New History of the Marathas v1.c18.42

v1.c18.42

5. Jinji besieged.—We must now go back to the year 1689, a year so full of rapid developments in the annals of this Mughal-Maratha struggle, the capture and death of Sambhājī, the fall of Raigaḍ and the flight of Rājārām to Jinji, all occurring within a few months' time. Immediately on Zulfiqar Khan's arrival at Koregaon with Shāhu and his mother as captives, the Khan was ordered to pursue Rājārām into the eastern Karnatak. He left the Emperor's camp on 30th November, arrived before Jinji in the following June and at once laid siege to that fort. The siege lasted for nearly 8 years and has for various reasons become memorable in history: and although the place was captured at the end of that long struggle, the Maratha king had already escaped back to Mahārāshtra, thus adding to the disappointments and misfortunes of the Emperor.