Treaty of Purandar (1665)

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Shivaji On the way to meet Jai Singh I. On the way to Purandar.jpg
Shivaji On the way to meet Jai Singh I.

The Treaty of Purandar was signed on 11 June 1665, between Mirza Raja Jai Singh I, commander of the Mughal Empire, and Shivaji. Shivaji was forced to sign the agreement after Jai Singh besieged Purandar fort.

Contents

Background

Shivaji Maharaj attacked six Mughal generals at Lal Mahal of Poona (Now Pune). Then Shivaji Maharaj sacked Surat, a prosperous port city back then which inhabited lots of rich merchants from all parts of India, China, Turkey, England and the Netherlands. Shivaji Maharaj got huge amount of wealth in this loot. After that in 1665 Aurangzeb sent his general Mirza Raja Jai Singh to subdue Shivaji Maharaj and the Adil Shahi dynasty. [1]

Siege of Purandar

Jai Singh I of Amber receiving Shivaji a day before concluding the Treaty of Purandar (12 June 1665). Jai Singh and Shivaji.jpg
Jai Singh I of Amber receiving Shivaji a day before concluding the Treaty of Purandar (12 June 1665).

Jai Singh besieged Purandar fort in 1665. He conquered the neighbouring Vajragad fort in the middle of April. He surrounded Purandar and attacked the walls of the fort with cannons. The Marathas suffered heavy casualties. Due to this, Shivaji decided to meet Jai Singh and accept the terms of peace. [2] Shivaji is noted to have said when receiving Jai Singh: [3] [4]

"I have come as a guilty slave to seek forgiveness, and it is for you either to pardon or to kill me at your pleasure. I will make over my great forts, with the country of Konkan, to the Emperor's officers, and I will send you my son to enter the imperial service. As for myself, I hope that after the interval of one year, when I have paid my respects to the Emperor, I may be allowed, like other servants of the State who exercise authority in their own provinces, to live with my wife and family in a small fort or two. Whenever and wherever my services are required. I will on receiving orders, discharge my duty loyally."


Terms of the treaty

Shivaji submits to Jai Singh The Surrender of Shivaji Maharaj to the Mughal noblemen Mirza Raja Jai Singh I at Purandar. Painted by Mueller.jpg
Shivaji submits to Jai Singh

Following are the main points of the treaty:

  1. Shivaji kept twelve forts, along with an area worth an income of 100,000 (1 lakh) huns. [5]
  2. Shivaji was required to help the Mughals whenever and wherever required. [5]
  3. Shivaji's son Sambhaji was tasked with the command of a 5,000-strong force to fight for Mughals as Mansabdar. [5]
  4. If Shivaji wanted to claim the Konkan area under Bijapur's control, he would have to pay 4 million (40 lakh) hons to the Mughals. [5]
  5. He had to give up his 23 forts, which include Purandar, Rudramal, Kondana, Karnala, Lohagad, Isagad, Tung, Tikona, Rohida, Nardurga, Mahuli, Bhandardurga, Palaskhol, Rupgad, Bakhtgad, Morabkhan, Manikgad (Raigad), Saroopgad, Sagargad, Marakgad, Ankola, Songad, and Mangad. [5]

Along with these requirements, Shivaji agreed to visit Agra to meet Aurangzeb for further political talks. [5]

Aftermath

Raja Shivaji at Aurangzeb's Darbar Raja Shivaji at Aurangzeb's Darbar- M V Dhurandhar.jpg
Raja Shivaji at Aurangzeb's Darbar

Following Shivaji's surrender, Jai Singh ended the siege on Purandar, allowing 7000 residents of the fort to come out which included 4000 Maratha soldiers. Shivaji handed over his forts to Jai Singh. Following the failed rebellion, Shibaji wrote letters to Aurangzeb, requesting forgiveness for his actions and security for himself along with a robe of honour. He also requested Jai Singh to support him in getting his crimes pardoned by the emperor, stating "Now you are protector and a father to me, so I beg you to fulfil the ambition of your son." [6] [7] On September 15, 1665, Aurangzeb granted his request and sent him a letter and a firman along with a robe of honor. Shivaji responded with a letter thanking the emperor: [3]

Shiva, the meanest of life-devoting slaves who wears the ring of servitude in his ear and the carpet of obedience on his shoulder—like an atom ... [acknowledges] the goodnews of his eternal happiness, namely favours from the Emperor ... This sinner and evil-doer did not deserve that his offences should be forgiven or his faults covered up. But the grace and favour of the Emperor have conferred on him a new life and unimaginable honour ...

Later Shivaji travelled to Agra to Aurangzeb's court. But Aurangzeb put him under house arrest for a few months. Shivaji managed to escape and returned home. Aurangzeb blamed Jai Singh's son Ram Singh for Shivaji's escape and demoted him. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 Sarkar, Jadunath (1920). Shivaji And His Times lo (Second ed.). New York, United States of America: Longmass, Green and co.
  2. ↑ Sarkar, Jadunath (1920). "Shivaji And Jai Singh 1665". Shivaji And His Times (Second ed.). New York, United States of America: Longmass, Green and co. pp. 138–137.
  3. 1 2 Eraly, Abraham (2007). "The Maratha Nemesis". Emperors Of The Peacock Throne The Saga of the Great Moghuls. Penguin Books Limited. p. 661. ISBN   978-93-5118-093-7.
  4. ↑ Sardesai, H. S. (2002). Shivaji, the Great Maratha. Vol. 2. New Delhi: Cosmo Publications. p. 347. ISBN   978-81-7755-284-3.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gordon Stewart (2008), The Marathas 1600-1818 pg 73-4
  6. ↑ Wink, André (2007-12-03). "Brahman,king and emperor". Land and Sovereignty in India - Agrarian Society and Politics under the Eighteenth-Century Maratha Svarājya. Volume 36 of University of Cambridge Oriental Publications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 58. ISBN   978-0-521-05180-4.
  7. ↑ Mahendra Pratap Singh (2001). Shivaji, Bhakha Sources and Nationalism. Books India International. p. 201.

See also

References

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