Ancient India - II

Mughal Empire (1526 AD–1857 AD)

Mughal Empire the biggest empire who ruled India about 331 years.The great Zahir ud din Muhammad Babur (1526 AD–1530 AD) established the Mughal Empire. After the Zahir ud din Muhammad Babur his grand son Jalal ud din Muhammad Akbar well known as “Akbar the Great” or “shehenshaha-e-hind” who ruled India from 1556 AD –1605 AD .Shehenshaha Akbar had many wives ruqaiya begum, salima begum, maharani jodha and others. Maharani Jodha was the third wife of Akbar the Great. In mughal empire  non-muslin people were not got much facilities and they had to pay sectarian tax. When Shehenshaha Akbar knows about that he canceled the sectarian tax paid by the non-Muslims civilization.All civilization had equally important in shehenshaha's vision.He offer jobs to non-Muslims peoples in mughal army and raj darbar. Emperor Akbar had interact with the local people to solve there problems Darbar-e-Aam and took active participate in the local festivals celebrated Muslims as well as Hindu people. Shenshaha Jalal ud din Muhammad Akbar’s secular vision wins his civilization respects and trust.

Shenshaha Jalal ud din Muhammad Akbar is also known for his ‘NAVRATNA DARBAR’. Many Indian emperors had this type of darbar. In Shenshaha Akbar’s navratna darbar there were nine peoples who had extra ordinary skills.

1. Abdul Fazel chif advisor,
2. Raja Todarmal as finance minister,
3. Raja Birbal a poet and best friend of Shenshaha Akbar,
4. Tansen great poet known for his voice,
5. Faizi,
6. Raja man singh,
7. Abdul rahim khan-i-khana,
8. Fakir Azio,
9. Mullah-Do-Pyaza.

Nur ud din Muhammad Jahangir (1605 AD –1627 AD) Son of Akbar, also known as Shehzada Salim. After the Jahangir the Shihab-ud-din Shah Jahan (1627 AD –1657AD) the grand son of Shehenshaha Akbar was emperor of Mughal Empire.He constructed the beautiful Taj Mahal for his mother mumtaz, which is count in today’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World. In mughal era all constructions are done in red sand stone but the Taj Mahal is constructed in white marbal.Shah Jahan had cut down the hands of the worker and constructor of Taj Mahal as they can't construct such beautiful construction for any other king or emperor in future.After the Shah Jahan the next mughal emperor was the Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir (1658 AD–1707 AD),who expanded the boundaries of Mughal Empire up to Afghanistan and Asia.

Maratha Empire (1674 AD–1818 AD)

 

The Maratha Empire established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in mid of 16^th century but the empire was officially declared in 1674.Maratha Empire was one of the greatest empires of the India founded by the Chhatrapati maharaj who fought against the Mughal Empire till 27 years. This was the longest war fought in the history of the India also known as War of Deccan or Deccan War. Deccan War was fought between the Marathas Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Mughal from 1680 to 1707. 

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

The Siddhis ,Portuguese, sultanates of Golkonda and the Bijapur fought along with Mughal army's against Maratha but the war ended with a victory for the great Marathas in 1707. Amazing thing is that Aurangzeb had a half a million soldiers, thousands of elephants ,cannons and lots of ammunition where as the Maratha army is less than one third of the mughal warrior. The Maratha Empire covered a large part of India when 17^th century.

In 1659, Adilshah of Bijapur emperor sent Afzal Khan to kill Maharaj Shivaji. Afzal Khan destroyed Hindu temples at Tuljapur and Pandharpur. Afzal Khan besieges the Pratapgad for many days then Shivaji maharaj decided to meet Afzal Khan on November 1659 at near Pratapgad fort. Shivaji maharaj had doubt on Afzal Khan, that he would cheat him.As Shivaji Maharaj come front of each other khan hug Shivaji Maharaj and tries to kill  him but Shivaji's armour saved him. Shivaji maharaj kill Afzal khan by tiger claw.This is the great incident happened on Pratapgad. 

Adilshah again sent his general Siddi Jauhar to kill Shivaji In 1660. Shivaji was on Panhala fort in Kolhapur with his army. His one of the Maratha sardar Baji Prabhu Deshpande, along with 300 soldiers, hold back the enemy at Ghod Khind to give Shivaji and the rest of the army a chance to reach the safely to the Vishalgad fort. Ghod Khind also called as Paavan Khind in honour of Bajiprabhu Deshpande who stop the Siddi Jauhar huge army with only 300 soldiers. 

Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb disturbed by rapidly spreading maratha empire.Aurangzeb uncle Shaista Khan, with a huge powerful force to attack Shivaji with Bijapur's army led by Siddi Jauhar.before he attacked Shivaji make attack on Shaista Khan in Pune and cut his figure. 

In 1664 Shivaji attacked the Surat city this make maratha empire more stronger in wealth.The Maratha emperor Shivaji maharaj had released the importance navy and to secure coastline of western Konkan from the attacks of pirates and other enemy like British , Portuguese His strategy was to build a strong navy to protect his kingdom Shivaji maharaj was the first emperor who built a powerful navy in India. He built new forts like Sindhudurg and Vijaydurg in western coast. The huge Sindhudurg fort stands as a wall against the pirates and enemy. Maharaj Shivaji fought many lengthy battles with Siddis of Janjira on coastline. The Maratha navy fought against the British, Portuguese and Dutch. Maharaj shivaji doesn’t have much army and ammunition but the one thing he had courage. He had dedicated his whole life to Hindavi Swarajya. In April 1680 at the age of 52 Shivaji Maharaj died.After the Shivaji Maharaj his Succeeder not introduced any drastic changes in Maratha emperor. 
Chattrapati Shahu maharaj appoints Peshawa Bajirao I (1720 AD–1740AD), Baji Rao was the great peshawa ever he was fought 41 major battles in his complete life, and he had never lost any combat. Baji Rao peshawa migrate the capital of the Maratha Empire from Satara to Pune in 1728. Many places in the pune still reflect the impact of peshawas.Peshawas are the great maratha warrior. Maratha emperor covered most part of the India at his pick time.