Explore the pivotal moments in Maratha-Mughal history with the Treaty of Purandar and Shivaji's visit to Agra. Learn about Shivaji Maharaj’s rise, his conflicts with Bijapur, and the Marathas’ growing influence in medieval India.

Treaty of Purandar

• After the failure of Shaista Khan, Aurangzeb deputed Raja Jai Singh of Amber to deal with Shivaji.
• Jai Singh was given full military and administrative authority to ensure he was not dependent on the Mughal viceroy in the Deccan.
• Jai Singh made careful diplomatic and military preparations, appealing to all rivals and opponents of Shivaji to isolate him.
• Marching to Poona, Jai Singh decided to strike at the heart of Shivaji's territories, besieging Fort Purandar in 1665.
• With the fall of the fort in sight, Shivaji opened negotiations with Jai Singh. They agreed on the following terms:
• Out of 35 forts held by Shivaji, 23 forts were to be surrendered to the Mughals, yielding a revenue of four lakhs of hun annually, while the remaining 12 forts with an annual income of one lakh of hun were to be left to Shivaji on condition of service and loyalty to the throne.
• Shivaji was granted territory worth four lakhs of hun a year in the Bijapuri Konkan and Bijapur territory worth five lakhs of hun a year in the uplands, which Shivaji was to conquer.
• In return, Shivaji was to pay 40 lakhs of hun in instalments to the Mughals.

Shivaji’s Visit to Agra

• Jai Singh persuaded Shivaji to visit Aurangzeb at Agra in hopes of reconciling them and gaining more resources for a renewed invasion of Bijapur.
• The visit proved disastrous as Shivaji felt insulted being placed in the rank of mansabdars of 5000, a rank previously given to his minor son, Sambhaji.
• Shivaji walked off angrily and refused imperial service, leading to his detention. However, he escaped in 1666.
• Shivaji’s escape marked a turning point in Mughal-Maratha relations. Aurangzeb’s refusal to value Shivaji's alliance was a major political mistake.