The Battle Of Bhatavadi

The battle of Bhatavdi is very intresting topic of Shahaji Raje Bhosales's life. After this battle only, all the sultanats cames to know about Shahaji Raje. This battle was very important for Shahaji raje. This battle was the turning point of Shahji Raje's Life. This battle is happened in the year of 1624, on 25th October may be. This battle was fought at Bhatavadi, 10 Miles far from Ahmednagar & at that time Shahji raje Bhosale were the Sardar for NIJAMSHAHI.

Actully the Nijamshahi & Adilshahi was the enemy of each other. and always Adilshahi get poored in the battels. Malikambar was the Chief Commanding of an Nijamshahi Army at that time & the surprising thing is that, Ali Adilshaha Ibrahim's loving wife ( the queen) was the spy of Malikambar. When Ali Adilshaha Ibrahim cames to know all this through his Senapati ( Cheif Commanding Of An Adilshahi Army) Mulla Mohommad, Adilshaha killed her wife.
Here the Moghals ( Delhi) were also traditional enemy of Nijamshahi. Adilshaha decide to take oportunity to finish the nijamshahi with help of Moghals. He asked Moghalai King Jahangirdar to help him for this battle. Jahangir also got ready to help him and sudden he send his 1,20,000 Army towards adilshahi to help him. and adilshahi army was near about 80,000. Thus, a massive army of 200,000 (2 lakhs) walked on Ahmednagar. On the other hand, Maharaja Shahaji had an army of 20,000 at his disposal. Maharaja Shahaji had assigned 10,000 of these, the task of protecting and defending the Ahmednagar fort and town. The remaining 10,000 were with Maharaja Shahaji.

In this battle so many maratha saradar's were their to help Adilshahi. Like, Sharifji Raje ( Shahaji's Brother), Vithoji raje's son Khelkarn, Mallarav, Mambaji raje, Nagojirao, Parasoji, Trambyakraj, Hambir rav Chavan, Mudhoji Faltankar, ballal, tipad, Sundararaj, as well as muslim sardar's were Yakut Khan, Mansur Khan, Johar khan, Hamidkhan, Ataskhan, Fatte khan, Adamkhan, and many more were their to help Nijamashahi in the under of Malikambar & Shahaji Raje.

Such a huge army required huge amount of food and water. Thus, both Mughal and Adil forces were encamped on the bank of the Mehkari River. It flowed North-South. The river had a dam to conserve water, as Ahmednagar experienced water shortage. However, during this period, there had been good amount of rainfall. The river had abundant water and was filled to the brim. Maharaja Shahaji came up with a brilliant idea. With utmost care, cracks were developed in the dam. It was the time of night; the whole Mughal and Adil encampment was fast asleep. Suddenly, water started gushing out of the dam from each of the cracks. Mughals and Adils were clueless about what was happening. It was, as if a huge wall of irate water was running over the Mughals and Adils.
Everyone started running helter-skelter to save their lives. There was chaos and confusion. The whole encampment was flooded with water. Clothes, rations, arms, ammunitions, cannons and cattle everything drowned. Dead elephants were seen floating in the water. Many were taken as prisoners. As many as 25 renowned, Mughal and Adil chiefs were imprisoned by Maharaja Shahaji. The Adilshahi Army's Chief Cammanding Officer ( Senapati) mulla mohommad were killed by Malikambar. This was the huge success for Shahaji raje Bhosale, after which Maharaja Shahaji became well known worldwide.

After this battle Malikambar also came to know about Bhosale family's power. He did a succesful try to break this power. He did a katt against very Brave, Smart, & Powerful Shahji raje Bhosale. Malikambar did a commander to Vithoji Raje's both son. Very Sharp brained Shahaji raje get known about all this immidiately and he leaved Nijamshahi. When Shahaji Raje leaved Nijamshahi, Adilshahi offered Shahaji raje that come to us. Shahaji Raje went to Adilshahi & becames a " Farzand " (someone placed much higher than a chief commanding an army of 10,000). Now Shahaji Raje called as "Farzand Shahaji Raje Bhosale" ( फरजंद शहाजी राजे भोसले).

When Shahji raje were showing his ability in Adilshahi, here the Malikamber ( Nijamshahi's Chief Cammanding Officer, Senapati) got expired in the age of 80 on the date of 10th May, 1625.

END OF THE TOPIC

Next Topic: Shahaji Raje Tried to setting up an independant Maratha Kingdom.