Chakan fort

Last updated
Sangram Durga
Part of the Maratha Empire
Chakan Fort- Sangram Durg (7637611332).jpg
Site information
Controlled by  Bijapur
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg  Maratha (1647-1818)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Flag of India.svg  India (1947-present)
Open to
the public
Yes
ConditionProtected Ruins

Sangram Durga is a land fort situated at Chakan, Pune, Maharashtra, India. The original area of the fort was 65 acres, currently it is only 5.5 acres.

Contents

History

The exact details of the builders of the fort is not known but it was built by a muslim ruler who sacrificed a man by burying him in the foundations. Per Kosambi, the unknown man is honored even in modern times by a cult. [1]

During the Bahmani rule, the mainly muslim courtiers belonged to two camps, foreigners who came from Persia or Central Asia to join the Sultan's service, and the Deccani who were of indigenous heritage. The two groups had an intense rivalry and a massacre of thousands of foreigners was carried out by the Deccanis at the fort in 1457. [2] [3] [4]

The Bahmani sultanate disintegrated into five different kingdoms in 1490. Chakan, and Junnar at that time became part of Nizamshahi of Ahmadnagar. [5] In 1590s, the Nizamshahi sultan conferred upon Maloji Bhosale, the grandfather of Shivaji, the Jagir or fiefdom of Pune and Supe.The fief included the forts of Shivneri and Chakan. [6] In 1630s the fort was captured by the Adilshahi but young Shivaji took control of the fort in 1647, and named it Sangramdurg. [7]

During Shivaji's times (1630-1680),the fort was attacked by Mughal general Shaista Khan with a force of 20,000 men with artillery on 23 June 1660. At that time, the elderly Kiledar (fortress commander) Firangoji Narsala with a force of only 320 Mavala soldiers resisted the Mughal siege for 56 days. Sarkar describes the fort as a square structure with bastions and towers at the corners with a 15 feet wide and 30 feet deep Moat surrounding the structure. [8]

The last battle at the fort was that between the forces of the British East India Company and the Marathas under the Peshwa on 25 February 1818 with the Marathas losing the fort. [9] [10]

Present condition and preservation efforts

In 2017 the government of Maharashtra granted protection status to Chakan and other six forts in the state. [11] The Maharashtra department of archeology spent R 1.0 crore on repairs to the wall of fort in 2013. However due to shoddy work by Arun Lanjewar, the contractor appointed by the department, the wall collapsed in 2017. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shivaji</span> Indian king and founder of the Maratha Empire (r. 1674–80)

Shivaji I was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Dynasty. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the declining Adilshahi Sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the Maratha Empire. In 1674, he was formally crowned the Chhatrapati of his realm at Raigad Fort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maratha Empire</span> 1674–1818 empire in the Indian subcontinent

The Maratha Empire, also referred to as the Maratha Confederacy, was an early modern Indian empire and later a confederation that controlled large portions of the Indian Subcontinent in the 18th century. Maratha rule formally began in 1674 with the coronation of Shivaji of the Bhonsle dynasty as the Chhatrapati. Although Shivaji came from the Maratha caste, the Maratha empire also included warriors, administrators, and other nobles from the Maratha and several other castes from what is known today as Maharashtra. The Maratha Kingdom was expanded into a full-fledged Empire in the 18th Century under the leadership of Peshwa Bajirao I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peshwa</span> Prime Minister of the Maratha empire

Peshwa was second highest office in the Maratha Confederacy, next in rank and prestige only to that of the Chhatrapati. Initially serving as the appointed prime minister in the Maratha empire, the office became hereditary after the death of Shahu in 1749. During the reign of Shahu, the office of Peshwa grew in power and the Peshwas came to be the de facto rulers of the Maratha empire. However following the defeat of the Marathas in 1761, the office of the Peshwa became titular as well and from that point onwards served as the ceremonial head of the Confederacy underneath the Chhatrapati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shivneri Fort</span> Fort in Maharashtra, India

Shivneri Fort is an ancient military fortification located near Junnar in Pune district in Maharashtra, India. It is the birthplace of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of Maratha Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miraj</span> City in Sangli District, Maharashtra, India

Miraj is a city that is part of the Sangli-Miraj-Kumand metropolitan region in Sangli district, Maharashtra. Founded in the early 10th century, Miraj was an important jagir of the Bijapur Sultanate.

The Deccan sultanates were five late-medieval Indian kingdoms—on the Deccan Plateau between the Krishna River and the Vindhya Range—that were created from the disintegration of the Bahamani Sultanate and ruled by Muslim dynasties: namely Ahmadnagar, Berar, Bidar, Bijapur, and Golconda. The sultanates had become independent during the break-up of the Bahmani Sultanate. The five sultanates owed their existence to the declaration of independence of Ahmadnagar in 1490, followed by Bijapur and Berar in the same year. Golconda became independent in 1518, and Bidar in 1528.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sinhagad</span> Hill Fort in Maharashtra, India

Sinhagad is an ancient hill fortress located at around 49 km southwest of the city of Pune, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shahaji</span> Father of Shivaji Bhonsle and eldest son of Maloji Raje Bhonsle (1602–1664)

Shahaji Bhosale was a 17th century Indian military leader who served the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, the Bijapur Sultanate, and the Mughal Empire at various points in his career. As a member of the Bhonsle dynasty, Shahaji inherited the Pune and Supe jagirs (fiefs) from his father Maloji, who previously served the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. During the Mughal invasion of the Deccan, Shahaji joined the Mughal forces and served under Emperor Shah Jahan for a short period. After being deprived of his jagirs, he defected to the Bijapur Sultanate in 1632 and regained control over Pune and Supe. In 1638, he received the jagir of Bangalore after Bijapur's invasion of Kempe Gowda III's territories. Afterwards, he became the chief general of Bijapur and oversaw its expansion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pune district</span> District in Maharashtra, India

