Sambhaji Sambhaji was the eldest son of Shivaji and Saibai. His reign was largely characterized by the bitter wars between the Mughals and the Marathas. Sambaji’s mother died when he was just a toddler and he was looked after by Jijabai. In 1666, he was sent as a political hostage to live with Raja Jai Singh according to the terms of the Treaty of Purandhar. From 1666-1670, the Maratha enjoyed cordial relations with the Mughals and fought alongside Aurangzeb’s army against the Sultan of Bijapur. Sambhaji was married to Jivubai who took the royal title of Yesubai. The couple had a daughter named Bhavani Bai and a son called Shahuji. Sambhaji’s addiction to pleasure prompted Shivaji to imprison his son in the fort of Panhala but Sambhuji escaped along with his wife and defected to the Mughals. He returned to his father when he learnt of the plan of the Mughals to assassinate him. After Shivaji’s death, some of the influential nobles including Annaji Datto supported the cause of Suryabai and Raja Ram to prevent Sambhu from succeeding his father. Upon getting a wind of conspiracy, Sambhuji escaped from Panhala fort and took possession of Raigarh and Panhala fort. Sambhuji’s ascended the throne on 20 July 1680. Raja Ram, his mother Suryabai and wife Janki Bai were imprisoned. Suryabai and Annaji Datto were executed a few months later. Military Expeditions Invasion of Burhanpur Kakar Khan was the commandant of Burhanpur fort at the time of accession of Shivaji. He was responsible for collecting Jaziya and crushing the rebellions. Sambhaji invaded Burhanpur in 1680 and completely routed the Mughal force. He put the city to plunder. Alleged Alliance with Prince Muhammad Akbar Sambhaji’s leading minister took the advantage of the arrival of Muhammad Akbar and conspired to dethrone Sambhaji again. They wrote forged letters against Sambhaji. Shambaji got the wind of conspiracy and executed all the leading conspirators. Akbar fled to Persia and died there in 1704. Portuguese and English In order to deny the supply to the Mughals, the Marathas invaded Goa in 1683. The situation became so desperate for the Portuguese that the viceroy Francisco De Tavora had to find shelter in the crypt of Saint Francis Xavier. But Sambhaji’s was forced to withdraw because of the arrival of fresh Mughal army. In 1684, Sambhaji signed a treaty with the English, realizing the lack of gunpowder and European arms and the Maratha’s failure to lay siege to the forts. Invasion of Mysore Sambhaji invaded Mysore (ruled at that time by Wodeyar Chikka Devaraja) in 1681. The Maratha army was defeated and forced to retreat. The Wodeyar then signed the treaties of peace with Marathas but did not follow the terms. He began to draw close to the Mughals. Sambhaji invaded Mysore again in 1686. Capture and Execution The Marathas were badly defeated in the battle of Wai (1687). Hambir Rao Mohite, the commander of the Maratha army was killed in the battle. The contemporary accounts states that Sambhuji refused to bow before Aurangzeb and it was his refusal to get converted to Islam and mocking Aurangzeb by asking the hand of his daughter for marriage that led to his assassination. He was honored with the title Dharamveer (Protector of Religion). “He was ordered by the Emperor to embrace Islam. He refused and was forced to run the gauntlet for the whole Mughal army. His tongue wad cut off and he was asked to come into the fold of Islam. Sambhaji asked for a paper to write and wrote, “I won’t accept Islam even if the Emperor bribed me with his daughter. He was then cut into pieces.”

From the Death of Shivaji to the Death of Aurangzeb by Y.B. Bhave Legacy and Literary Contribution Sambhuji was educated by Keshav Pandit. He taught Sambhaji Vedic jurisprudence, Purans, Nitishastra and different forms of Sanskrit literature. Sambhaji wrote Buddhabhushan (in Sanskrit, treatise on politics), Nayikabhed, Saatsatak and Nakhshikha (in Hindi, on military strategy and tactics).