Maratha Kingdom, Chatrapati Shivaji. (1674-1680 )

The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was founded by the great warrior Chatrapati Shivaji during the year 1674. The Maratha confederacy was established at the area around Pune from Bijapur. The Marathas came to power as the Mughals started to decline around the 17th century. The Marathas were in power from 1674 to 1818 and during the peak of the Maratha rule covered a territory of around 250 million acres. The Marathas were skillful warriors and were fiercely possessive about their land .

The Marathas' rise to power was a dramatic turning point that accelerated the demise of Muslim dominance in India. Maratha chieftains were originally in the service of Bijapur sultans in the western Deccan, which was under siege by the Mughals. Shivaji Bhonsle (1630-80 A.D) is recognized as the "father of the Maratha nation." Shivaji Bhosle, founder of the Maratha Empire, was born in 1630 AD, in the fort of Shivneri, 40 miles north of Pune. By 1647, Shivaji had captured two forts and had the complete charge of Pune. He slowly started capturing forts in the region, Purandar, Rajgad, Torna. In 1659 Shivaji succeeded in killing of famous Adilshahi general Afzal Khan and demoralizing his army. He took advantage of this conflict and laid thefoundation of Maratha Kingdom near Pune, which later became the Maratha capital. Shivaji used guerillatactics and brilliant military strategies to lead a series of successful assaults in the 1660s against Mughal strongholds, including the major port of Surat. He lost to Aurangzeb's General Jai Singh and was arrested in 1666. He made a daring escape and regained his lost territory and glory. By 1673, he had control over most of western Maharashtra and had made 'Raigad' capital. In 1674 he assumed the title of "Chhatrapati" at his elaborate coronation. At the time of his death in 1680, nearly whole of the Deccan belonged to his kingdom .Coins of Maratha rulers include the gold and copper coins which were issued by Shivaji and his successors and the southern Maratha family. The gold coins of both the kings were of `pagoda` type. The coins of Shivaji bore `Chhatrapati` in Nagari on one side and `Sri Raja Siva` on the other side of the coin. Some `pagodas` show a figure of Lord Shiva on one side and a granulated surface on the other without any inscription. These coins were ascribed to the South Maratha family. These gold coins are rare but the copper coins found in large numbers. The legends are the same in the copper and gold coins of Shivaji.