Shivaji Maharaj's Armed Forces, Ordnance Management, Military Strategy: RELEVANT TODAY (Part 3) Forts helped Shivaji Maharaj to alternate between offensive and defensive operations. They were tactical Masterpiece of defences.

Following will be covered in this article:-

Forts As Impregnable Defences

Shivaji Maharaj Navy

Shivaji Maharaj As a Strategist

Shivaji Maharaj And His Ganimi Kawa Tactics

Application Shivaji Maharaj Ganimi Kawa Today/Conventional War

System Shivaji Maharaj Created Lasted For 200 Years After His Death.

World Class Military Leader

Forts As Impregnable Defences

Forts played a significant role both in defence and offence in the 17th century India. Should an invading Army march ahead without first gaining control of a fort on the route or in the proximity, it was taking great risk of letting the Marathas attack and disrupt its lines of communication and supplies.

 

 

 

If Mughals were intending to prosecute a protracted campaign, they had to neutralize the forts especially the large ones on the route.For that they had to lay siege to the fort and capture them. While such thing could be done if there is only one or two important forts but the challenge arose when the number was more and the Mughal army had to be divided into several small parts to lay a siege to these forts and would be exposed to attack in detail. On the other hand laying a siege and awaiting capitulation would slow down the advance, giving Maratha time to prepare for the campaign. Thus the forts facilitated in slowing down the advance of the invading Mughal Armies.

The Forts performed the most important job of keeping surveillance over the area around and acted as impregnable diffences when the enemy attacked. They acted as firm bases for the cavalry and the infantry to carry on attacks against the advancing Mughal Army.Most forts had many secret ways out which help the Maratha army to attack the Mughals from different and unexpected directions. Forts helped Shivaji Maharaj to alternate between offensive and defensive operations. They were tactical Masterpiece of defences .The forts had to be captured many times as they blocked the axis of maintenance. They acted as line of defences against the invading Armies.

Shivaji Maharaj was very keen on acquiring, building & repairing forts. He captured them by surprise attacks (attack on Kondana fort). He used the forts by engaging Mughals in siege warfare which tired them out (siege of Purandar fort). He deceived the enemy by escaping from Panhala fort to Vishalgad.

Offensive Operations Against The Mughal Forts

While capturing Mughal forts Shivaji used swift ,sudden ,night cliff assaults to surprise the enemy and capture forts in one night operation. Best example is that of Kondana which was captured by “Tanaji Malusare” in one night. Compare this with Siege Warfare of the Mughals of three to four months to capture fort of Purandar. In fact Shivaji Maharaj recaptured 23 force in less than 8 months after escape from Agra.

Ordnance Management In Forts

Small forts were built to secure treasury and storing grains. They also gave security to important persons from sudden enemy attacks. Large forts on the border served at the store house for ordinance and supplies for an invasion of neighbouring territories. For want of space siting, construction maintenance, Administration and command and control of the forts is not covered in detail.

Shivaji Maharaj's Navy

In order to strengthen his military hold, Shivaji built a strong Navy which was necessary not only to defend his coastal assets but also to promote sea trade. Shivaji built ships in towns such as Kalyan, Bhivandi, and Goa. His Galiot vessels were manned by 25-30 seamen & 30 soldiers-sailed/rowed & Gurabs weighed 150-300 tons.He had a navy of 100 warships at the end. Shivaji Maharaj also built number of forts at sea such as Sindhudurga and established Swaraj at sea also.

The British historians have said, thank god Shivaji was born on the land. If he was born at sea or on the coastline, the British would have never been able to capture India.

Generalship Shivaji Maharaj And His Place In the History

Shivaji Maharaj combined complete political and military authority and his statesman ship enabled his general ship skills to accomplish outstanding results.

Shivaji Maharaj As a Statesman

Shivaji Maharaj exhibited religious tolerance. He undermined enemy by hitting at his faultlines. He showed great opportunism-attacked enemy when he was divided. He never fought three front war against the Mughals, Adilshahi and Qutub Shahi and tackled them one after another. He obtained strategic depth for Swarajya against Mughals by campaigning in the south.

He exhausted his main enemy by attacking Mughals with long lines of communication, used space ,cavalry & forts where Mughal met their end. He was rare Indian king who Understood value of sea power. His relations with Europeans was window to outside world, to understand modern world.

Shivaji Maharaj As a Strategist

Depending upon the situation he carried out Offensive & defensive phases. During the offensive phase he captured as many forts before Mughal field army arrived.