History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c76.s3.1

v5.c76.s3.1

In December a Maratha army reoccupied Kalian, from which they ravaged all the Portuguese country between Bassein and Daman. From this time till six years later, Konkan remained in undisturbed Maratha possession. True, the coast-villages in Maratha territory were subject to depredation by landing parties from the Siddi fleet in alliance with the Mughals. But the inland parts were safe. Here the Marathas, at the end of Shambhuji's war of 1685, came to an understanding with their Portuguese neighbours for mutual aid against the Mughals. Here they repaired and strengthened their numberless old forts, and here most of the leading Marathas placed their families for safe refuge, as their old homeland on the plateau east of the Ghats was ravaged by warfare or occupied by Mughal forces. In this Thana district, Shahji had found his last stronghold when pursued by Shah Jahan's forces in 1636. Here the great Shivaji had built many forts. In Konkan lay Raigarh, the real capital of Shivaji and Shambhuji.