| Office |
|
|---|---|
| Spouse | Lakshmibai[1] |
| Children | *Ragho Annaji[2]
|
Annaji Datto Sachiv was the Sachiv (Chief Secretary) in the Ashta Pradhan (Council of 8) mandal of the Maratha Empire during the rule of Chhatrapati Shivaji.Template:Sfn
Early life
Before joining the services of Shivaji, Annaji Datto was a Kulkarni of Sangameshwar. He joined Shivaji's administration in 1660.Template:Sfn
Career
Annaji Datto was a Minister of Shivaji, who carried out a survey known as Annaji Datto's Dhara.Template:Sfn According to Subhasad Bhakhar, the Maratha Empire of Shivaji was divided into three parts, each under a cabinet minister, called a Sarkarkun. Annaji Datto Sachiv, Moropant Trimbak Pingle, and Dattoji Pant were appointed sarkarkun.Template:Sfn[3] As sarkarkun, Annaji Datto controlled the Konkan territory, including Choul. Dabhol, Rajapur, Kudal, Bande, Phonda, and Koppal. This division between territories was called Talghat or Southern division.Template:Sfn In 1667, Shivaji appointed Annaji to the task of land revenue reform in areas under the Swarajya. Annaji's efforts led to a new system of lower government claim on farm produce of 2/5.His work involved accurate land measurement, bringing new land under cultivation, measures to reduce exploitation of the illiterate cultivators by the hereditary officials such as the Patil and Kulkarni.[4]
Campaign on Panhala and Pawangad
Annaji Datto was assigned the job of capturing the Panhala fort before the Afzal episode.Template:Sfn In 1659, Annaji captured the Panhala fort and Pawangad fort from the Mughals.Template:Sfn
Conflict with Sambhaji
Shivaji's eldest son and presumptive heir, Sambhaji, was sent to the fort of Panhala by his father, who disapproved of his habits. However, in December 1678 Sambhaji left the fort and defected to the Mughals for a year, but then returned home when he learnt of a plan by Dilir Khan, the Mughal viceroy of Deccan to arrest him and send him to Delhi.[5] Upon returning home, Sambhaji was unrepentant and was again put under surveillance at Panhala by his father.[6][7][8][9] However, Shivaji soon fell ill and died in April 1680. The news of Shivaji's death reached Sambhaji at Panhala within eleven days.[10]
Conspiracy with Soyarabai
At the time of Shivaji's death, Annaji conspired with Shivaji's widow, Soyarabai to lure the Council of ministers (ashtapradhan mandal), into electing her then ten year old younger son Rajaram to the throne of Maratha swarajya with Soyarabai as the regent.[11][12] On 21 April 1680, arrangements were made to make Rajaram's position secure. The coronation of Rajaram I was performed by Annaji Datto and a few of Rajaram's supporters.Template:Sfn
Soyarabai and Minister's proposed Sambhaji for the division of the Maratha Empire. When their proposal of the division of the Swarajya was turned down by Sambhaji, the adherents of the cause of Rajaram, Peshwa Moropant Pingle, Annaji Datto and others marched against Sambhaji. However, Sambhaji quickly won over the support of the Maratha army. He arrested those who had marched against him on the way to Panhala between 19 May and 2 June 1680. Sambhaji marched on Raigad and gained possession of the capital on 18 June 1680. He promptly put Rajaram, Soyarabai in close confinement.
Execution
Annaji and other ministers involved in the conspiracy were arrested and either executed or confined. Annaji was however released after a period. Later in 1681 when Prince Akbar, Aurangzeb's rebel son was given asylum by Sambhaji, Annaji and several members of the Shirke clan (of Yesubai) promised the Deccan to Akbar in exchange for leaving a small kingdom for Rajaram. Akbar refused to be a party to this conspiracy and betrayed these conspirators to Sambhaji who quickly executed Annaji, his brother Somaji, a large number of the Asthapradhan members and members of the Shirke family in August 1681.[13][14]
References
- ↑ ताराबाईकालीन कागदपत्रे, Volume 1{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. शिवाजी विद्यापीठ(1969)
- ↑ aharani Tarabai of Kolhapur, c. 1675-1761 A.D.{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. S. Chand & Co(1987)
- ↑ Kulkarni, A.R., 1990, January. Maratha Swarajya: Its Extent and Income. In Proceedings of the Indian History Congress (Vol. 51, pp. 321-325). Indian History Congress.[1]
- ↑ Kulkarni, G. T., 1976. Land Revenue and Agricultural Policy of Shivaji – An Appraisal. Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute, 35(3/4), pp.73-82.[2]
- ↑ From the death of Shivaji to the death of Aurangzeb : the critical years{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Northern Book Centre(2000). ISBN 81-7211100-2
- ↑ The Marathas 1600–1818{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Cambridge University(1993). ISBN 978-0-521-26883-7
- ↑ Maharashtra State Gazetteers:Satara{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Gazetteers Dept Director of Government Publications, Madras State(1963)
- ↑ Advanced Study in the History of Modern India: Volume One: 1707–1813{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd(1 January 2005). ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6
- ↑ New History of the Marathas{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Phoenix Publications(1946)
- ↑ Govind, Shivaji's Warrior{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Orient Blackswan(1997)
- ↑ Maharani Tarabai of Kolhapur, c. 1675-1761 A.D.{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. S. Chand & Co(1987)
- ↑ Maharashtra State Gazetteers, Volume 22{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State(1969)
- ↑ Kincaid, C.A. and Parasnis, D.B., 1922. History of the Maratha people. Vol. II: From the death of Shivaji to the death of Shahu. Oxford University Press, London. Page=9 [3]
- ↑ The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies, Volumes 7-9{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Institute of Historical Studies(1968)
Bibliography
- Chhatrapati Shivaji: coronation tercentenary commemoration volume{{#if:Apte|, Apte}. University of Bombay(1974)
- Role of women in Maratha politics, 1620-1752 A.D.{{#if:Vaidya|, Vaidya}. Sharada Publication House(2000)
- Administrative System in India: Vedic Age to 1947{{#if:Singh|, Singh}. APH Publishing(1998)
- Shivaji and the Maratha Art of War{{#if:Deopujari|, Deopujari}. Vidarbha Samshodhan Mandal(1973)
- The State and Society in Medieval India{{#if:Grewal|, Grewal}. Oxford University Press(2005)
- A New Account of East India and Persia: Being Nine Years' Travels, 1672-1681, Volume 1{{#if:Fryer|, Fryer}. Asian Educational Services(1992)