The year 1689 marked the brutal end of the Maratha golden era when Sambhaji, the thirty-one-year-old son of Shivaji, was captured and executed by Mughal forces. This event did not merely remove a leader; it shattered the political stability of the Maratha kingdom and triggered a decades-long struggle that would eventually drain the Mughal Empire itself. Sambhaji, born in 1657 to Shivaji and his first wife Saibai, had been trained in warfare from a young age and was known for his bravery and military skills. Upon Shivaji's death in 1680, Sambhaji ascended to the throne, but his rule was immediately contested by his half-brother Rajaram, the second-born son of Shivaji's second wife. The succession dispute was settled through bloodshed, as Sambhaji orchestrated the murders of Rajaram's mother and loyal courtiers, leaving Rajaram imprisoned for eight years. Despite these internal fractures, Sambhaji conducted several military campaigns in southern India and Goa, proving that the Maratha resistance was far from broken. The execution of Sambhaji on the 11th of March 1689 was a significant event in Indian history, marking the end of the golden era of the Maratha kingdom and setting the stage for a war that would last until the death of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707.
The Emperor's Descent
In 1681, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb made the decision to move his entire household, court, and army to the Deccan, a move that would define the rest of his life and the history of India. This decision was triggered by a complex political maneuver involving his son, Muhammad Akbar, who sought to assert his power against his father's dominance. Sambhaji provided shelter to Akbar, which angered Aurangzeb and led to a massive military response. By the end of 1681, the Mughal forces in the region numbered about 500,000, creating a disproportionate war in all senses. Aurangzeb arrived at Aurangabad, the Mughal headquarters in the Deccan, and made it his capital, intending to conquer the Maratha lands as well as the sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda. The Mughal army, despite its size, faced a relentless guerrilla war that would stretch its resources to the breaking point. Aurangzeb's strategy involved dividing his forces and using pincer movements to encircle the Marathas, but these plans repeatedly failed due to the Marathas' ability to harass supply chains and reduce Mughal forces to starvation. The war became a drain on the Mughal treasury and manpower, with Aurangzeb spending four precious years trying to conquer small kingdoms like Wakinara, only to find that his victories were hollow and his losses were catastrophic.The Siege of Jinji
The fall of Jinji in January 1698 was a Pyrrhic victory for the Mughals, as the fort had done its work for seven years by keeping a large contingent of Mughal forces occupied while inflicting heavy losses. Rajaram, the Maratha ruler, had moved his base to Gingee, far into the Tamil country, where he was able to frustrate Mughal advances into the Deccan until 1700. The fort, located on three hills, became a symbol of Maratha resilience, as it withstood sieges and attacks that would have destroyed any other stronghold. Aurangzeb, frustrated with Rajaram's successful escape, sent a small force to keep him in check, but this force was destroyed by an attack from two Maratha generals, Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav. The Maratha capital moved to Jinji, and the war was fought from the Malwa Plateau to the east coast, in a strategy devised by the Maratha commanders to counter the strength of the Mughals. The fall of Jinji gave Rajaram ample time to reach Vishalgad, but it also marked the beginning of a new phase in the war, where the Marathas began to consolidate their forces and launch counteroffensives. The war had become a stalemate, with both sides suffering heavy losses and neither able to achieve a decisive victory.