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Grand Rebel: Impression of Shivaji, Founder of Maratha Empire
A great warrior and skilled administrator, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, better known as Shivaji, was the founder of the great Maratha Empire, and one who instilled a sense of Maratha identity in his people.At a time, when the Mughal Empire was at its zenith, Shivaji was the only one who dared to challenge the might of Emperor Aurangzeb. He steadily grew his army from a humble contingent of 2,000 soldiers to a force of 100,000. Assisted by a disciplined military system, a well-structured administrative organization and a deeply traditional society, soon the Maratha force became the only military power of consequence against the Mughals in India.Including accounts of legendary encounters like those with the Adil-Shahi Sultanate and the menacing Aurangzeb, The Grand Rebel is an epic saga of an Indian warrior king whose tales of victory and valour have been inspiring the nation for centuries.
328 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1937
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May 13, 2021
This is a brief biography of Shivaji. Story has been narrated in 4 chapters - Childhood and Youth, Rebel, Chieftain and King. Author has referred both folklore and History as the resource material. Considering the fact that this book was written 100 years back from an young British Author, it is an appreciable effort. Though modern historians have written much detailed and more accurate account of Shivaji, this book acts as a good start for a beginner. Author tries to celebrate the kings personality and hence narration has a tone of hero worshiping.
Along the story, author has described 4 cities in great detail - Bijapur, Surat, Agra and Golconda. These details are fascinating, especially Bijapur.
Author refers many French sentences in the book and he doesn't bother to give its English translation. I think the book was mainly written for Britishers and it was assumed that they know basic French.
Author naturally has a softcorner for Britishers. They are praised throughout the book for their superiority. Only in one specific incident he makes fun of their eating habits, which is hilarious.
Suddenly while reading the book I realised that an exerpt of this book was a chapter in my 8th standard English book. Since I come from rural background, I had not understood that story clearly at that age. Now reading the same story with clarity was a hilarious experience.
Along the story, author has described 4 cities in great detail - Bijapur, Surat, Agra and Golconda. These details are fascinating, especially Bijapur.
Author refers many French sentences in the book and he doesn't bother to give its English translation. I think the book was mainly written for Britishers and it was assumed that they know basic French.
Author naturally has a softcorner for Britishers. They are praised throughout the book for their superiority. Only in one specific incident he makes fun of their eating habits, which is hilarious.
Suddenly while reading the book I realised that an exerpt of this book was a chapter in my 8th standard English book. Since I come from rural background, I had not understood that story clearly at that age. Now reading the same story with clarity was a hilarious experience.
January 13, 2016
There is a cult of hero worship that follows the character of Chatrapati Shivaji. The bearded, pleasant yet stern visage looks at you from posters, statues and images across a lot of places in Maharashtra and if you happen to take a plane to Mumbai then the airport is named after him too. Before I read this book, my only knowledge of Shivaji was that he was a warrior king and a superbly successful one. A biography or a historic fiction variant was something I had been on the lookout for but strangely enough nothing turned up. In the introduction to this book, the author mentions that most of the legends around Shivaji were passed down orally as ballads and as yet a consolidated story of his life does not exist. This to me was grossly unfair considering how much good material lies in the life of Shivaji. There was mention by Ashok Banker that he plans to write a series of historic novels about the Marathas but this is yet to materialize. All considered it is rather ironic that the most readable story of the Great Maratha was written by an Englishman !
