Historical Figures

15. Reinvasion of Mughals

After retiring from the programs of coronation and the ethos of the death of the queen mother and princess, Shivaji's attention turned to the Mughal Subedar Bahadur Khan who was these days camping at Pendgaon near the Bhima river. Aurangzeb had again called Diler Khan to Delhi. For this reason, Subedar Bahadur Khan was the only representative of the Mughal power in the south. Immediately after the coronation ceremony of Shivaji, there was heavy rain in the state, but Shivaji sent 2,000 cavalry soldiers to attack the Mughals regardless of the rain. The plan was that the Marathas, challenging the Mughals, would take them far away from the camp and from behind Shivaji would attack the Mughal camp with 7,000 cavalry and destroy it. This plan was successful. Shivaji set fire to the camp of the Mughals and looted the treasure of Rs 2 crore, 200 horses and valuables from there. These valuables and horses were collected to be presented to the emperor. In mid-October, an army of Shivaji again surrounded Bahadur Khan's camp. An army of Shivaji plundered many cities near Aurangabad and from there entered Baglana and Khandesh and plundered the territory of the Mughals for about a month.

From one side Shivaji continued to take action against Bahadur Khan and on the other hand he sent a proposal of treaty to Aurangzeb through Bahadur Khan. In this, Shivaji wrote on his behalf that Aurangzeb should appoint his son Sambhaji to the seven Hazari mansab. In return, Shivaji would dedicate his 17 forts. Bahadur Khan sent this proposal with his recommendation to Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb accepted this treaty, but as soon as the emperor's approval was received, Shivaji turned his back on it. Aurangzeb angrily sent Bahadur Khan with a very bad writing. On this, Bahadur Khan planned that the Mughal emperor should make a treaty with Bijapur and Golconda and all the three powers should attack Shivaji together. Aurangzeb also accepted this proposal. Aurangzeb wanted to get rid of Shivaji by any means because the tales of Shivaji's coronation were being told in a big way all over India and it seemed as if a Hindu kingdom was about to be established in India.

Vedanoor Campaign

In those days Shivaji campaigned towards Kanara. Queen Timanna of Vedanur sent a message to Shivaji to help the queen of Vedanur as the commander of Vedanur is disrespecting Rani Timanna. Shivaji promised to help the queen and in return offered to impose Chauth on Vedanur. Queen Timanna accepted this proposal of Shivaji. Shivaji helped Queen Timna by curbing the commander and collected Chauth from the kingdom of Vedanur.

Shivaji's disease

Sambhaji was in contact with Aurangzeb's son Muazzam for a long time and had become corrupted by thoughts. Because of this, he had little concern with war and people. He used to drink alcohol all the time and lived in the company of women. Seeing this character of the future king of Marathas, Shivaji used to be very worried. Due to this concern, Shivaji fell seriously ill at the end of AD 1675. The information of his illness spread like a wind and soon the rumor spread that Shivaji had passed away, but Shivaji gradually recovered from the treatment of doctors and again got involved in the work of establishing the Hindu Empire. .

Command of the South to Muhammad Quli Khan

Netaji Palkar, once known as Shivaji's right hand and known as the second Shivaji, was converted by Aurangzeb into the Mughal service through Jaisingh and converted to Islam and posted on the Afghan front for eight years. He was now known as Muhammad Quli Khan. Aurangzeb now decided to bow down to Muhammad Quli Khan against Shivaji. Muhammad Quli Khan was fully aware of the geographical conditions of Shivaji's kingdom. Aurangzeb also decided to send Diler Khan along with Muhammad Quli Khan to the south. Diler Khan had also served in the South for many years and had a long experience of fighting Shivaji. Both these Mughal generals camped near Satara, the capital of Shivaji. One day Muhammad Quli Khan suddenly escaped from the Mughal camp and went straight to Shivaji's refuge. He requested Shivaji to make me a Hindu again by getting me purified. Shivaji made arrangements to take his old companion back to Hinduism. Netaji Palkar re-entered Hinduism on 19 June 1676. After this he continued to serve Shivaji for life. Netaji Palkar remained loyal to Sambhaji even when Shivaji died. Thus this attack of Aurangzeb also went empty.