Shivaji

Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire

Shivaji's portrait (1680s) in the Rijksmuseum

1st Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire

Reign 1674–1680 CE

Coronation 6 June 1674

Successor Sambhaji

Born c. April 1627 or 19 February 1630

Shivneri Fort, Shivneri, Ahmadnagar

Sultanate (present-day Maharashtra, India)

 Died 3 April 1680 (aged 50–53)

Raigad Fort, Raigad, Maratha Empire (present-

day Maharashtra, India)

Spouse Saibai Nimbalkar

Soyarabai Mohite

Putalabai Palkar

Sakvarbai Gaikwad

Kashibai Jadhav[1]

Issue Sakhubai Nimbalkar[2]

Ranubai Jadhav

Ambikabai Mahadik

Sambhaji

Rajaram

Rajkumaribai Shirke

Marathi शिवाजी भोसले

Sanskrit शिवाजी भोसले

House Bhonsle

Father Shahaji Bhonsle

Mother Jijabai

Religion Hinduism

Shivaji Bhonsle (Marathi [ʃiʋaˑɟiˑ bʱoˑs(ə)leˑ]; c. 1627/1630 – 3 April 1680) was an Indian warrior king
and a member of the BhonsleMaratha clan. Shivaji carved out an enclave from the
declining Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the Maratha Empire. In 1674, he
was formally crowned as the chhatrapati (monarch) of his realm at Raigad.
Over the course of his life, Shivaji engaged in both alliances and hostilities with the Mughal
Empire, Sultanate of Golkonda, and Sultanate of Bijapur, as well as the English, Portuguese, and
French colonial powers.[citation needed] Shivaji's military forces expanded the Maratha sphere of influence,
capturing and building forts, and forming a Maratha navy. Shivaji established a competent and
progressive civil rule with well-structured administrative organisations. He revived ancient Hindu
political traditions and court conventions and promoted the usage of Marathi and Sanskrit, rather
than Persian, in court and administration.
Shivaji's legacy was to vary by observer and time but he began to take on increased importance with
the emergence of the Indian independence movement, as many elevated him as a proto-nationalist
and hero of the Hindus.[3] Particularly in Maharashtra, debates over his history and role have
engendered great passion and sometimes even violence as disparate groups have sought to