Sambhaji (May 14, 1657 – March 11, 1689) was the second ruler of the Maratha kingdom. He was the eldest son of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire and his first wife Saibai. His mother died when he was two years old and he was raised by his paternal grandmother Jijabai. He was successor of the realm after his father’s death, and ruled it for nine years. Sambhaji’s rule was largely shaped by the ongoing wars between the Maratha kingdom and Mughal Empire as well as other neighbouring powers such as the Siddis, Mysore and the Portuguese in Goa. In 1689, Sambhaji was captured, tortured and executed by the Mughals, and succeeded by his brother Rajaram.
Birth : 14 May 1657
Birth Place : Purandar Fort, near Pune, India.
Father’s Name : Shivaji Bhosale
Mother’s name : Saibai, Shivaji’s first wife
Spouse(s) : Yesubai.
Sambhaji was married to Jivubai in a marriage of political alliance; per Maratha custom she took the name Yesubai. Jivubai was the daughter of Pilajirao Shirke.
When Shivaji died in the first week of April 1680, Sambhaji was still held captive at Panhala fort. Some of the influential Sardars including ministers Annaji Datto and Peshawa Moropant Pingale conspired against Sambhaji, hatched by Soyarabai, to deprive his legitimate right to succeed as a Chhatrapati.
Shivaji’s widow and Sambhaji’s stepmother, Soyrabai after her husband’s death installed the couple’s son, Rajaram, a lad of 10, on the throne on April 21, 1680. Upon hearing this news, Sambhaji plotted his escape and took possession of the Panhala fort on April 27 after killing the fort commander. On June 18, he acquired control of Raigad fort. Sambhaji formally ascended the throne on July 20, 1680. Rajaram, his wife Janki Bai and mother Soyarabai were imprisoned. Soon after their another conspiracy attempt against Sambhaji using prince Akbar, Aurangzeb’s 4th son, Soyarabai, her kinsman from the Shirke family and some of Shivaji’s ministers such as Annaji Datto were executed on charges of conspiracy.
Military expeditions and conflicts
Mughal Empire
Siddis of Janjira
Portuguese and English
Mysore
Aurangzeb ordered Sambhaji and Kavi Kalash to be tortured to death.
Sambhaji was finally killed on March 11, 1689, at Tulapur on the banks of the Bhima river near Pune.