The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s8.141

c7.s8.141

THE state of the powers who ruled the Konkan in the middle of the seventeenth century may be thus described. The Portuguese had lost their prestige, and could scarcely hope ever to regain it. The Bijápur kings had seen and profited by the fall of their ancient rivals of Ahmadnagar, but had now begun to feel the power of the Emperors of Delhi. In the north the Jawhár state and in the south the Maráthás of Sávantvádi had become stronger through the weakness of the greater powers, and there were no doubt other and less important Hindu chiefs who still exercised local authority. It was under these circumstances that the founder of the Marátha empire arose. Under him the Konkan attained its greatest importance and we have in his time more historical mention of the province than at any other, for, though not a Konkani himself, he soon found that the wild and strong country just above and below the Gháts was the best field for his operations.