Introduction to Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a Maratha king who founded the Maratha kingdom. Shivaji Bhosle led a resistance to free the Marathas from Sultanate of Bijapur and raided and defended themselves from the Mughal Empire. He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad  as its capital. He became the crowned king 'Chatrapati' of the Maratha Kingdom in 1674.

Shivaji espoused the ideology of Hindavi Swarajya (self-rule of the natives). He achieved the re-establishment of Maratha rule on their homeland after being ruled and dominated by various Muslim dynasties for few hundred years. He established a competent and progressive civil rule with the help of well regulated and disciplined military and well structured administrative organizations. The prevalent practices of treating women as war booty, destruction of religious monuments, slavery and forceful religious conversions were firmly opposed under his administration. Shivaji was a religious Hindu, and showed respect toward other religions. He also innovated rules of military engagement of that era. He pioneered "Shiva sutra" or Ganimi Kava (guerrilla tactics), which leveraged strategic factors like demographics, speed, surprise and focused attack to defeat his bigger and more powerful enemies.