Shivaji

(1627–1680) Maratha chieftain who
carved out an independent kingdom in
western Maharashtra and Goa, and was
able to hold onto it despite the efforts of
the Moghul emperor Aurangzeb to take
it back. Shivaji’s father Shahji was a
Moghul governor in the city of Bijapur,
and Shivaji began his operations as a
robber chief there. He gained the support of the local Maratha people, and his
first important conquest was a hill fort
near the city of Pune. From there he
expanded his territory and consolidated
his power, building forts to hold the territory. Shivaji was a devout Hindu,
which undoubtedly helped gain him
support from the common people. In
modern times his Hindu roots, and his
opposition to Moghul rule, have
transformed him into a Hindu nationalist hero, particularly in Maharashtra. See
also Moghul dynasty.