New History of the Marathas v1.c7.39

v1.c7.39

Shahji, while fully sympathising with the plans and movements of his son Shivaji in carving out an independent principality for himself, was shrewd enough not to involve himself in his son’s affairs and remained a loyal servant of Bijapur to the last. This attitude was facilitated by the death of Muhammad Adil Shah on 4 November 1656 and the murder of his faithful minister Khan Muhammad a year later. The intrigues that ensued for power at Bijapur after the Shah’s death and the aggression started against that State by Shahzada Aurangzeb, visibly weakened the Adil-Shahi power and considerably facilitated Shivaji’s moves. At this time Shahji seems to have felt extreme irritation against the Bijapuri authorities and conveyed to them a threat of resignation and retirement from their service.⁸