age. His accession was, however, preceded by a brief but sharp struggle. Rajaram, his step brother, was backed by his mother Soyarabai and a number of Maratha ministers including Annaji Datto, Pant Sachiv and Moropant.

They fully exploited Sambhaji’s moral laxity and his desertion to the Mughals during the life time of Shivaji. It was mainly due to his daring that he was able to oust Rajaram and ascended the throne. He dealt strictly with the partisans of Soyarabai but he was not cruel as some historians have depicted him. He imprisoned Moropant but appointed his son Nilkanth as Peshwa. Annaji Datto was released after sometime and appointed minister.

Immediately after his accession, he strengthened the forts near the borders. It is a measure of the success of his efforts until his capture and death in 1689, which the Mughals could capture only the forts in Balgana (Nasik district) the others in Konkan and on the plateau, south of river Bhima remained safe. He continued the foreign policy of his father and maintained friendly relations with Golkonda and Bijapur.

Sambhaji carried on vigorous attacks on the Mughal possessions. He sacked Burhanpur in January 1681. Bahadur Khan the Mughal general at Aurangabad made futile attempts to pursue them.

Even Aurangabad was threatened and walls around the city had to be built as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, Aurangzeb’s rebel son Akbar sought refuge with Sambhaji who gladly agreed to afford him protection.

A conspiracy was hatched in July 1681 by the disgruntled elements including Soyarabai, Annaji and others whom Sambhaji had so generously forgiven for their previous misconduct, to kill him and raise Rajaram to the throne. The conspirators even tried to get the consent of Akbar. Sambhaji, however, came to know about it well in time and gave exemplary punishment to the conspirators.

Aurangzeb had meanwhile arrived in person at Burhanpur to crush Sambhaji. The Maratha leader made adequate arrangements to meet the Mughal Emperor. Prime Azam invested the fort of Salher in Baglana but was not able to take it, in spite of repeated attempts. He now resorted to bribery and succeeded in seducing the Maratha commander of Salher who surrendered the fort.

The Mughal laid siege to Ramsej near Nasik. The Maratha commander fought gallantly and in spite of change in generals, the fort could not be captured. The Mughals were, however, successful in taking Kalayan (November 1682). But their attempt to capture Konkan ended in failure. In June 1683 Aurangzeb recalled prince Azam to Aurangabad. General Diler died in September 1683.

Sambhaji took advantage of this respite to chastize the Portuguese who had helped the Mughals with provisions during the siege of Kalayan.In April 1683 Sambhaji marched against them and devastated the entire country between Daman and Basseim. He defeated them in a number of battles and but for the arrival of Prince Muazzam in Konkan, he would have captured Goa.

According to Sir Jadunath Sarkar, “the Mughal campaign was highly successful. They captured many forts and their crowing feat was the capture of two wives, one daughter and three slave girls of Sambhaji who were confined in the fort of Bahadur Garh in July, 1684. One wife and the sister of the Maratha king had been captured before by Diler Khan and lodged in Ahmadnagar”.

He attributes Maratha failure due to the indulgence of Sambhaji in wine and women and inactivity after his victories against the Portuguese. Setu Madhava Rao in his lectures on “Maratha Mughal Relations” refutes this statement and asserts that the women captured by the Mughals in Bahadurgarh were none else than those detained by Aurangzeb when Sambhaji was allowed to return to his homeland.

Setu Madhava Rao quotes contemporary authorities to prove his contention that Sambhaji fought heroically against heavy odds and his failure was due to the demoralization and desertion of the watandars who had been heavily bribed. The Mughals captured Karwar in February 1685. Sambhaji, with his limited resources, had to fight with many rivals-the Mughals, the Portuguese, and the Siddis of Janjir and even to keep the English neutral.

Thus Sambhaji was being hard pressed from all sides. The Mughals had occupied Poonamallee near Madras and laid siege to Ponhala and the impregnable Raigarh. Instead of taking shelter at the letter place Sambhaji left for Sangameshwar at the advice of his favourite minister Kalasha.

He took to merry making. He was surprised by Shaikh Nizam, captured and produced before Aurangzeb (December 1688). He was kept in confinement for a number of days and executed in a most heinous manner. “His limbs being hacked off one by one and their flesh thrown to the dogs.”His head stuffed with straw was exposed to the public gaze in all the chief cities of Deccan.”