New History of the Marathas v1.c8.83

v1.c8.83

Fort Vijayadurg is said to have been built in the Vijaya Shak *i.e.*, the Christian year 1653. If this be true, it becomes clear that Shivaji had during these quiet years made a complete tour of the Konkan districts west of the Sahyadris and realized the possibilities of a future expansion over these coastal regions in which the Europeans had established their trading factories. The English planted a factory at Rājāpur in 1648, the Dutch at Vingorla about the same time, the Portuguese had their ancient post at Chaul, with all of whom Shivaji established friendly contacts. He decided to make the west coast the base of his future kingdom and defend it with a navy of his own. He also explored the possibilities of a friendly understanding with the *Siddis* of Jangirā, the only Muslim element on the west coast between Kalyān and Sondhā. In this way his conception of a *swarajya* took a definite shape by the year 1653. During the first few years Shivaji acted as his father's deputy, but after the release of Shahji, Shivaji declared his own independence in his jagir.¹⁹