Shivaji
Founder of the Maratha kingdom
- Lived
- 53 yrs
- 1627 – 1680
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Shivaji was a Maratha warrior king who carved out an independent kingdom in the western Deccan in defiance of the Bijapur Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. Famous for his forts, guerrilla tactics and efficient administration, he was crowned Chhatrapati in 1674. He died in 1680.
Biography
Early years
Shivaji was the son of Shahaji Bhonsle, a general serving the Bijapur Sultanate, and Jijabai, who raised him in Pune with stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. As a teenager he began capturing hill forts in the Sahyadri mountains, starting with Torna.
Against Bijapur and the Mughals
In 1659 he killed the Bijapur general Afzal Khan at a meeting near Pratapgad and routed his army. In 1663 he raided the camp of the Mughal governor Shaista Khan in Pune at night. In 1666, after agreeing to visit Aurangzeb’s court in Agra, he was placed under house arrest but escaped, reportedly hidden in a large sweet basket.
Chhatrapati
In 1674 he was crowned Chhatrapati, “lord of the umbrella”, at Raigad. He governed through a council of eight ministers, the Ashtapradhan, collected taxes directly rather than through landlords, encouraged the use of Marathi and Sanskrit in administration and built a navy to protect the Konkan coast.
Legacy
Shivaji died at Raigad on 3 April 1680. The Maratha state he founded grew into an empire that dominated much of India in the eighteenth century. He is a towering figure in Maharashtra, where Mumbai’s main railway station and airport bear his name, and in 2025 twelve of his forts were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Why they matter
Shivaji built a state from scratch against two far larger powers, the Bijapur Sultanate and the Mughal Empire, using hill forts, mobile cavalry and a navy. Historians highlight his administration as much as his battles: he paid soldiers in cash rather than land grants, appointed ministers by merit and protected peasants from plunder. The Maratha power he founded went on to dominate much of India in the eighteenth century, and in Maharashtra he remains the central figure of regional identity.
Timeline
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1627
Born in Shivneri Fort, near Junnar (now Pune district, Maharashtra)
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1630
Born at Shivneri
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1646
Captures Torna Fort
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1659
Defeats Afzal Khan at Pratapgad
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1663
Night raid on Shaista Khan
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1666
Escapes from Agra
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1674
Crowned Chhatrapati at Raigad
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1680
Dies at Raigad
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2025
Maratha forts inscribed by UNESCO
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1680
Died, aged 53
Did you know?
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1
He is said to have escaped Mughal custody hidden in a sweet basket.
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2
He built one of the first Indian navies of the period.
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3
Mumbai’s main railway terminus and airport are named after him.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Shivaji?
Shivaji was a Maratha warrior king who carved out an independent kingdom in the western Deccan in defiance of the Bijapur Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. Famous for his forts, guerrilla tactics and efficient administration, he was crowned Chhatrapati in 1674. He died in 1680.
When did Shivaji die?
Shivaji died on 3 April 1680 at the age of 53.
Where is Shivaji from?
Shivaji was born in Shivneri Fort, near Junnar (now Pune district, Maharashtra).
What is Shivaji known for?
Shivaji is best known for Founding the Maratha state; guerrilla warfare and hill forts; his coronation at Raigad in 1674.
References
- Shivaji — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Shivaji — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Shivaji — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Shivaji (Q239505) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Shivaji”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Shivaji.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/shivaji
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