Pune district is a district in Western Maharashtra with Administrative Headquarters in Pune city. Pune district is the most populous district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is one of the most industrialised districts in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nashik district</span> District of Maharashtra in India

Nashik district, formerly known as Nasik district, is a district in Maharashtra, India. The city of Nashik is the administrative headquarters of the district. Nashik is well known for the production of wine. Nashik is also known as Mini Maharashtra, because the climate and soil conditions of Surgana, Peth, Igatpuri resembles with Konkan. Niphad, Sinnar, Dindori, Baglan blocks are like Western Maharashtra and Yeola, Nandgaon, Chandwad blocks are like Vidarbha Region. Nashik is the biggest city in the district while Malegaon is the second biggest city. Manmad, Igatpuri, and Sinnar are some of the big cities situated in the Nashik District. Manmad is one of the biggest railway junctions in India while the city of Malegaon is famous for its powerloom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaista Khan</span> 17th century Mughal general and provincial governor

Mirza Abu Talib, better known as Shaista Khan, was a Moghul General and the Subahdar of Mughal Bengal, he was maternal uncle to the Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb, he acted as a key figure during his reign, Shaista Khan initially governed the Deccan, where he clashed with the Maratha ruler Shivaji, However, he was most notable for his tenure as the governor of Bengal from 1664 to 1688, Under Shaista Khan's authority, the city of Dhaka and Mughal power in the province attained its greatest heights. His achievements include constructions of notable mosques such as the Sat Gambuj Mosque and masterminding the conquest of Chittagong. Shaista Khan was also responsible for sparking the outbreak of the Anglo-Mughal War with the English East India Company.

Chakan is a census town in India, in Pune district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. While agriculture remains an important factor, the town's industrial development is quickly urbanizing the area. The Independent referred Chakan as India's "Motor City".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmadnagar Sultanate</span> Deccan Indian kingdom (1490–1636)

The Sultanate of Ahmednagar or the Nizam Shahi Sultanate was a late medieval Indian Muslim kingdom located in the northwestern Deccan, between the sultanates of Gujarat and Bijapur, ruled by the Nizam Shahi or Bahri dynasty. It was established when Malik Ahmed, the Bahmani governor of Junnar after defeating the Bahmani army led by general Jahangir Khan on 28 May 1490 declared independence and established the Nizam Shahi dynasty of the Sultanate of Ahmednagar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prabalgad</span> Fort in India

Prabalgad is a fort located between Matheran and Panvel and comes under the Raigad District in the state of Maharashtra, India.

Shivaji was the founder of the Maratha Empire in the Indian subcontinent. This article describes Shivaji's life from his birth until the age of 19 years (1630–1649).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Maharashtra</span>

Maharashtra is a state in the western region of India. It is India's second-most populous state and third-largest state by area. The region that comprises the state has a long history dating back to approximately 1300–700 BCE, although the present-day state was not established until 1960 CE.

The Battle of Chakan in 1660 took place between Mughal forces led by Shaista Khan and Maratha forces commanded by Firangoji Narsala at Chakan in Maharashtra. Shaista Khan's Mughal forces emerged victorious by besieging the Chakan fort, leading to the surrender of the Maratha commander Firangoji.

Maloji Bhosale was a Maratha Sardar (general) who served as the Sargiroh of Ahmadnagar Sultanate. He was the father of Shahaji and the grandfather of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire.

Annaji Datto Sachiv was the Sachiv in the Ashta Pradhan mandal of the Maratha Empire during the rule of Shivaji.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhonsle dynasty</span> Indian Marathi house

The Bhonsle dynasty are a prominent Indian Marathi royal house. They claimed descent from the Rajput Sisodia dynasty, but were likely Kunbi Marathas.

References

  1. Kosambi, D. D. (1967). Living Prehistory in India. Scientific American, 216(2), 104–115. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24931409
  2. Mate, M. S. (1996). Urban Culture of Medieval Deccan (1300 AD to 1650 AD). Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute, 56, 161-217.
  3. Siddiqi, M. S. (1990). Sufi-State Relationship under the Bahmanids (AD 1348-1538). Rivista degli studi orientali, 64(Fasc. 1/2), 71-96.
  4. Haig, W. (1907). Historic Landmarks of the Deccan. Printed at the Pioneer Press.
  5. Shyam, Radhey (1966). The Kingdom of Ahmadnagar. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN   978-81-208-2651-9.
  6. Govind Sakharam Sardesai (1957). New History of the Marathas: Shivaji and his line (1600-1707). Phoenix Publications. p. 58. ISBN   9788121500654 . Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  7. Sardesai 1946, G.S. (1946). New history of the Marathas. Vol. I: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his line (1600-1701). Bombay: Phoenix Publications. p. 102.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. Sarkar, J. (1920). History of Aurangzib: based on original sources (Vol. 4). Longmans, Green and Company.|url=|page=45
  9. Blacker, V. (1821). Memoir of the Operations of the British Army in India: During the Mahratta War of 1817, 1818, & 1819 (Vol. 1). Black.
  10. Bombay (Presidency). (1885). Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency (Vol. 18, No. 1). Government Central Press.|page=122
  11. Madaan, Neha (September 2017). "protection-status-for-7-stray-forts-in-maharashtra" . Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  12. Phadnis, Ashish (July 18, 2017). "Pune's mighty Chakan fort collapses due to shoddy repair work". Pune. Retrieved 15 December 2023.