17-03-2025
06:30 AM
The Maratha Empire was unbeatable under Shivaji Maharaj during the mid 17th century in the Deccan region. Shivaji had launched several successful raids against Mughal territories, including the famous attack on Shaista Khan's camp in Pune (1663) and the Sack of Surat (1664), where he looted the Mughal port city. In response to this invasion, Aurangzeb decided to take action against Shivaji. Instead of direct confrontation, he hired Raja Jai Singh I of Amber, to lead Mughal troops against Marathas. Jai Singh was given a force of approximately 40,000 soldiers, including Rajputs, Mughal cavalry, artillery, and support troops.
The Maratha War, Battle of Purandar was between the Mughal Empire and the Maratha forces in 1665. Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb assigned Jai Singh to lead a military campaign against Chhatrapati Shivaji. Jai Singh was supported by several Mughal commanders, including Dilir Khan, Rai Singh, Sujan Singh, and Daud Khan. Under Jai Singh’s leadership, the Mughal forces successfully seized control of the Purandar Fort. The battle concluded by the signing of the Treaty of Purandar between Shivaji and Jai Singh. However, there seems to be a historical mix-up in the last part, as the Treaty of Purandar (1776) was later signed between the Peshwa of the Marathas and the British East India Company in Calcutta.
The Battle of Purandar was fought in 1665 between the Maratha Empire, led by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and the Mughal Empire, under Raja Jai Singh I of Amber. The battle was part of the larger conflict between the Mughals and the Marathas over control of the Deccan region.
During the mid-17th century, the Maratha Empire emerged as a major force in the Deccan under Shivaji Maharaj. Shivaji had successfully expanded his territories, capturing several forts and challenging the supremacy of the Adil Shahi Sultanate of Bijapur and the Mughal Empire. Some of the notable battles fought between Maratha and Mughal, before the Battle of Purandar are discussed below:
Below in the table we have discussed the Battle of Purandar Overview:
Battle of Purandar Overview | |
Events | Battle of Purandar |
Date | 31 March 1665 – 12 June 1665 |
Location | Purandar, Maharashtra, India |
Forces Involved | Maratha Empire led by Chhatrapati Shivaji and Mughal Forces led by Jai Singh. |
Result | Victory of Mughal Empire |
The late-night attack had a clear objective, to weaken the Mughal army’s military strength, and it proved highly successful. Despite their inventory of ammunition and cannons, the Mughals struggled to breach the walls of Purandar Fort. Even after days of attempts, they failed to break through its defenses.
Realizing direct assault wasn’t working, Diler Khan shifted his strategy. He began capturing smaller forts around Purandar, each manned by just 300 to 400 soldiers. One such fort was Vajragarh, located near Purandar. Historians believe that controlling Vajragarh made it easier to target Purandar.
Murarbaji Deshpande, the fort’s killedaar (commander), was renowned for his exceptional bravery. As the cannon fire weakened the fort’s walls, he knew he had to act. One evening, he led a small group of warriors on a daring mission into the Mughal camp. They first sabotaged the enemy’s artillery, then launched a surprise attack, killing around 200–300 Mughal soldiers before retreating to the fort.
The following morning, when the Mughals attempted to fire their cannons, many of them exploded due to the damage inflicted by Murarbaji’s men. However, the Mughal weapons were soon reinforced under the command of Niccolao Manucci, who managed to breach Purandar’s walls. Despite the defenses, Murarbaji and his men refused to surrender.
Diler Khan attempted to win him over after getting iImpressed by Murarbaji’s exceptional bravery . He offered a treaty, a high-ranking position in the Mughal army, a generous salary, and even a jagir (land grant).
However, Murarbaji was deeply committed to the cause of Hindavi Swarajya and rejected the offer outright. The very idea of serving the enemy enraged him. In a fearless act of defence, he charged straight into the heart of the Mughal forces, cutting down enemy soldiers one after another.
According to historical accounts, Murarbaji alone killed nearly 100 Mughal soldiers. Unable to contain his fury, Diler Khan broke the traditional code of battle. As Murarbaji engaged in combat with multiple warriors, Diler Khan shot an arrow at him from a distance, killing the Maratha warrior in the middle of the battle.
During the Battle of Purandar, Chhatrapati Shivaji realized that sustaining the Maratha troops against the massive Mughal forces led by Mirza Raja Jai Singh was becoming increasingly difficult. Following the Mughal victory in June 1665 and the fall of Purandar Fort, Shivaji made a strategic decision. Instead of prolonging the conflict, he chose to negotiate with Jai Singh and propose new terms for peace.
Before proceeding, Shivaji ensured his safety by securing a formal guarantee that he would be allowed to meet Jai Singh and return unharmed, regardless of the outcome. This agreement, which marked a significant turning point, came to be known as the Treaty of Purandar.
The Treaty of Purandar was signed between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Rajput ruler Jai Singh I, who was leading the Mughal forces on behalf of Emperor Aurangzeb. As per the Treaty of Purandar 1665 was surrendered to the Mughals, along with several other key territories. The terms of the agreement included the following:
Q1. Who won the Battle of Purandar?
Ans. Mughal Empire won the Battle of Purandar.
Q2. Who died while defending Purandar?
Ans. Murarbaji Deshpande died while defending Purandar.
Q3. Which is the biggest battle of Shivaji Maharaj?
Ans. The Battle of Pratapgad was fought between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Afzal Khan is the biggest battle of Shivaji Maharaj.
Q4. What was the purpose of the Battle of Purandar?
Ans. The agenda of the battle was to capture the fort of Purandar which had been the then abode of the Marathas in the southwestern part of India located near to Pune.
Q5. Did Jai Singh defeat Shivaji?
Ans. Jai Singh did not defeat Shivaji in the conventional sense of a decisive battlefield victory. Instead, he used a combination of military pressure and diplomacy to force Shivaji into signing the Treaty of Purandar in 1665.
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