India has had kings by the dozen and there has been no shortage of colorful characters among them and yet Shivaji stands out for a few reasons which I find to be rather unique. Firstly, he was a leader with vision and someone who organized administration and the military in a way that could withstand the ravages of time. Curiously enough, he also anticipated the need for a Navy when most other Indian rulers including the Mughals had not advanced much on this idea. Secondly, he was one of the very few Indian rulers who employed guerrilla warfare successfully against enemies. Considering that Shivaji consistently was at war with the numerically superior Mughal army or the well-stocked Bijapur empire, a direct war was out of the question. And yet with shrewd use of his mountain fortresses along the coast of Maharashtra, he did manage to bring his enemies to heel with guerrilla warfare and lightning fast raids. Thirdly, he was a ruler who was extremely adaptable to his environment. Shivaji used valor, bravery, negotiation, shrewdness, guile and diplomacy all in equal measures while dealing with opponents and potential allies. All of these are quite interesting hallmarks that speak of someone who is a survivor in a murky world of shifting alliances and with new enemies pouring in from the western hemisphere. The world around the Marathas were changing and for their good. In Delhi, following the rule of Shahjahan, the Mughal empire was slowly starting to fray at the edges. The wild and paranoid ideas of Aurangzeb were not enough to hold it all together and the golden age of the Mughals were drawing to a close. Into the vacuum left by them stepped in the English East India Company with whom Sivaji maintained a neutral relationship. He also was in contact with the French and did not alienate them or their business interests. I found in Shivaji all the traits of a man determined to carry his image of being a ruler heralded as a Hindu monarch to the hilt and he employed every last method to ensure that he succeeded in it.
This book is not one that can be easily categorized for it is neither fiction nor non-fiction. It digs its feet into terrain where both these genres overlap but with a slight leaning towards non-fiction. The tone that Kincaid adapts is that of an amused observer and not of a detailed chronicler. Time and again he quotes the correspondence of the East India Company about the exploits of ‘Sevaje’ – as someone who is of strategic importance to them but whom they did not want to appear too lenient to. Also, the author relies heavily on world history whereby he compares and contrasts the turmoil in India with examples from a large number of civilizations and occurrences.
I cannot with all my heart recommend this book but considering a serious lack of other reading material about a fascinating period of Indian history, this is worth a read.
India has had kings by the dozen and there has been no shortage of colorful characters among them and yet Shivaji stands out for a few reasons which I find to be rather unique. Firstly, he was a leader with vision and someone who organized administration and the military in a way that could withstand the ravages of time. Curiously enough, he also anticipated the need for a Navy when most other Indian rulers including the Mughals had not advanced much on this idea. Secondly, he was one of the very few Indian rulers who employed guerrilla warfare successfully against enemies. Considering that Shivaji consistently was at war with the numerically superior Mughal army or the well-stocked Bijapur empire, a direct war was out of the question. And yet with shrewd use of his mountain fortresses along the coast of Maharashtra, he did manage to bring his enemies to heel with guerrilla warfare and lightning fast raids. Thirdly, he was a ruler who was extremely adaptable to his environment. Shivaji used valor, bravery, negotiation, shrewdness, guile and diplomacy all in equal measures while dealing with opponents and potential allies. All of these are quite interesting hallmarks that speak of someone who is a survivor in a murky world of shifting alliances and with new enemies pouring in from the western hemisphere. The world around the Marathas were changing and for their good. In Delhi, following the rule of Shahjahan, the Mughal empire was slowly starting to fray at the edges. The wild and paranoid ideas of Aurangzeb were not enough to hold it all together and the golden age of the Mughals were drawing to a close. Into the vacuum left by them stepped in the English East India Company with whom Sivaji maintained a neutral relationship. He also was in contact with the French and did not alienate them or their business interests. I found in Shivaji all the traits of a man determined to carry his image of being a ruler heralded as a Hindu monarch to the hilt and he employed every last method to ensure that he succeeded in it.
This book is not one that can be easily categorized for it is neither fiction nor non-fiction. It digs its feet into terrain where both these genres overlap but with a slight leaning towards non-fiction. The tone that Kincaid adapts is that of an amused observer and not of a detailed chronicler. Time and again he quotes the correspondence of the East India Company about the exploits of ‘Sevaje’ – as someone who is of strategic importance to them but whom they did not want to appear too lenient to. Also, the author relies heavily on world history whereby he compares and contrasts the turmoil in India with examples from a large number of civilizations and occurrences.
I cannot with all my heart recommend this book but considering a serious lack of other reading material about a fascinating period of Indian history, this is worth a read.
May 3, 2020
A very English treatment to Indian history. The author has a lot of respect for the marathas, marathi language and understands well the Indian psyche and conditions.
