Chhattrapati Shahu
| shahu maharaj | |
|---|---|
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 5th Maratha Chhatrapati
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| Reign | 12 January 1708 - 15 December 1749 |
| Coronation | 12 January 1708, Satara |
| Predecessor | Shivaji II |
| Successor | Rajaram II |
| Born |
18 May 1682 Ganguli Fort, Mangaon |
| Died | 15 December 1749 (aged 67) Rangmahal Palace, Satara |
| Spouse | Savitribai Ambikabai |
| House | Bhonsale |
| Father | Sambhaji |
| Mother | Yesubai |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Shahuji Bhosle (1682–1749 CE) was the fourth Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire created by his grandfather, Chhatrapati Shivaji. More popularly known as Chattrapati Shahu, he came out of captivity by the Mughals and defeated his aunt Tarabai in an internecine conflict to gain the throne in 1708.
He was the son of the second Chhatrapati Sambhaji, and grandson of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
During the Mughal-Maratha war of 27 years Shahuji was held captive with his mother, Yesubai, by the Mughals from the age of 7 years after the fall of Maratha capital of Raigad in Feb. 1689. When the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb died in 1707, a war of succession ensued between his surviving sons. At the insistence of Mughal general Zulfiqar Khan and Nusrat Jang, Shahu was freed from imprisonment by Prince Muhammad Azam Shah. After the Battle of Jajua, the victor and next emperor Bahadur Shah also took the side of Shahuji against Tarabai at the insistence of his general Zulfiqar Khan, but under conditions which rendered him a vassal of the Mughal Empire. His mother was still held captive to ensure his good behavior, and he could only obtain her release in 1719 when the Marathas became strong enough.
After his release Shahuji had to contend with a competing claim by his aunt, Tarabai, and her son, Raja Shivaji II (son of Rajaram). With the assistance of Dhanaji Jadhav, Balaji Vishwanath who was later appointed the Peshwa or prime minister, and Sardar Khanderao Dabhade who was later appointed the Senapati (Marathi: Commander-in-Chief), Shahuji prevailed over Tarabai in 1709 and consolidated his power in Satara. Tarabai then set up a rival Maratha court at Kolhapur.
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Wikipedia