47 Facts About Shahu I

Shahu I was released from captivity after the death of Aurangzeb in the hope of engineering an internecine struggle among the Maratha factions of Tarabai and Shahu.

In 1689, at the age of seven, Shahu I was taken prisoner along with his mother by the Mughals after the Battle of Raigarh.

Shahu I was married to two daughters of high ranking Maratha Sardars in the Mughal service.

Shahu I then waged a civil-war against Tarabai to gain the Chhatrapati's throne in 1708 and emerged victorious.

Shahu I was advised by Zinat-un-Nissa and Zulfiqar Khan to not wait for formal sanads of appointment from Azam Shah, but to quit the Mughal camp at once and proceed to his home country.

Shahu I visited the sacred city of Ujjain and paid his obeisance to Shri Mahakaleshwar.

At Burhanpur, Jotyaji Kaskar was left behind by Shahu I to receive the sanads from the Mughals.

Shahu I then arrived at Bijagad, about thirty miles south of Narmada, and was joined by its ruler Rawal Mohansinh, who had long rebelled against Aurangzeb and cooperated with the Marathas.

Mohansinh was the first to espouse the cause of Shahu I and help him with troops and funds.

From Bijagad, Shahu I proceeded to Sultanpur, where he was joined by several Maratha chiefs such as Amritrao Kadambande, Rawal Sujansinh of Lamkani, the Bokils, the Purandares and other Brahmin families.

Shahu I did not recognise Shahu as the rightful Maratha Chhatrapati.

Shahu I thus let Tara Bai and Shahu fight for supremacy over the Maratha Kingdom.

Shahu I, who regarded this as his first victory, named the boy Fatesinh and adopted him as his own son.

Shahu I thus achieved a resounding victory causing Parshuram Trymbak Pratinidhi to flee to Satara Fort.

Shahu I, riding on a wave of success, went on to capture Raigad, Torna, Vichitragad, and Chandan-Vandan forts, along with a few minor ones, in record time.

However, since the latter would not yield, Shahu I laid siege to it.

Shahu I decided to apply a judicious ploy and threatened Sheikh Mira, saying that he would blow off the Sheikh's wife and children from the mouth of cannons if he did not surrender the fortress.

Shahu I sent a large force under his Peshwa, or Prime Minister, Bahiroji Pingale.

Shahu I commanded his Senakarta Balaji Vishwanath to raise another standing army to subdue opponents.

From his castle at Battis Shirale, Udaji frequently mounted raids in Shahu I's territories, terming the exactions as the "Chavan Chauth".

Shahu I pitched his camp at Shirol and began to plunder the countryside.

Shahu I, who was hunting in the neighborhood, sent for Udaji Chavan, promising him a safe conduct.

Shahu I was so indifferent to the danger posed by the assassins that the assassins lost heart and threw down their guns at his feet, pleading for mercy.

Shahu I enquired about their employer and they admitted that they had been sent by Udaji Chavan.

Shahu I gave each of the assassins a gold bracelet, and made them pick up their arms and take them back to Udaji along with a certificate from himself that stated they were good and faithful servants while deciding to mount up the conflict against Sambhaji.

Shahu I's forces took Vishalgad next, compelling Sambhaji to agree to a conclusive treaty.

Shahu I accompanied Sambhaji for eight miles, and the path was set ablaze with the jewels and silks of the Maratha nobles in the train of the two monarchs.

Shahu I, widely regarded as "Bhola Shankar", was reputed for his proverbial equitable disposition, and freely socialised with civilians.

Shahu I was titled "Punyashloke" by more than one contemporary writer.

Shahu I was extolled for appointing qualified officers and delegating due authority while censuring misdeeds appropriately.

Shahu I appeared in public dressed in the same plain white garments as in private life, with long grey hairs which hung down gracefully on his shoulders.

Shahu I travelled around his kingdom on horseback, or his palanquin with a slender retinue, with his secretary and clerks always accompanying him.

Shahu I never disregarded any impromptu lowest-class applicants, and on his tours, he stopped his palanquin whenever he saw anyone appealing to him.

Shahu I adopted Parvati Kolhatkar when she was 3 years old.

Shahu I was the daughter of a Konkanastha Brahmin mamledar of Pen, Raigad.

Shahu I later had her married to Sadashivrao Bhau when she was 15 years old.

Shahu I adopted two sons, Ranoji Lokhande who was renamed Fatehsinh I, and Rajaram II of Satara.

Shahu I had adopted Ranoji Lokhande, later known as Fatehsinh I Raje Sahib Bhonsle, the son of Meherban Sayaji Lokhande, the Patil of Parud.

Shahu I shifted his throne from the citadel to the city's Rangmahal Palace in 1721.

Shahu I supplied the new city with good drinking water brought in pipes from the Mahadara and Yavteshvar hills.

Shahu I was fond of sports such as hunting wild game and shooting birds, and used to have a daily ride outside Satara into the jungles for this purpose, thereby getting both fresh air and exercise.

Shahu I kept well-trained hounds and was particular about their pedigree.

Shahu I was equally fond of well bred horses and birds, and knew their qualities and features.

Shahu I was equally fond of good gardens, and ordered the planting of rare fruit and flower trees imported from different places.

Shahu I carefully looked after the interests of his State: There has been no equal to him.

One peculiar trait of Shahu I's character was that he felt the highest pleasure in making others happy, not only his dependents and subjects, but even aliens in race, religion and rule.

Shahu I's adopted son Rajaram II of Satara, claimed by Tarabai to be her grandson, succeeded the Satara throne.