The period of death for Shivaji maharaj(Shivaji Shahaji Bhonsle) was about February 19, 1630, to April 3, 1680.
Shivaji maharaj I was an Indian king who was a member of the Bhonsle dynasty. He established an independent state in opposition to the Bijapur Sultanate, which later became the paradigm for the Maratha Confederacy. Shivaji established the Maratha Empire, which became a powerful force in Indian history.

Early Conflicts and the Rise to Domination.
Shivaji maharaj initially offered his services to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and asked for permission to attack the dying Bijapur Sultanate. But after Aurangzeb went to the north due to succession disputes, Shivaji took advantage of the situation and took over territories that the Mughals had granted to Bijapur.
After losing the Battle of Purandar to Jai Singh I, Shivaji accepted Mughal sovereignty, and Aurangzeb gave him the title “Raja.” For a brief period, he even served as the Mughal Empire’s military commander. During his lifetime, he fought and formed alliances with the Mughals, the Golconda and Bijapur Sultanates, and European colonial powers.

Coronation and Administration.
Despite the objections of the local Brahmins, Shivaji was crowned King of the Marathas in 1674. He gained tremendous respect for his gallant treatment of women. His administration gained notoriety for its inclusivity because he hired people from different social groups, faiths, and even Europeans to high positions. Under his leadership, the Maratha military grew stronger, took control of and built forts, and even established a navy.

Legacy and Revival of His Image.
Shivaji’s legacy was revived nearly two centuries after his death by social reformer Jyotirao Phule. Later, he was glorified by Indian nationalists like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and was also embraced by Hindutva ideologists.

Early Life and Background shivaji maharaj.

Shivaji’s birthplace, Junnar, lies near the hill fort of Shivneri, which is now in the Pune district. Although historians cannot agree on his exact birthdate, the Maharashtra government formally celebrates his birth anniversary (Shivaji Jayanti) on February 19. His name was inspired by the native goddess Shivai Devi.
Shivaji belonged to the Maratha family of Bhonsle. His father, Shahaji Bhonsle, was a prominent Maratha general who served for the Deccan Sultanates. Jijabai, his mother, was the daughter of Lakhuji Jadhavrao, a Mughal-affiliated aristocrat who claimed to be sprung from the Devgiri Yadav royal line. His grandfather, Maloji, was a highly esteemed military leader in the Ahmednagar Sultanate, and he was referred to as “Raja.” He was handed assets in Pune in addition to the Shivneri Fort.
When Shivaji was a youngster, the Deccan was divided between the powerful Mughal Empire and the three major Islamic Sultanates: Ahmednagar, Golconda, and Bijapur. His father, Shahaji, owned territory close to Pune and a small private army, although he frequently changed sides with these kings.

Rise to Independence.
In 1636, the Bijapur Sultanate joined the Mughal Empire and launched an army to expand its territory in the south. By asking for land concessions and the capacity to collect taxes, Shahaji assisted Bijapur. Following his largely unsuccessful resistance to the Mughals’ authority, Shivaji and his mother were forced to move from one fort to another due to their relentless pursuit of him.
By 1646, Shivaji maharaj had employed calculated bribery and negotiating to take control of the Torna Fort through internal conflict in the Bijapur court Over the next two years, he took control of other significant forts near Pune, including Purandar, Kondhana, and Chakan. With the money he earned from these forts, he expanded his control over nearby areas and even constructed a new fort called Rajgad. For over a decade, this fort was his administrative headquarters.

War with Afzal Khan (1659).
Concerned about Shivaji’s growing strength, the Bijapur Sultan sent an experienced general, Afzal Khan, to capture him. As Afzal Khan’s army advanced, they desecrated Hindu shrines, including the Tulja Bhavani temple and the Vitthal temple at Pandharpur. This behavior caused resentment among the local population.
Ultimately, both leaders agreed to hold a confidential meeting near Pratapgarh Fort. Suspecting a trap, Shivaji maharaj wore disguised armor and carried covert weapons. During the meeting, Afzal Khan attempted to stab Shivaji maharaj, but Shivaji maharaj swiftly killed him by retaliating with a knife and his disguised tiger-claw weapon (Bagh Nakh). Soon after, Shivaji’s secret army launched an assault on the Bijapur army, decisively defeating them at the Battle of Pratapgarh.

Expansion and Conflict with Mughals.
After defeating the army of Bijapur and capturing the Panhala Fort, Shivaji maharaj moved on Kolhapur and the Konkan coast. In 1660, however, the Adilshahi Sultan of Bijapur launched a counteroffensive with the support of the Mughals. After Panhala was besieged, Shivaji eventually surrendered the fort in exchange for safe passage.
As he and his army departed Panhala, hostile forces were pursuing them. Shivaji maharaj managed to reach Vishalgad Fort safely at the Battle of Pavan Khind, when 300 soldiers and his commander, Bajiprabhu Deshpande, made a heroic last stand to resist the assault.
He was able to flee thanks to their sacrifice, and the battleground was subsequently dubbed “Pavan Khind” (Sacred Pass) in their honor.

Clashes with the Mughal Empire.
At first, Shivaji maharaj maintained cordial relations with the Mughal Empire, even offering to assist Aurangzeb in toppling Bijapur. However, he later became dissatisfied with the way the Mughals were treating him and began raiding their territories.
In 1657, Shivaji stole a lot of money when he conquered Mughal land near Ahmednagar and Junnar. In response, Aurangzeb dispatched troops to fight him, but the impending Mughal succession dispute hampered their attempts.

Attack on Shaista Khan (1663) and the Raid on Surat (1664).
In 1660, Aurangzeb sent his uncle Shaista Khan with a large force to put an end to Shivaji. Shaista Khan seized power in Pune and set up his headquarters at Lal Mahal, the home where Shivaji spent his formative years. Shivaji and his soldiers gallantly broke into Shaista Khan’s castle at night in 1663. Khan lost three fingers in the battle, but he survived and departed Pune in shame.
Shivaji took vast quantities of money without putting the people in danger when he unexpectedly assaulted the wealthy Mughal port city of Surat in 1664. This daring attack significantly increased his resources and fame.