It is very artistically written. There are a lot of western comparisons which really embroidery the work. For instance; the comparison of the golconda empire and the decadence of Persia. . Also galore, are the many British accounts from the fort at Surat. (easy accessible research for the author, being in the ICS himself)
The descriptions of the land and men are beautiful. It portrays Shivaji in all colors : as the fledgling boy with a conscience of his own, as the ruler, sometimes the cunning advocator at the mogul courts and truly as the commander and leader of his men.
It is very artistically written. There are a lot of western comparisons which really embroidery the work. For instance; the comparison of the golconda empire and the decadence of Persia. . Also galore, are the many British accounts from the fort at Surat. (easy accessible research for the author, being in the ICS himself)
The descriptions of the land and men are beautiful. It portrays Shivaji in all colors : as the fledgling boy with a conscience of his own, as the ruler, sometimes the cunning advocator at the mogul courts and truly as the commander and leader of his men.
February 19, 2013
A short and a lovely bio of the Grand Maratha. I chanced upon an old copy at the Asiatic Society Library a few years ago. One of the liveliest books I had read in a long time. Unfortunately this book has been out of print for a long time. Wonder, why no one is getting it back into print.
February 11, 2019
Absolutely unputtable, especially in the first two third of the book elaborating the successful campaigns and rise of young Maratha kingdom by the legendary personality of Shivaji who rose from the ranks of hillmen to a monarch all by his daring stratagems and cunningness. Shivaji is a multifaceted personality with high level of personal integrity which lacked in the later descendants, it appears.
Besides portraying Shivaji and early Marathas, this book also gives snapshot of Mughal and Deccan politics and power centers, the theater in which Shivaji operated. The opulences of Deccan Sultanates, the religious disagreements between Sunni North and Shia Deccan, their views on Hindu majority subjects, all provide hues to the narrative. The narration itself is supported by references and documents grounding on facts loosely besides being short and not too deep.
A must read for beginner in understanding the Marathas history.
Besides portraying Shivaji and early Marathas, this book also gives snapshot of Mughal and Deccan politics and power centers, the theater in which Shivaji operated. The opulences of Deccan Sultanates, the religious disagreements between Sunni North and Shia Deccan, their views on Hindu majority subjects, all provide hues to the narrative. The narration itself is supported by references and documents grounding on facts loosely besides being short and not too deep.
A must read for beginner in understanding the Marathas history.
October 2, 2016
Absorbing , reasonably unbiased writing by an Englishman , one knew little about this warrior called rebel by the British... but then they , the British have always been like this came as merchants and became colonisers ...
January 12, 2019
This is a fantastic book which gives us a very good picture of the great Indian king and the founder of the Maratha empire Shivaji. Kincaid, a British civil servant wrote this book in the 1930s when the atmosphere of India was charged with the fervour of nationalism, seeking independence from the British occupation. Kincaid's main aim in the book was to introduce to the western audience the life of this king who had hiterto been dismissed as a "brigand", a word which didn't do justice to the enormous respect which Shivaji's name commanded in the Nation. Based on Marathi sources, the letters of the East India Company, Mughal historians and then accounts of the Italian Gunner Manuchi, the book presents a detailed account of Shivaji's rise from a son of a Bijapur official pursued by Shahjahan, to the founder of the Maratha empire which at the end of Shivaji's reign had Bijapur as one of its feaudatory kingdom.
The narration is not unlike that of a novelist who maintains the tasteful tension while describing the accounts of Shivaji's mulitple escapes as a child, his capture of the key Bijapur forts, his encounter with Afzal Khan, his escape from the Abyssinian general aided by the valiant Baji Prabhu, his encounter and house imprisonment by Aurangazeb, the subsequent escape, his raids at the Surat township, and winning back of all the fortresses that he once was forced to give up to Mughal after surrendering to the Rajput Jai Singh.
Kincaid paints an elaborate picture of Shivaji's coronation ceremony done in a manner of the Hindu Kings of the yore, which lasted for over a month. Post the Rajyabhisheka ceremony, Kincaid describes the two victorious campaigns of Shivaji in the southern part of India whose many forts would prove to be key assets in the 28 year war that Shivaji's successors fought and won against the Mughals.
Highly recommended if you like History narration in a stylish manner!
