Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire and son of Shivaji Maharaj, played a key role in defending and expanding the empire. His reign was marked by wars with the Mughals, Portuguese, and others, and he was executed by Aurangzeb in 1689.

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• Born on May 14, 1657, at Purandar Fort, Sambhaji was the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his first wife, Saibai.
• Raised by his grandmother Jijabai after his mother’s death, he was educated in languages like Sanskrit, Marathi, and Hindi.
• At age 9, he was taken as a hostage to Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s court under the Treaty of Purandar (1665) but escaped with his father in 1666.
• After Shivaji’s death in 1680, Sambhaji quickly took control and was crowned the Chhatrapati on July 20, 1680, despite attempts to crown his half-brother.
• Sambhaji led the Maratha forces in numerous battles, including against the Mughals, Portuguese, Siddis, and Mysore.
• He signed a treaty with the British in 1684 for arms and supplies to strengthen his military.
• Sambhaji’s military campaigns included the Battle of Wai (1687), where Marathas defeated Mughal forces but lost their commander.
• Captured in February 1689, he was tortured by Aurangzeb’s forces for refusing to surrender or convert.
• On March 11, 1689, Sambhaji was executed by beheading at Tulapur, earning the title “Dharmaveer” for his unwavering courage and sacrifice.
• A scholar, he wrote important works in Sanskrit and Hindi, including Budhbhushanam and Saatsatak.