Shivaji Founds the Maratha Empire

In 1674, Shivaji Bhonsale was crowned Chhatrapati (sovereign) of the Maratha kingdom at Raigad Fort, formally establishing an independent Hindu state that challenged the Mughal Empire. From his base in the Western Ghats of present-day Maharashtra, Shivaji built a formidable military force using guerrilla tactics ("ganimi kava"), a powerful navy (one of India's first), and an intelligence network that outmaneuvered much larger Mughal armies. He was renowned for his religious tolerance, employing Muslims in his administration and navy, and for his respectful treatment of women and civilians during warfare. After his death in 1680, the Maratha Empire expanded under the Peshwas to control much of the subcontinent by the mid-18th century. Shivaji is revered as the founding figure of Maratha and, more broadly, Hindu political identity — a symbol of resistance against foreign domination.