Siege of Janjira (1682)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2020) |
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it remains largely unverified because it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2020) |
Siege of Janjira (1682) was a military conflict and a part of the Mughal-Maratha wars. It was fought between the Maratha Empire led by Sambhaji and , allies of the Mughal Empire. Maratha emperor Sambhaji personally besieged the fort of Murud-Janjira in 1682 to stop Siddi's intrusions into Maratha Territories and to capture the strategically important fort of Janjira.
| Siege of Janjira (1682) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mughal-Maratha Wars | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Maratha Empire | |||||||||
| Mughal Empire | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Dadaji Raghunath Deshpande |
Husain Ali Khan | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
20,000 army under Sambhaji, Ships of Maratha navy under Admirals Mainak Bhandari and Dariya Sarang, Maratha artillery |
Unknown under Siddis of Janjira, 35,000 army under Husain Ali Khan | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
20,000 300 ships |
Unknown, estimated to be ~5000-7000 under Siddis of Janjira 35,000 mughal army | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Heavy | Heavy | ||||||||
Background[]
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had arrived in the Deccan to conquer the Deccan Plateau in 1681. His first goal was to conquer the newly established Maratha Empire in Maharashtra. Aurangzeb wanted to encircle the Maratha Empire from all sides. He ordered his allies and enemies of Maratha Empire such as , Wodeyars of Mysore and Portuguese of Goa to attack the Maratha Empire. In addition Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj knew the strategic importance of Janjira, he had an ambition to capture it. Hence, Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj decided to capture Janjira personally.
Plan of Marathas[]
Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj had planned to Janjira by ruse, he had sent a party in 1681 under the leadership of senior Maratha General under the pretext of a fake fight with Chattrapati S?ambhaji Maharaj. Kondaji and 91#7""211his men told Siddi about their fight with Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and asked for a post in his army. Siddi Khairiyat was Qhappy at the defection of Kondaji at his side. The Siddi brothers made Kondaji a sardar in their army. But actually Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj had sent Kondaji and his men to the ammunition storage on the fort in order to capture the fortpoo.!??Twitter sqq
Siege of Janjira[]
Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj personally attacked Janjira in 1682. He had a 20,000 strong army, 300 ships of the Maratha navy and Maratha artillery assisting him. Maratha admirals Mainak Bhandari, Dariya Sarang and Daulat Khan were commanding the navy. Arab admiral Jange Khan was also helping the Marathas. Siddi forces in the Maratha territories retreated to Janjira fort after seeing such a large army. Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj recaptured the villages surrounding Janjira.
Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj then launched a fierce attack on Janjira. Maratha artillery started to damage the fort walls. The Siddis were also responding strongly with their artillery.
Meanwhile, on the Janjira fort, Kondaji and his men were looking for an opportunity to light the ammunition storage on the fort so as to allow Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to attack the fort using the ensuing panic on the fort.
300 ships of the Maratha navy were trying to attack the fort but the strong artillery of Siddis somehow managed to defend the fort. Both sides had suffered great losses and nobody was able to gain an upper hand. Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj had maintained a constant pressure on Janjira and his artillery managed to inflict heavy damage to the fort walls. The siege continued for thirty days. Maratha Navy had blockaded Janjira from three sides cutting of any supplies to the fort. Maratha forces started constructing a bridge from shoreline to the fort. The bridge had started to take shape. Siddis were caught in a dire situation and were battling a severe food shortage. The Siddis realised that if the same situation continues for a few days then Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj will capture the fort in a matter of 4–5 days. Hence they pleaded to Aurangzeb for help.
Aurangzeb was well aware of the strategic importance of Janjira. He immediately sent his General Husain Ali Khan to destroy Kalyan and Bhiwandi regions with a 35,000 strong force to divert Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's attack on Janjira. Husain Ali Khan destroyed Kalyan and Bhiwandi was threatening to attack Raigad, the Maratha Capital. Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj had almost captured Janjira but he was forced to retreat from Janjira to check Husain Ali Khan's advance. In absence of Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj his naval commander Dadaji Raghunath Deshpande of Mahad took control of the siege. Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj later on defeated and pushed back Husain Ali Khan to Ahmadnagar but Janjira was saved due to his advance on Kalyan-Bhiwandi.[1] Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was unable to capture the Janjira fort. Nevertheless, he was able to inflict heavy damage to fort. It was an important strategic victory for the Marathas as the Siddis stopped their activities in the Maratha territories and never ventured against the Marathas in Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's reign.[2]
Aftermath[]
Siddis had suffered great losses in the siege. They got to know about the superior strength of the Marathas under Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. They decided not to venture out against the Marathas. In the next few years Aurangzeb repeatedly pleaded them to open a campaign against the Marathas but the Siddis were not ready to fight against the Marathas.
See also[]
Battles involving the Maratha Empire
References[]
- Maratha Navy
- Conflicts in 1682
- Battles involving the Maratha Empire
- Battles fought by Marathas under Sambhaji