The Treaty of Purandar and Shivaji’s visit to Agra were key events in the Mughal-Maratha relations during 1665–1666. These events demonstrate diplomatic negotiations, territorial concessions, and political strategy, making them crucial for students preparing for medieval Indian history exams.
Treaty of Purandar and Shivaji’s Agra Visit (1665–1666)
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Overview of the Treaty of Purandar and its implications on Mughal-Maratha relations.
The treaty formalized the surrender of several forts by Shivaji and established terms of loyalty and revenue, showcasing the interplay of diplomacy and military strategy.
- (i) After Shaista Khan’s failure, Aurangzeb deputed Raja Jai Singh of Amber to negotiate with Shivaji.
- (ii) Jai Singh was given full military and administrative authority to act independently of the Mughal viceroy in the Deccan.
- (iii) Jai Singh isolated Shivaji by appealing to rivals and opponents, then marched to Poona and besieged Fort Purandar in 1665.
- (iv) Shivaji negotiated terms, which included:
- (a) Out of 35 forts, 23 forts were surrendered to Mughals, yielding four lakhs of hun annually; 12 forts remained with Shivaji, generating one lakh of hun annually.
- (b) Shivaji received territories worth four lakhs of hun in Bijapuri Konkan and five lakhs of hun in upland areas to conquer.
- (c) In return, Shivaji was to pay 40 lakhs of hun in instalments to the Mughals.
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Shivaji’s Visit to Agra
The Agra visit reflected the failure of Mughal diplomacy and marked a critical turning point in Maratha-Mughal relations.
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Diplomatic Mission and Conflict
- (i) Jai Singh persuaded Shivaji to meet Aurangzeb at Agra to reconcile and gain resources for Bijapur campaigns.
- (ii) Shivaji felt insulted being ranked with mansabdars of 5000, a rank previously assigned to his son Sambhaji.
- (iii) Shivaji refused imperial service and was detained but escaped in 1666.
- (iv) This escape marked a turning point, showing Aurangzeb’s political misjudgment in handling Shivaji’s alliance.
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Summary: Treaty of Purandar and Agra Visit
The Treaty of Purandar formalized territorial concessions and obligations between Shivaji and the Mughals, while the Agra visit (1666) highlighted the failure of Mughal diplomacy. These events are essential for students studying Mughal-Maratha history and demonstrate the interplay of military strategy, negotiation, and political insight.
