Shivaji and His Times c6.s5: §6. Afzal Khan's expedition against Shiva
Shivaji and His Times c6.s5
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§6. Afzal Khan's expedition against Shiva
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Abdullah Bhatari, surnamed Afzal Khan, was a noble of the first rank, who had risen to power and honour under the late Sultan of Bijapur. As a general he was of the highest standing in the kingdom, being the peer of Bahlol Khan and Randaula Khan, and he had fought with conspicuous bravery and skill in the recent war with the Mughals. But the resources of Bijapur had been crippled by that war and the disorder and impoverishment natural in a regency under a veiled woman. Only 10,000 cavalry* could be spared to accompany Afzal, while popular report had raised the strength of Shiva’s Mavle infantry to 60,000 men as the result of his conquest of Javli, and he had also enlisted a regiment of valuable Pathan mercenaries from the disbanded soldiery of Bijapur. (T. S. 13b.) Afzal Khan, therefore, did not prefer an open contest of force with Shiva. Indeed, he was instructed by the Dowager Queen to effect the capture or murder of Shiva by “pretending friendship” with him and offering to secure his pardon from Adil Shah.*
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∗ This is the strength of Afzal's army as given by contemporaries, viz., *Tarikh-i-Ali II*. 76 and the English letter quoted in the next note. The
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The Bijapuri general had accepted the command in a spirit of bravado, and even boasted in open Court that he would bring Shiva back a captive without having once to dismount from his own horse. But his mind must have been oppressed by the heaviness of his task. He planned to effect his purpose if possible by diplomacy and raising the Maval chiefs against Shivaji. From Bijapur the expedition marched due north to Tuljapur, one of the holiest shrines in Maharashtra and the seat of Bhavani, the guardian goddess of the house of Bhonslé. Here, according to the story current among the Marathas, he ordered the stone image of Bhavani to be broken and pounded into dust in a hand-mill, and committed similar outrages at other Hindu shrines on his way.†
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† Sabh.
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In a short time (probably in April), the Khan reached Wai (20 miles north of Satara), of which town and district
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Maratha accounts, all very much later, put it at 12,000 cavalry besides infantry. (T. S. 15b; Sabh. 13). In A. N. 577, du hazar is evidently a misprint for dah hazar. The letter in Shed. 25 is a fabrication.
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∗ “Against Shivaji the Queen this year sent Abdullah Khan with an army of 10,000 horse and foot, and because she knew with that strength he was not able to resist Shivaji, she counselled him to pretend friendship with his enemy, which he did. And the other [i.e., Shivaji], whether through intelligence or suspicion it is not known, dissembled his love toward him &c.” (Revington at Rajapur to Company, 10 Dec. 1659, F. R. Rajapur.)
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¹³ But V. L. Bhave gives good reasons for disbelieving these stories of atrocities, as later popular inventions. (P. 9 of his pamphlet.)
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he had been jagirdar and governor for the last ten or twelve years. At Wai he halted for several months, maturing his plan of campaign. As early as April, the Bijapur Government had sent a circular letter to all the deshmukhs of Maval to join Afzal Khan with their contingents and help him in subduing Shivaji. As vassals of Adil Shah, they were bound in law to obey his orders, if they did not wish their hereditary land (watan) and office to be forfeited. The letter had some effect. Khandoji Khopde, the deshmukh of Utroli and the rival of Kanhoji Jedhe (of Bhor) for the deshmukhi of Rohidkhore, waited on Afzal at Wai and gave him a written undertaking to arrest Shiva on condition of being granted the coveted deshmukhi. He was placed with his strong Mavle contingent in command of Afzal's vanguard. [Raj. xvii. 31, xv. 393 and 317; Jedhe S; T. S. 16a.] The other Maval deshmukhs were frightened and perplexed as to what they should do. But Shivaji won seven of them over to his side with solemn promises of protection and reward.
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The campaign was expected to open at the end of the rainy season, in October, and in the meantime Afzal halted at Wai, hatching his plots for getting Shiva seized. That chief had taken up his residence at Pratapgarh, some time before. Afzal sent his land-steward Krishnaji Bhaskar to Shivaji with a very alluring message, saying, "Your father has long been a great friend of mine, and you are, therefore, no stranger to me. Come and see me, and I shall use my influence to make Adil Shah confirm your possession of Konkan and the forts you now hold. I shall secure for you further distinctions and military equipment from our Government. If you wish to attend the Court, you will be welcomed. Or, if you want to be excused personal attendance there, you will be exempted." (Sabh. 13-14.)