The narration is not unlike that of a novelist who maintains the tasteful tension while describing the accounts of Shivaji's mulitple escapes as a child, his capture of the key Bijapur forts, his encounter with Afzal Khan, his escape from the Abyssinian general aided by the valiant Baji Prabhu, his encounter and house imprisonment by Aurangazeb, the subsequent escape, his raids at the Surat township, and winning back of all the fortresses that he once was forced to give up to Mughal after surrendering to the Rajput Jai Singh.
Kincaid paints an elaborate picture of Shivaji's coronation ceremony done in a manner of the Hindu Kings of the yore, which lasted for over a month. Post the Rajyabhisheka ceremony, Kincaid describes the two victorious campaigns of Shivaji in the southern part of India whose many forts would prove to be key assets in the 28 year war that Shivaji's successors fought and won against the Mughals.
Highly recommended if you like History narration in a stylish manner!
April 10, 2016
A luxuriously written book.
Dennis Kincaid, the son of CA Kincaid, of the famous “History of the Maratha People”, co-authored by Parasnis, wrote this book after he came to India around 1928, but the this book was published posthumously, in 1937.
As has been mentioned in the preface by TN Chaturvedi, “… Charles (Allen Kincaid), the historian, is remembered today more for hid non-historical writings; while Dennis, the novelist, is known more for his two works on non-fiction.”
As an Indian, the word rebel, in the subtitle is a bit disconcerting before the book is read, for it perhaps betrays the impending tone of the treatment of Shivaji’s life and work, in the book. Yet, Dennis Kincaid keeps himself away from the intrigues of analysis, the slopes of bias, and the traps of -isms.
That Dennis Kincaid was a novelist at heart is obvious from the first word to the last. If someone, who had never heard of Shivaji would read the book, the reader would be delighted in the language and the judicious and unequivocal use of devices of fiction-writing, in what is actually strictly a work of non-fiction; a biography (with proper endnotes and such).
It is a delicious read, and recommended.
The very few factual inaccuracies are to be forgiven. Much more information has come to the fore since the 1930s, when he wrote this book. If this is a way of writing non-fiction, more power to you.
PS: I really wish good publishers like Rupa would invest more effort in copy-editing. The typos in Indian publishing are way to jarring and way too common.
Dennis Kincaid, the son of CA Kincaid, of the famous “History of the Maratha People”, co-authored by Parasnis, wrote this book after he came to India around 1928, but the this book was published posthumously, in 1937.
As has been mentioned in the preface by TN Chaturvedi, “… Charles (Allen Kincaid), the historian, is remembered today more for hid non-historical writings; while Dennis, the novelist, is known more for his two works on non-fiction.”
As an Indian, the word rebel, in the subtitle is a bit disconcerting before the book is read, for it perhaps betrays the impending tone of the treatment of Shivaji’s life and work, in the book. Yet, Dennis Kincaid keeps himself away from the intrigues of analysis, the slopes of bias, and the traps of -isms.
That Dennis Kincaid was a novelist at heart is obvious from the first word to the last. If someone, who had never heard of Shivaji would read the book, the reader would be delighted in the language and the judicious and unequivocal use of devices of fiction-writing, in what is actually strictly a work of non-fiction; a biography (with proper endnotes and such).
It is a delicious read, and recommended.
The very few factual inaccuracies are to be forgiven. Much more information has come to the fore since the 1930s, when he wrote this book. If this is a way of writing non-fiction, more power to you.
PS: I really wish good publishers like Rupa would invest more effort in copy-editing. The typos in Indian publishing are way to jarring and way too common.
