The Maratha Warrior "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj" was born in Maharashtra on 19th February 1630 at Shivneri Fort. He was from the well-known family "Bhosale". His Father's name was Shahaji Raje Bhosale and his Mother was Jijabai. Shahaji Bhosale was a Maratha general who served the Deccan Sultanates and Jijabai the daughter of Lakhuji Jadhavrao of Sindhkhed.
During Shivaji Maharaj's birth power in the Deccan was shared by three Islamic sultanates Bijapur, Ahmednagar, Golkonda, and the Mughal Empire.
Battles Fought:
1) In 1646, 16-year-old Shivaji captured the Torna Fort through stratagem or bribery. Meanwhile, he also captured forts near Pune, including Purandar, Kondhana, and Chakan.
2) Pratapgad Battle :
Shivaji Maharaj and Afzal Khan fought this battle in 1657, Afzal Khan, a veteran general, was sent to arrest Shivaji Maharaj. The battle of Pratapgarh, between the forces of the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Adilshahi general Afzal Khan was fought.
3) Kolhapur Battle :
On December 28, 1659, near the city of Kolhapur, Maharashtra, between the Maratha Chhatrapati Shivaji and the Adilshahi forces battle was fought.
4) Pawankhind Battle :
On July 13, 1660, at a mountain pass in the vicinity of Fort Vishalgad, near the city of Kolhapur, between the Maratha Sardar Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Siddi of Adilshah. Baji Prabhu fought alone with 300 soldiers till Maharaj reached Vishalgad.
5)Chakan Battle:
In 1660, Shaista Khan, the Mughal governor of Deccan invaded Pune, subsequently capturing and occupying the city. Shaista Khan was Aurangzeb's maternal uncle. Shaista Khan's Mughal forces emerged victorious by besieging the Chakan fort, leading to the surrender of the Maratha commander Firangoji.
6) Umberkhind Battle:
On February 2, 1661, between the Maratha under Chhatrapati Shivaji and the Kartalab Khan of Mughals was fought.
7)Surat Battle:
The Battle of Surat was a land battle that took place on 5 January 1664, near the city of Surat, in present-day Gujarat. Shaista Khan, the Moghal Nawab, was in the Deccan for more than three years. So to improve his finances, Shivaji Maharaj planned to attack Surat, his aim was to capture and loot the wealthy port city and bring all the loot to his Raigad Fort.
8)Purandar Battle:
The attacks on Shaista Khan and Surat enraged Aurangzeb. In response, he sent the Rajput general Jai Singh I with an army numbering around 15,000 to defeat Shivaji. In the Treaty of Purandar, signed by Shivaji and Jai Singh on 11 June 1665, Shivaji agreed to give up 23 of his forts, keeping 12 for himself, and pay compensation of 400,000 gold hun to the Mughals.
9) Agra and escape of Shivaji Maharaj :
In 1666, Aurangzeb summoned Shivaji to Agra (though some sources instead state Delhi), along with his nine-year-old son Sambhaji. On 17 August 1666, by putting himself in one of the baskets and his son Sambhaji in another, Shivaji Maharaj escaped and left Agra.
10) Sinhagad Battle :
On February 4, 1670, at Sinhagad Fort near the city of Pune, Maharashtra, Tanaji Malusare, a commander of Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj and Udaybhan Rathod, a fort keeper under Jai Singh I, who was a Mughal Army Chief, fought. Sinhagad Fort was earlier named Kondhana, but after the sacrifice of Tanaji Malusare, it was named Sinhagad.
Shivaji Maharaj fought many battles, On 6 June 1674, Shivaji Maharaj was crowned king of the Maratha Empire (Hindavi Swaraj) in a lavish ceremony at Raigad fort.