A strategic strike on the Mughal Empire: Why Shivaji Maharaj attacked Surat

The first raid on Surat

In January 1664, Shivaji Maharaj raided Surat. At the time, he controlled Pune, parts of Konkan, and the Javli region in Satara, while most of Maharashtra remained under Mughal rule.

Known as ‘the greatest emporium of the Orient and the richest jewel of the Mughal Empire’, Surat was strategically situated along the southern bank of the Tapi river. Goods were offloaded from ships at Swally, on the opposite bank, and transported to Surat by carts or boats. As a key Mughal port, Surat was a hub for European, Iranian, Turkish, and Arab merchants, as well as a transit point for pilgrims en route to Mecca. By targeting Surat, Shivaji Maharaj aimed to disrupt the Mughal economy, as it was the only significant port on the western coast under its rule. The city generated Rs 1.2 million annually in customs duties. Among its prominent merchants were Viraji Vora, a Hindu, and Haji Zahid Beg, a Muslim. Vora was the wealthiest merchant in the world at the time, with a fortune of Rs 8 million.

Following his successful assault on the Mughal general Shaista Khan, Shivaji Maharaj turned his attention to Surat, catching the Mughal forces off guard. The local Mughal officer fled to the safety of the fort, while European traders, including the English and the Dutch, scrambled to protect their warehouses.

In a letter dated January 5, 1664, English chaplain Escaliot described the panic caused by Shivaji Maharaj’s forces, with many fleeing across the river while the wealthy bribed their way into the fort for protection. Surat’s governor, Inayat Khan, also sought refuge, leaving the city defenceless.

Escaliot wrote: “In less than half an hour, we beheld from the top of our house two great pillars of smoke, the certain signs of great desolation, and so they continued burning that day and night. On Thursday (January 7), Friday, and Saturday, new fires were raised, each day drawing nearer to our quarter of the town.”

Dutch records also mention Shivaji Maharaj’s temporary encampment just outside the city, and his sudden arrival caught the Mughals entirely off guard.

Shivaji Maharaj’s forces held Surat from January 6-10, 1664. The Battle of Surat, also known as the Sack of Surat, yielded wealth, including cash, gold, silver, pearls, and fine clothing, estimated at one crore rupees. The wealth seized funded the construction of Sindhudurg fort and expanded the Maratha Navy. Shivaji Maharaj withdrew his forces on January 10, 1664, and Portuguese archives confirm that the loot was transported by sea.

Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who was away from Delhi during the raid, ordered fortifications to be built in Surat upon his return. He replaced Inayat Khan with Ghiyasuddin Khan and attempted to placate European traders by granting them a one-year tax exemption.

According to records from Dutch, French, and English traders, common citizens were unharmed during the raid. Anthony Smith, an East India Company servant who tried to resist, was captured but later released after paying a fine. French travellers like Francois Bernier, Jean Baptiste Tavernier, Abbe Carré, and Jean de Thevenot, who visited Surat soon after, praised Shivaji Maharaj’s conduct, with Bernier referring to him as “the holy Shivaji.”

Shivaji Maharaj’s actions in Surat alarmed the English to the extent that they moved their warehouse from Surat to Bombay (now Mumbai). By 1664, the Portuguese had gifted Bombay to the English, and Shivaji Maharaj’s legendary exploits became widely known. One report remarked, “Shivaji’s body is like air, and he has wings,” illustrating his reputation for swift, unexpected attacks.

The second raid

In 1670, Shivaji Maharaj launched a second raid on Surat, this time on October 3 and 4, seizing wealth worth approximately Rs 6.6 million. The Dutch and English merchants were spared as Shivaji Maharaj’s primary target remained the Mughals. The loot included gems, gold, and coins worth around five million rupees. Though Aurangzeb sent military commander Daud Khan Qureshi to intercept Shivaji Maharaj, the Marathas successfully transported their haul back to their territory via the Nashik-Trimbak route.

The Surat raids were not mere acts of looting but rather calculated strikes aimed at undermining the Mughal Empire’s economic and military strength. Shivaji Maharaj’s meticulous planning, strategic execution, and restraint in sparing civilians reflected his broader objective of weakening Mughal rule while minimising unnecessary harm. These raids solidified his legacy as a brilliant military tactician and a symbol of resistance against imperial domination.

References:

Deshpande, P. N. (2002). Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Mehendale, Gajanan Bhaskar (2011).Shivaji His Life and Times

Sardesai, Govind Sakharam (1946). New History of the Marathas Vol. 1