May 1, 2021
As the great quote: " The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. " Shivaji always wanted to lead an ascetic life spent in nature and mountains ! At different stage in life he felt a strong pull to let go.. Reaching it's peak at his first audience with Sant Tukaram & Ramdas. Also book elucidates what it really meant to be a Hindu nationalist. Shivaji was a benevolent ruler and respected and cared for all faiths. Hindu Nationalism or Hindutva only meant getting the nation rid of external rulers from Arab and Persia etc who definitely held bigoted views and viewed every non muslim as kafir to be condemned. Shivaji also was a master tactician who tactfully managed enemy with diplomacy and trickery to compensate for his weak Army. He was also extremely generous and extended pardon easily.. While he had all the riches he rarely indulged and mostly led his life with little luxury . A must read book for everyone who wants to learn about the Ascent of the great Marathas and Shivaji as a human in general
May 17, 2019
To be honest this book is written specially for non Indian audience and I have no problem with that. It was knowledgeable for me atleast because we are being taught distorted history. Some honest book is better than biased book. I even read Jadunath Sarkar's Shivaji book, that was pretty good too. You can go for it.
March 15, 2020
The kings of Central and Western India throughout the early and middle ages had their chief towns in the Maratha country. There have been many accounts of the prosperity of Western India. Still surprisingly, until the seventeenth century, there was no Maratha state nor any sense of Maratha identity. All these started to change with the arrival of Chhatrapati Shivaji. The history of Maratha was about to be transformed. The Maratha Empire finally came into existence. Shivaji locked horns with the powerful and invincible Mughals, who boasted off a very large and strong army. Despite leading a perilous life, he could lay a foundation for a strong Maratha empire. He was emulated by some of his successors and especially under Peshwa Bajirao, the empire reached it's zenith. The Marathas bedevilled the Mughals. The Maratha's ascendency coincided with the fall of the Mughals. The once powerful Mughals were now subjugated by the underdog Marathas. The Maratha's transformation from obscurity to strength deserves a thorough reading. The more you dig deep into the fascinating history, the more you will be keen to explore. Let’s read again about Shivaji’s tale of adventure and bravery. Some of these may be unheard of before. Let’s find out.
Shivaji Bhonsale was born in a hill fort near Junnar, Pune into a family of Maratha bureaucrats. His father Shahji Bhonsale was a general in the army of Bijapur Sultanate. His renowned mother Jijabai was a religious lady and had a great impact on Shivaji’s upbringing. Shivaji’s parents often argued regarding his allegiance to the Bijapur service. Shivaji loved his mother and had a strong devotion towards her. From the age of thirteen, he was trained by a saint, scholar and administrator, Dadaji Kanodev. He gave shape to the Shivaji’s estate. Many from mountain villages and forests came to settle down in the estate. Dadaji restored the estate to former prosperity. Shivaji made his first military conquest at the age of sixteen by attacking and capturing Torna fort in the Bijapur Sultanate. This was followed by the conquest of three more forts. He halted his conquests only after Bijapur Sultan, Mohammed Ali Shah imprisoned his father. He shifted his focus towards building and consolidating his army until his father’s release.
To counter Shivaji, the Bijapur Sultan sent his general Afzal Khan to suppress him. Afzal Khan advanced with his army, hoping to either draw his opponents into submission or draw him out from mountains. Afzal Khan offered attracted terms. As per it, the Sultan would recognize his claim to the control of territories, held by Shivaji provided he make a nominal act of submission. They finally decided to meet. Shivaji was however sceptical of Afzal Khan’s motive. He feared deceitful plans and sensed treachery. Shivaji and Afzal Khan embraced in customary fashion, as done by opposing parties at a peace conference. Afzal Khan tried to kill Shivaji with a concealed weapon. Shivaji who himself came armed with tiger claw in one hand and dagger in another retaliated and killed him. The outcome was that Bijapur was never able to challenge and subdue Shivaji again. The Bijapur maintained a modus vivendi with Shivaji.
However,the peace with Bijapur hadn’t given Shivaji much respite. Soon he was forced to enter into a long battle with much more formidable adversary – The Mughal. When the Mughal army was approaching Bijapur, Shivaji’s men raided in the rear. Aurangzeb hadn’t forgotten and forgiven Shivaji for that. Shivaji had also raided Mughal town of Ahmednagar and Junnar. A furious Aurangzeb then had sent a large army under his uncle Shaista Khan to defeat Shivaji. On his way, Shaista Khan captured a few. Among the captured territories fall Pune which was the center of Shivaji’s reign. The Marathas were banned from entering the city. A wedding party had obtained permission for holding a possession. Shivaji and his men disguised themselves as bridegroom possession members and entered Pune. They entered Shaista Khan’s palace compound at midnight, with an intent of assassinating him. He was unaware and unprepared. During Shaista Khan's skirmishes with Shivaji, he lost his three fingers. The palace guards and attendants were killed. Shaista Khan's son too was killed during this encounter with the Marathas.
