Shivaji Maharaj focused on supporting farming and took care of the wellbeing of farmers.
Shivaji Maharaj created the Maratha Navy to guard merchant ships and ports. This helped to make sure that revenue from maritime trade and customs duty stayed safe and increased.
Shivaji Maharaj took control of forts like Murumbdev (Rajgad), Torna, Kondhana, and Purandar. This marked the beginning of Swaraj or self-rule.
The famous Maratha king was born on February 19, 1630, at Shivneri Fort near Junnar in Pune district.
Jijabai, who worshipped the goddess, Durga, named her son after a well-known local deity called 'Shivai Devi'. She hoped that the goddess would keep her newborn son safe from harm.
Shivaji got names like 'Mountain Rat' by enemy generals because he would use tricky tactics. He'd attack their armies and then quickly retreat into his mountain forts.
Shivaji became well-known for the sneaky tactics he created and used to battle his enemies in tough landscapes.
Because her parents had lost many babies before, when her mother became pregnant again, she was sent to a hill fort called Shivneri. This is where Shivaji, was born.
Shivaji showed natural leadership skills from a young age. When he was just 15, he gathered a group of loyal soldiers from the Maval region. At 16, Shivaji was already prepared to lead his troops into battle.
Shivaji realized that he needed a strong navy to control the Konkan coast. So, in the late 1650s, he started building his navy.
Once Shivaji had taken control of many areas near Poona and Konkan, he wanted to create the first Hindu kingdom in the southern region. On June 6, 1674, he became the first king of the Marathas.