In part II, we read
about the arrest and release of Shahaji.
Soon after this episode, Shivaji and Sambhaji started aggresively acquiring the adilshahi territories. They also started claiming taxes from the earstwhile Nizamshahi territories which were handed over to Moghuls.
Sambhaji acquired Kanakgiri and started replacing the local adilshahi officers in Kanakgiri with his own men.
It was one such local warlord from Kanakgiri - Abba Khan who resisted Sambhaji and asked Adilshah for help. When Adilshah enquired about this to Shahaji, he was far away in the south and did not want any trouble. He replied diplomatically that it is Abba Khan who is causing nuisance in the Adilshahi territory and Sambhaji is trying to control his actions.
Adilshah knew just the thing to do. He ordered Afzalkhan to take care of the conflict. This time around, he did not give any direct order, as the last move against Shahaji had been a real embarrasment for him.
Afzalkhan now had the liberty to decide the fate of Sambhaji - Abba Khan conflict and he had already decided what it was going to be. He went to Kanakgiri and together with Sambhaji, attacked Abba Khan. I do not see any reference that Afzalkhan let Abba Khan live, but this was the war when he took his rivalry with Shahaji to the next generation.
While Sambhaji and his men were busy fighting Abba Khan, Sambhaji was surrounded by the light artillery unit of Afzalkhan. As many as 30 cannon shots were fired at Sambhaji from all directions. That was the end of Sambhaji.
All those years of hatred was fired from Hand-held cannons and it killed one of the bravest and most courageous generals in the history of Marathas. This attack was then labeled as an accident by Afzalkhan when he reported back to Adilshah.
The eldest son of Shahaji - the invincible, had died on the battlefield at a young age of 25. The beloved son of Jijabai was brutally murdered by a treacheror. Young Shivaji was left with no big brother to look up to. If you have ever wondered how much the family loved Sambhaji and missed him, you will find your answer in the fact that Shivaji named his first son as Sambhaji, in memory of his lost brother.
This was a fatal blow that Afzalkhan struck against Shahaji and his family. The worst part of it all - Shahaji could do nothing about it. He was posted in a faraway location. He could not run to his son's help, he could not complain about his son's death, he could not punish his son's murderer. For the only time in his life, Shahaji felt lost !!
In 1659, when Afzalkhan walked on the Maratha empire, a lot more was at stake for Shivaji. He had to fight Afzalkhan to protect the greater cause of independent Maratha empire, he had to defeat Afzalkhan before Moghuls decided to chip in, he had to fight Afzalkhan to avenge his lost brother, he had to fight Afzalkhan and take care of the rivalry which was imposed on their family. Afzalkhan was out there to finish what he had started at Kanakgiri, and Shivaji had to ensure the opposite.
Soon after this episode, Shivaji and Sambhaji started aggresively acquiring the adilshahi territories. They also started claiming taxes from the earstwhile Nizamshahi territories which were handed over to Moghuls.
Sambhaji acquired Kanakgiri and started replacing the local adilshahi officers in Kanakgiri with his own men.
It was one such local warlord from Kanakgiri - Abba Khan who resisted Sambhaji and asked Adilshah for help. When Adilshah enquired about this to Shahaji, he was far away in the south and did not want any trouble. He replied diplomatically that it is Abba Khan who is causing nuisance in the Adilshahi territory and Sambhaji is trying to control his actions.
Adilshah knew just the thing to do. He ordered Afzalkhan to take care of the conflict. This time around, he did not give any direct order, as the last move against Shahaji had been a real embarrasment for him.
Afzalkhan now had the liberty to decide the fate of Sambhaji - Abba Khan conflict and he had already decided what it was going to be. He went to Kanakgiri and together with Sambhaji, attacked Abba Khan. I do not see any reference that Afzalkhan let Abba Khan live, but this was the war when he took his rivalry with Shahaji to the next generation.
While Sambhaji and his men were busy fighting Abba Khan, Sambhaji was surrounded by the light artillery unit of Afzalkhan. As many as 30 cannon shots were fired at Sambhaji from all directions. That was the end of Sambhaji.
All those years of hatred was fired from Hand-held cannons and it killed one of the bravest and most courageous generals in the history of Marathas. This attack was then labeled as an accident by Afzalkhan when he reported back to Adilshah.
The eldest son of Shahaji - the invincible, had died on the battlefield at a young age of 25. The beloved son of Jijabai was brutally murdered by a treacheror. Young Shivaji was left with no big brother to look up to. If you have ever wondered how much the family loved Sambhaji and missed him, you will find your answer in the fact that Shivaji named his first son as Sambhaji, in memory of his lost brother.
This was a fatal blow that Afzalkhan struck against Shahaji and his family. The worst part of it all - Shahaji could do nothing about it. He was posted in a faraway location. He could not run to his son's help, he could not complain about his son's death, he could not punish his son's murderer. For the only time in his life, Shahaji felt lost !!
In 1659, when Afzalkhan walked on the Maratha empire, a lot more was at stake for Shivaji. He had to fight Afzalkhan to protect the greater cause of independent Maratha empire, he had to defeat Afzalkhan before Moghuls decided to chip in, he had to fight Afzalkhan to avenge his lost brother, he had to fight Afzalkhan and take care of the rivalry which was imposed on their family. Afzalkhan was out there to finish what he had started at Kanakgiri, and Shivaji had to ensure the opposite.
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