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Monday, 5 June 2023

Shivaji Maharaj As Strategist,History, Cavalry, Infantry,Artillery,Mara...

Few important aspects are covered in Part 2 of my article.
Brief History of Marathas.
Organization Shivaji Maharaj Cavalry, Infantry,Artillery,
Maratha Weapons
Growth of Shivaji Maharaj Army, 
Shivaji’s Army administration
Forts As Impregnable Defences

Brief History of Marathas
Marathas were Sub sect of Hindu community ,stout fighters of Chalukya king in 7th century c.e .Maratha dynasties of ancient pre Muslim period were Chalukyas (500 c.e. to 750c.e.), Rashtrakutas (750 c.e. to 978 c.e. Yadavas  or Jadhavs (1175 c.e. to 1318 c.e.). Marathas first  clash with Muslims came in 1314 c.e under Ramdev Rai Yadav ruler Devagiri(Daulatabad) lost to invaders and became mercenaries of Muslim overlords.
Prior to Shivaji Maharaj ,Marathas were mercenaries and revenue collectors of Muslim rulers with shifting loyalty .Shivaji Maharaj under influence of his mother  from the Yadav clan became first Hindu to openly revolt and defy Muslim rule .Shivaji Maharaj defied Adilshah rulers of Bijapur and Mughul ruler Auranzeb by capturing number of forts using stealth and guerrilla tactics. After large number of skirmishes ,gurreila warfare ,victories ,treaties and  ,escapes  ,Shivaji Maharaj was crowned king of Marathas on 6th of june 1674.
Organization Shivaji Maharaj Cavalry, Infantry,Artillery,
25 horsemen were commanded by Havaldar.5 Havaldars came under Jumledar.10 Jumledar came under a Hazari.5 Hazari came under Pach Hazari.5 Panch Hazari came under Sarnaubat.
Infantry also was similarly organized.10 soldiers were commanded by Naik,5 Naiks under Havaldar & similar organization as in cavalry thereafter.  
The army was well organized- planning was done minutely, could form various battle formations,was flexible, plans were executed audaciously. Units were permanent, and had better team work,
As the warfare  was of extreme mobility, artillery was not considered as an important arm.Also Marathas lacked the facilities for the production of artillery. Principal source of equipment remained European settlements, especially the French. The French had supplied Shivaji Maharaj with 88 guns ,3000 mound of ammunition . The British also have had supplied him with some guns.
Weapons used by his Army were mostly made locally but there are reports of some highly skillful local blacksmiths being used to manufacture higher quality of arms.
Maratha Weapons
The terrain also made them use  light weaponary  .Ofcourse, with increase in their military power, their gureilla style often made way certain amount of sophistication in their weaponry.
Some of the weapons traditionally used by the Marathas were the variants of swords like the talwaar, the firangi, the khandaa, the paataa . 
Variety of daggers like the kataar, the shamsher,the jaambiya . 
the  bhaalaa (spear), dhanushya baan (bow and arrows), kurhaad( battle axe), parshu (axe variant), gadaa / gurz (mace) or unique weapons like the waagh nakh (tiger claws).
Weapons modified to suit the Maratha style of martial art 
These weapons were made as per the designs borrowed  from the Rajputs, the Mughals,the Persians,the Afghans  and the Europeans. But were often modified to suit the Maratha style of martial art.
Lohar Khana to manufacture weapons was established in Pune under Bhima Lohar whose outstanding manufacturing skills were recognised by Shivaji Maharaj. 
His personal bodyguards were excellent users of traditional Marathas weapons. 
Jiva Mahala his bodyguard saved Shivaji Maharaj from a sudden attack from Sayyad Banda during encounter with Afzal Khan.Jiva severed  Sayyad Bandas hand with his Dand patta. Baji Prabhu Deshpande also used Dand Patta very effectively while stopping Siddi Johar at Pawankhind.

The Marathas also used weapons like muskets, matchlocks, firangi swords, clubs, bows, spears, daggers, etc. Other commonly used weapons were Dandpatta,Vita,Bothati, Talwar,Bhala, Jambia,( दांडपट्टा, विटा, बोथाटी, तलवार, भाला, जांबिया,) Body armour, helmet Arab swords by the Infantry.

Cavalary used bow and arrows ,spears,Matchlock is a type of firearm wherein the gunpowder is ignited by a burning piece of rope that is touched to the gunpowder by a mechanism that the musketeer activates by pulling a lever or trigger with his finger.
Patta was considered to be a highly effective weapon for infantrymen against heavily armoured cavalry.
Intelligence Gathering was World Class
Intelligence head was Bahirji Jadhav who had developed efficient system of intelligence collection. Shivaji Maharaj considered collecting intelligence as his command task. At times he himself gathered intelligence as against Afzal khan and his Surat raid he acted as Faqir, His sources in Mughal/Adilshahi court worked well. He knew their intentions, movement and battle plans.

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