Battle of Pratapgarh

The Battle of Pratapgarh, fought on 10 November 1659, was the first major military victory of the Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj against the forces of Afzal Khan, a general of the Bijapur Sultanate. This battle marked a turning point in Indian history as it signalled the rise of the Marathas as a formidable power in western India and demonstrated Shivaji’s strategic brilliance, guerrilla tactics, and political foresight.

Background

During the mid-17th century, the Deccan region was dominated by the Bijapur and Golconda Sultanates, while the Mughal Empire was expanding southwards. Shivaji Bhosale, the son of Shahaji Bhosale, emerged as a local chieftain in the Western Ghats, establishing control over forts and territories in the Konkan and Maval regions. His growing power and increasing raids on Bijapur territories alarmed the Bijapur court.
To suppress Shivaji’s rebellion and reassert Bijapur’s dominance, Sultan Ali Adil Shah II dispatched his experienced general Afzal Khan, who commanded an army of nearly 10,000 soldiers, including cavalry, artillery, and infantry. Afzal Khan’s reputation as a seasoned warrior made him the ideal choice for the campaign.

Prelude to the Battle

Afzal Khan began his campaign with the intent of intimidating Shivaji into submission. He desecrated temples, including the famous Tulja Bhavani Temple at Tuljapur and the Vithoba Temple at Pandharpur, hoping to provoke Shivaji into open battle. However, Shivaji avoided direct confrontation and instead retreated to the fortified Pratapgarh Fort, situated in the dense forests of the Sahyadri ranges near Mahabaleshwar.
Afzal Khan, overconfident of an easy victory, advanced into the hilly terrain, unaware that Shivaji had set a meticulous ambush. Negotiations were initiated under the pretext of a peaceful meeting to discuss terms of submission. Both sides agreed that the meeting would take place at the base of Pratapgarh Fort, with each leader accompanied by only a small number of guards.

The Meeting Between Shivaji and Afzal Khan

On the morning of 10 November 1659, the two leaders met in a tent set up near the fort. Afzal Khan, a tall and heavily built man, attempted to embrace Shivaji as a gesture of friendship but secretly tried to stab him with a concealed dagger. Anticipating treachery, Shivaji wore armour beneath his clothes and carried hidden weapons—a wagh nakh (tiger claw) and a bichwa (stiletto).
As Afzal Khan attacked, Shivaji swiftly countered by slashing Khan’s abdomen with the wagh nakh and stabbing him with the bichwa. The wounded general attempted to flee but was pursued and killed by Shivaji’s lieutenant Jiva Mahala. The signal for battle was then given, marking the start of the engagement.

The Battle

The Maratha forces, hidden in the surrounding forests and hills, launched a sudden and coordinated assault on Afzal Khan’s unsuspecting army. The Bijapur troops, disorganised and without leadership, were quickly overwhelmed.
Key features of the battle included:

• Guerrilla warfare tactics: Shivaji’s men used the terrain to their advantage, ambushing the enemy from concealed positions.
• Division of forces: Maratha commanders like Kanhoji Jedhe, Moropant Pingle, and Netaji Palkar led separate contingents attacking from multiple directions.
• Psychological advantage: The death of Afzal Khan demoralised the Bijapur army, causing confusion and panic.

Within hours, the Bijapur forces suffered a decisive defeat. The Marathas captured large quantities of weapons, horses, and treasure, further strengthening their military capacity.

Aftermath and Consequences

The Battle of Pratapgarh was a decisive victory for Shivaji Maharaj and a catastrophic loss for the Bijapur Sultanate. The consequences were far-reaching:

• Political Gains: The victory established Shivaji as a major power in the Deccan. Local chiefs and forts that had previously aligned with Bijapur now shifted allegiance to the Marathas.
• Territorial Expansion: Following the battle, Shivaji captured several important forts including Wai, Panhala, and Kolhapur, expanding his dominion considerably.
• Moral and Psychological Impact: The triumph boosted the morale of the Maratha forces and inspired loyalty among local populations. Shivaji’s image as a protector of Hindu interests and a just ruler gained popular support.
• Strategic Implications: The Bijapur Sultanate, weakened by this loss, found it increasingly difficult to contain Shivaji’s growing influence, paving the way for future confrontations with the Mughals.

Significance in Indian History

The Battle of Pratapgarh is often regarded as the foundation of the Maratha Empire. It demonstrated the effectiveness of asymmetric warfare, where a smaller, strategically adept force defeated a numerically superior army through intelligence and terrain mastery. Shivaji’s planning, foresight, and use of espionage set new standards in Indian military strategy.
The victory also symbolised the assertion of regional autonomy against imperial and feudal domination. It inspired subsequent generations of Indian leaders to adopt guerrilla warfare as a means of resistance against larger imperial powers.

Legacy

The site of the battle, Pratapgarh Fort, remains a symbol of Maratha pride and valor. A statue of Shivaji Maharaj and Afzal Khan’s encounter stands near the fort, commemorating the moment that changed the course of Deccan history.
The battle is remembered not only for its tactical brilliance but also for its broader cultural and political significance in shaping the Maratha identity. It marked the emergence of Shivaji as a sovereign ruler, eventually leading to his coronation as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1674.