New History of the Marathas v1.c18.77

v1.c18.77

Rājārām after escaping from Jinji, proceeded to Vishālgad, (22 Feb. 1698), eluding the Emperor's strong parties on the route. He at this time made some overtures for peace directly to the Emperor, but the latter declined the offer and continued the war relentlessly. As soon as the Chhatrapati arrived in the Maratha land, it became necessary to have a capital from which the Maratha Government could act. Both Raigad and Jinji had been lost. Vishālgad was too inaccessible for purposes of easy communication so necessary in administrative work. The fort of Satara, therefore, was selected as a suitable centre well protected by nature, and here Rājārām established his seat about the Dassara time of 1698. Satara was, however, soon afterwards captured by Aurangzeb, but retaken by the Marathas in 1704. It again became the seat of Maratha Government after the return of Shāhu from the Mughal camp in 1708 and acquired the name of Shahunagar.