Shivaji goes to Aurangzeb’s Durbar… imprisoned [Continued from April 4] Three days after Shivaji’s arrival, the Emperor was to hold a Durbar and Shivaji was summoned for his first interview with Aurangzeb. Accompanied by Raja Jai Singh’s son Ram Singh, his son Sambhaji and attended by their retainers, Shivaji rode to the main gateway of…

[Continued from April 2] The city of Agra, where the imperial Mughal Court was at that time, resembled a country town where people had to sleep indoors even in hot weather for fear of thieves! Some of the courtiers had their own Palaces at Agra while the most important nobles of the Court had their…

Shivaji surrenders. All set to Aurangzeb’s invite to his Court [Continued from Mar. 15] There was a unique feature of war with Shivaji, nay Marathas. With other enemies, where once the enemy was defeated, all the Forts of the enemy would fall and its garrison surrenders. But, in case of war with Shivaji even when…

Maratha army united in personal devotion to Shivaji. Of sorcery and black magic ! [Continued from Mar. 12] The sack of Surat deeply mortified Emperor Aurangzeb. While Aurangzeb was brooding about what had happened in Surat, reports came that his son Prince Muazzam had clumsily marched against Shivaji with his forces but was repulsed by…

Shivaji sacks Aurangzeb’s Surat English merchants of Surat exhibit courage and principles! [Continued from Mar. 7] The failure of Aurangzeb’s uncle Shayista Khan to defeat Shivaji and capture his Forts caused the utmost consternation in Delhi and Agra. The Emperor Aurangzeb wrote coldly to his uncle Shayista Khan relieving him of his command and transferring…

Shivaji becomes a political force in Deccan and a challenger to Aurangzeb [Continued from Feb. 26] After capturing three Forts that belonged to the Bijapur Sultan without a fight, using his raw courage as an youngster, through cunning, bribing the greedy Governor of a Fort and by his Machiavellian methods, Shivaji was strong enough to…