Shivaji — Historical Profile, Era, Legacy & Modern Attention

Summary

Updated 2026-06-09

He turned a small inherited fiefdom into the foundation of the Maratha Kingdom, then played both sides of the Mughal-Sultanate divide until he could crown himself Chhatrapati — king — in 1674. Two centuries of quiet followed before nationalists resurrected his name as symbol.

Biography

About

Shivaji Bhonsale inherited a jagir from his father, a retainer in the Sultanate of Bijapur, and began consolidating territory in the 1650s. He offered his service to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb to help dismantle Bijapur, then seized the ceded lands for himself after Aurangzeb left for a succession war in the north. Defeated at Purandar by Jai Singh I, Shivaji entered Mughal vassalage, wrote letters of apology to Aurangzeb, and briefly served as a Mughal chief with the title of Raja. In 1674 he broke away and crowned himself Chhatrapati at Raigad Fort over Brahmin objections, building a multiconfe…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Shivaji

Shivaji

saidundated

But In your Majesty's reign.

— Attributed to Shivaji. Appeal to Aurangzeb by a delegation of Hindus [variously ascribed either to Rana Raj Singh or to Shivaji] in protest

Shivaji

saidundated

May it please your Majesty !

— Attributed to Shivaji. Appeal to Aurangzeb by a delegation of Hindus [variously ascribed either to Rana Raj Singh or to Shivaji] in protest

Shivaji

saidundated

In strict justice the jazlya is not at all lawful.

— Attributed to Shivaji. Appeal to Aurangzeb by a delegation of Hindus [variously ascribed either to Rana Raj Singh or to Shivaji] in protest

Shivaji

saidundated

If you imagine piety to consist in oppressing the people and terrorising the Hindus, you ought first to levy the faziya from Rana Raj Singh, who is the head of the Hindus.

— Attributed to Shivaji. Appeal to Aurangzeb by a delegation of Hindus [variously ascribed either to Rana Raj Singh or to Shivaji] in protest

Shivaji

saidundated