Hambirrao Mohite

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Hambirrao Mohite was the chief military commander of Chhatrapati Shivaji's army. An able military general, he executed several campaigns for Shivaji Raje and later served under Sambhaji Maharaj.^[1]

Early life[]

Hambirrao was born in Talbid 1630.^{[2][unreliable source?]} Sambhaji Mohite had 3 sons Harifrao, Hambirrao, Shankarji and 2 daughters Soyarabai and Annubai. Hambirrao's father Sambhaji Mohite was a very mighty and courageous chief. Hambirrao inherited all the qualities from his father.

After the sacrifice of Prataprao Gujar, Shivaji Maharaj made Hambirrao his Sersenapati (commander).^[1]

Battle of Koppal[]

At that time, the Koppal province of Karnataka was under Adilshah's general Abdul Rahimkhan Miyana and his brother Hussain Miyana. Both brothers used to forcibly take the grain of the farmers. The people of Koppal complained to Shivaji when sent his Sersenapati Hambirrao. In Yelburga, on January 1677, both the armies collided. Hambirrao and Dhanaji Jadhav showed incomparable valor in this battle. More than half of Adilshah's army was killed in this battle. Hambirrao killed Abdul Miyana and imprisoned Hussain Miyana.^[3]

Battle between Hambirrao and Venkoji[]

Hambirrao had two sisters, Soyarabai, who married Shivaji and Annubai, who married Venkoji (step-brother of Shivaji). Sometime later, Shivaji Raje came to Karnataka to the Dakshin Digvijay (South conquest). When Venkoji (Ekoji) refused to share his father's property with Shivaji Maharaj, war started between them. Hambirrao won major provinces of Venkoji such as Jagdevagad, Kaveripattam, Chidambaram, and Vriddhachalam. Venkoji was very upset that Shivaji Maharaj captured his states. On 6 November 1677, the battle started in Venkoji and Hambirrao. Venkoji seemed to win in battle, but later Hambirrao suddenly attacked Venkoji's army and won the defeated battle. After two months Shivaji Raje's intervention ended the fight.

Hambirrao won the important fort of Vellore on 22 July 1678 from Adilshahi general Abdullakhan.

Role of Hambirrao in coronation of Sambhaji[]

Shivaji Raje died on 3 April 1680. On 21 April, the corrupt ministers of Swarajya crowned Rajaram Maharaj. At that time Rajaram was only ten years old. Rajaram Maharaj was the nephew of Hambirrao. The ministers of Swarajya ordered Sambhaji to be imprisoned. When Hambirrao came to know about this, Hambirrao captured all the ministers and presented them to Sambhaji Maharaj.

This shows how deep Hambirrao's undying loyalty to Swarajya was.

Attack on Burhanpur[]

Burhanpur was a major trade center connecting southern and northern India. There were a total of 17 trade centers in Burhanpur. On 30 January 1681, commanders Hambirrao Mohite and Sambhaji suddenly attacked Burhanpur. At that time the Subedar of Burhanpur was Khanjahan. For the protection of Burhanpur there was only an army of 200 and Hambirrao had an army of 20,000. The Mughals did not even have the strength to oppose Hambir Rao's army. The Marathas looted all the trade centres of Burhanpur for three days. Marathas got assets worth more than 1 crore hons in this battle.^[4]

On 17 March 1683, Hambirrao defeated Ranamast khan, one of the most powerful chieftains of Aurangzeb, in Kalyan Bhiwandi.

Death[]

In 1687, in a battle fought near Wai province, Hambirrao defeated Rustumkhan, but a cannonball hit Sarsenapati Hambirrao Mohite leading to an accidental death.^[5]

References[]

Book :- Senapati Hambirrao Mohite by Dr Sadashiv Shivde ISBN 978-81-89959-40-1

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