Shrimant Rajaram Shivaji Raje Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj

Reign 1689 – 1700
Coronation 1689
Full name Rajaram Shivaji Bhosale
Born 1670
Birthplace Raigad fort
Died March 2, 1700
Place of death Sinhagad fort, Maharastra
Predecessor Sambhaji Bhosale
Successor Tarabai Bhosale
Consort Tarabai
Royal House
Father Shivaji Bhosale
Mother Soyrabai

Aurangzeb deputed Ghazi-ud-din Firoze Jang against Marathas in the Deccan, but specially sent Zulfiqar Khan to capture Gingee fort, who laid the siege in September, 1690. After abandoning the siege three times, finally it was captured after seven years on January 8, 1698. Rajaram escaped and fled first to Vellore and afterwards Vishalgarh.[4] Rajaram tried to counter with a siege of the town of Berar, but was checked by Prince Bedarbakht and Zulfiqar Khan and had to return.

Though Rajaram was not able to move out of Jinji, his young generals Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav continued to harass the Mughal army through guerrilla tactics. Kafi khan wrote about them that whenever mughal horses used to refuse to go to the water to drink water, it was feared they had seen Santaji and Dhanaji.

Santaji Ghorpade whose father Senapati Mhaloji Ghorpade died in the battle of Sangmeshwar along with Sambhaji, was directed by Sambhaji to Raigad to rescue the queen and Rajaram. The gallant man, true to the words given to his master secured the release of Rajaram from the siege of Raigad.

With the plight of Rajaram, the rout of the Marathas was almost complete. Aurangzeb was at his zenith of power. But then the brave Santaji on his own forded the River Bhima even though it was flooded, attacked the very centre of the Mughal camp. Aurangzeb who at that time was reading Koran was saved due to magnanimity of the marathas.

Santaji is credited with the defeat of at least three major Mughal chiefs. One Mughal general Kasim Khan was so badly defeated that he committed suicide. By brilliant tactics of cavalry, Santaji wreaked havoc right from the Pune to the Tanjore region. Unfortunately he fell out with Rajaram and Dhanaji Jadhav. He was killed when he was alone taking bath by one Nagoji Mane. The severed head of Santaji was presented to Aurangzeb for reward. Such was the tragic end of one of the most distinguished general of cavalry in the contemporary India.

Rajaram died of an unspecified illness in 1700 at fort Sinhagad in present day Maharashtra, perhaps due to his weak constitution. Thereafter the Maratha empire suffered a power vacumn until the release of his nephew, Shahuji in 1707. In the interim, Rajaram's wife, Tarabai ruled the empire as regent for her young son, Shivaji II. Eventually, Shahuji succeeded Rajaram as the fourth Chattrapati in 1708.

Rajaram was a cool minded person. He was quite patient and practical. During the time of crisis he remained as a rallying point of Maratha resistance. He remained confined to Jinjee fort for 9 years itself indicates his mental strength and the sheer will to continue the cause. Due to his locking position in Jingee fort, he had to give more authorities to his generals which slowly eroded the strong position of the king. However considering the task before him, he did his job well. He built a temple at Sindhudurg in the memory of his father.