(1627–1680) Maratha
leader who created up an autonomous kingdom in western Maharashtra and Goa,
which he was able to keep despite the Moghul emperor Aurangzeb's attempts to
reclaim it.
Shivaji's father, Shahji, was a Moghul ruler of Bijapur,
where Shivaji started his career as a robber chief.
He won the support of the Maratha people in the area, and
his first major victory was a hill fort near Pune.
He enlarged his area and strengthened his rule from there,
erecting fortifications to keep his grasp on the land.
Shivaji was a devoted Hindu, which probably aided him in
gaining popular support.
His Hindu ancestors and resistance to Moghul domination have
made him a Hindu national hero in contemporary times, notably in Maharashtra.
