15.3 Marathas after Shivaji

. Marathas after Shivaji A year after the death of Shivaji, his eldest son and successor Sambhaji led a Maratha army into Mughal territory, captured Bahadurpur in Berar, and plundered its wealth. Provoked by this humiliation, Aurangzeb struck a compromise with the Mewar Rajputs and led an army into the Deccan. Bijapur and Golkonda were annexed in and respectively. The next task of Aurangzeb was to punish Sambhaji for giving protection to his rebellious son Prince Akbar II. In the Mughal forces captured Sambhaji and killed him. Sambhaji’s death did not deter the Marathas. His younger brother Rajaram renewed the fight from the fortress of Senji in the Tamil country. The fight continued for many years. After the death of Rajaram in , resistance continued under the leadership of his widow, Tara Bai. Acting on behalf of his infant son, she despatched an army of , horsemen and infantry to Hyderabad. The capital was plundered and, as a result, trade in Masulipatnam, the major port of the region, trade remained disrupted for many years. At the time of Aurangzeb’s death in Marathas still had many fortified places under their control. After Aurangzeb’s death, Sambhaji’s son Shahu was released from prison and claimed the Maratha throne. Tara Bai objected and it led to a civil war, in which Shahu emerged victorious and ascended the throne in . Balaji Viswanath was very supportive of Shahu and helped him ascend to the throne in . As a gesture of his gratitude Shahu appointed Balaji Viswanath as the Peshwa in . In course of time, the Peshwa became the real ruler. Shahu retired to Satara and the Peshwa started to rule from Poona. Tara Bai carried on a parallel rival government with Kolhapur as capital. But Raja Bai, the second wife of Rajaram and her son Sambhaji II imprisoned Tara Bai and her son in . Sambhaji II ascended the throne of Kolhapur. However he had to accept the overlordship of Shahu. After Shahu died in , Rama Raja who ascended the throne, made a pact with the Peshwa, according