Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha kingdom is one of the bravest, most progressive and sensible rulers of India. Born in 1630, he grew up to be a natural leader and fighter. He was known for his bravery and tactics with which he won numerous battles against the Mughals.
Under Shivaji, the Marathas emerged as a powerful kingdom and dominated a large portion of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century. The Maratha rule that formally came to existence in 1674 with the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji ended in 1818 with the defeat of Peshwa Bajirao II. The Marathas lived in the Deccan, in present Maharashtra and north Karnataka and spoke a common language-Marathi.
Shivaji revolted against the Adil Shahi dynasty and carved out a kingdom for the Marathas with Raigad as the capital. Shivaji’s expeditions extended as far as Thanjavur in the southeast to Khandesh and Berar in the north. At a time when most of the important ports were under Mughal control, Shivaji raided the port city of Surat. This happened in 1664 and the very next year, he signed a treaty with the Mughals agreeing to go to Aurangzeb’s court. But, the treaty was short-lived, as he felt insulted because Aurangzeb ignored him.
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