Battle of Surat 1664, History, Series of Events, Aftermath

The Battle of Surat fought on January 5, 1664 in between the Maratha and the mughal empire, was led by Shivaji Maharaj. Surat, an important port city and trade center of Mughals, was attacked by the Marathas. Prince Muazzam (Emperor Aurangzeb) the governor in chief of Gujarat fought against the marathas. Eventually the Marathas won the war and the Surat city was ransacked for six days. In this article, we are going to cover the Battle of Surat History, the components of the war and significant consequences. 

Battle of Surat History 

The Battle of Surat was an important event that happened on 5 February 1664. At this time, the Mughal Empire was at its highest power , while the Maratha Empire was an emerging regional force. Shivaji launched this battle to increase his territory and challenge mughal authority. 

At the same time, Shaista Khan, the mughal governor, engaged in a war against the Marathas in the Deccan. This war weakened the financial condition of the Maratha kingdom. In order to revive the treasury, Shivaji created a plan to attack Surat, a wealthy Mughal stronghold and thriving port city. The goal was to conquer and plunder the riches and transfer the wealth to Raigad Fort, the primary residence. 

Mughal Forces at Surat

The city's defenses were weak, and Inayat Khan, the local Mughal Subedar, could only deploy 1,000 armed men for protection. However, this proved insufficient against the swift and strategic attack launched by Shivaji. As the battle unfolded, the Mughal garrison was overwhelmed, and Shivaji’s forces set the regional shipping sector ablaze, dealing a severe blow to Mughal trade and influence.

Maratha Forces at Surat

Shivaji led a well-organized force of over 8,000 cavalrymen, accompanied by his trusted commanders. The Marathas’ mobility and guerrilla tactics allowed them to swiftly overrun the city, ensuring a decisive victory.

Battle of Surat Series of Events

The Maratha War of Battle of Surat was a struggle between the Marathas and the Mughal Empire. Daud Khan and Shaista Khan had attacked the Pune-Supa region, setting the entire village on fire. Shaista Khan continued to seize control of Lal Mahal in Pune, looting the wealth and enforcing the mughal dominance in the Deccan. Aurangzeb with an aim to consolidate his rule, targeted the vulnerable people of Pune and Supa. In response, Chhatrapati Shivaji devised a bold strategy to attack Surat- the wealthiest trade hub. The decision followed the night raid on Shaista Khan during which he amputated the thumb of Mughal general. Instead of launching a direct assault on the Surat Fort, Shivaji initially demanded tribute from the city's wealthy merchants. However, upon their refusal, he launched a full-fledged attack on the city.

The element of surprise played a crucial role, leaving the Mughal chieftains unprepared. Rather than facing Shivaji’s forces head-on, they sought refuge inside the Fort of Surat. Over the course of three days, the Marathas plundered the city, targeting the riches of traders and merchants from Mughal Gujarat Subah, Portuguese settlements, and other commercial hubs. The residences of prominent traders like Virji Vora, Haji Zahid Beg, and Haji Kasim were raided, yielding gold, silver, pearls, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds.

Notably, Shivaji refrained from looting the homes of foreign missionaries, demonstrating his strategic and principled approach to warfare. The Battle of Surat not only boosted Maratha finances but also sent a strong message to the Mughal Empire, proving that Shivaji was a formidable force against their expansionist ambitions.

Battle of Surat Series of Loots by Chhatrapati Shivaji

The first is of Father Ambrose, a Catholic monk. Shivaji was informed that this person’s home was deserving of looting. Father Ambrose was a devout man, and Chhatrapati Shivaji was aware of this and refrained from looting his home. His home remained unharmed during the battle of Surat. The second businessman was Mohandas Parekh. He was also one of Surat’s wealthiest businessmen. It so happened that Parekh had passed away a few months earlier and that his wife was now his sole heir. The merchant has also been a big humanitarian throughout his life. Shivaji immediately outlawed the robbing of his home or of his valuables and, in fact, stationed guards to ensure that this would not occur.

Battle of Surat Aftermath

In this Maratha War, before the Mughal Empire in Delhi was informed of the battle of Surat, all of this loot had already been transferred to the Deccan. Later, the Maratha state was built up and strengthened with this wealth. The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was angered by this occurrence. After Shivaji’s invasion of the Port of Surat, trade did not thrive as much, which resulted in a decrease in the Mughal Empire’s revenue. The battle of Surat resulted in the victory of the Maratha Empire against Mughal forces.

The second sacking of Surat occurred in 1670. This time, Shivaji was directly engaged in battle with Mughal forces deployed throughout the Sahyadris. He was also squaring off against Janjira Siddi. The Mughal boats from Surat attacked the back of his soldiers when they were fighting the Siddi. Shivaji responded by attacking Surat. This time, Lohagad, which is close to Pune, received the loot.

Battle of Surat FAQs 

Q1. Why did Shivaji sack Surat?
Ans. Shivaji sacked Surat in 1664 to weaken the Mughal Empire financially and replenish the Maratha treasury.

Q2. How did Surat get its name?
Ans. Surat derives its name from the Gujarati word Suraj, meaning "good land" or "beautiful place."

Q3. How many times did Shivaji loot Surat?
Ans. Shivaji looted Surat twice, first in 1664 and again in 1670.

Q4. When did the British capture Surat?
Ans. The British captured Surat in 1759 after defeating the Dutch forces.

Q5. Why is Surat called the Diamond City?
Ans. Surat is called the Diamond City because it is a global hub for diamond cutting and polishing, handling over 90% of the world's diamonds.

Q6. Who came to Surat first?
Ans. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in Surat in the early 16th century, followed by the British in 1608.