History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c69.s7.2

v4.c69.s7.2

This Prince had been kept by Shambhuji in prison. After the downfall of the latter, he was crowned (8th Feb.) by the Maratha ministers in Raigarh, as Shambhuji's son Shahu (afterwards Shivaji II.) was too young to be the head of a State engaged in a life and death struggle with an enemy like Aurangzib. Soon afterwards an imperial army under Itiqad Khan laid siege to the Maratha capital, but Rajaram escaped from it (5th April) in the guise of a yogi. (Post, Ch. 50 § 2.) Sayyid Abdullah Khan (of Barha), the new subahdar of Bijapur, who was then besieging two forts in Bijapuri Karnatak, tried to intercept the fugitive. His spies reported that Rajaram with 300 of his high officers had entered the kingdom of Bednur. The Sayyid sent his son Hasan Ali Khan thither with his Van, while he brought up the rear by forced marches. In three days the enemy were overtaken "near the forts of Subhangarh and Jara* on the bank of the Tungabhadra." The Marathas who had taken refuge in an island, were attacked at night, surrounded and overpowered, after a bloody fight. Many were put to the sword, and a hundred of their chiefs,—including Hindu Rao, Ankoji "brother of Shambha" [? Shanta Ghorparé], Baharji and Mania Ghoreparé—were made prisoner. But Rajaram contrived to escape with his bare life while his comrades were carrying on the fight.