After accounting for Shaista Khan, Shivaji further decided to hurt the Mughals by targeting their richest town- Surat. Shivaji and his men plundered the city twice. What was his motive? The answer is money. Under the command of Shaista Khan, his small kingdom was ravaged especially key towns of Pune and Satara. His motive for the first attack was to spend a lot of money in order to strengthen the existing forts, build new ones and maintain an ever-growing army. The money had to be collected as fast as possible. He attacked for the second time because he needed money to counter the hostilities of the Portuguese and Siddi of Janjira. The money was also needed for his navy. Why did Shivaji choose Surat? It’s because it was not very far from Shivaji’s own kingdom. Despite being rich, Surat was not well protected. For a moment, the Mughals were helpless against an agile Maratha army. Their movements could not be accurately predicted. They were also sudden with lightning strokes and alacrity. The surprising part is that even after the first attack, the security measures were flimsy, enabling Shivaji to plunder the city for the second time. Whether it was really plundered or genocide? Well, the debate still goes on about the depredation of Surat.
Aurangzeb then sent Rajput Raja Jai Singh to suppress Shivaji. This was the only time ever that Shivaji was faced with a commander whose military credibility matches that of his. Jai Singh realized that focal point of Shivaji's resistance laid in the chain of mountain forts. So he decided to reduce the fortress one by one. He also ignored minor acts of revenge and local losses. He finally succeeded in capturing various forts and thereby forcing Shivaji to surrender and sign a treaty. As per the treaty, 23 forts had to be ceded and 400000 rupees had to be paid to the Mughals. During the arrest, Raja Jai Singh treated Shivaji with respect. Shivaji was invited to Agra by Aurangzeb and he had no option but to accept it reluctantly. If an invitation is refused, then he would be either arrested or executed. If the invitation is accepted, he may be treated as a prisoner. He still accepted Aurangzeb’s invitation and was put into house arrest. He however escaped. His escape in huge baskets of sweets could leave anybody spellbound. His escape is legendary and we have been hearing tales about it since our childhood.
Shivaji launched an expedition under Tanaji Malusare to capture Kondana Fort, which was under Mughal possession, in the Battle of Sinhagad. While the fort was seized, Malusare died and hence, the fort was renamed Sinhagad. A movie was recently released that was dedicated to Tanaji Malusare. Tanaji was played by Ajay Devgan and other key characters were played by Saif Ali Khan and Kajol. The movie has been declared as super-hit
He later captured lands and extended his domain. He was crowned as King of Marathas at Raigarh, earning the title Chhatrapati. He went on an extensive campaign to raid more territories like Khandesh, Bijapur Ponda, Karwar, Kolhapur, Janjira, Ramnagar, Belgaum. He moved southwards and seized forts of Vellore and Gingee. His sphere of authority was increasing. His success at South was clouded by domestic difficulties. Shivaji’s son Shambaji was hardly impressed with either his father’s energy level or simplicity of his father’s subject. Highlighting Shambaji’s instability and selfish indulgence, Shambaji’s stepmother Queen Soyra repeatedly argued with Shivaji and claimed throne for her son Rajaram .
Going back to Afzal Khan's encounter with Shivaji. The question which is still the subject of debate was that who stuck first? Was it a treacherous act or an act of self-defiance? For the Marathas, it was an act of national liberalization. It marked the dawn of their national independence. About Afzal Khan, it's being stated that he had a premonition of his coming end and so he killed and buried all his 63 wives. The 63 tombs on the burial place still exist but in a desolated state. There are other interesting facts about the incident and the person. It’s not mentioned in the book though. I had picked it from an article which was on excerpts from T.C.A Raghavan’s History Men.
As discussed, Shivaji was defeated by very efficient Jai Singh. He saw remote or no hope for an independent Hindu kingdom. Those who resisted would be overwhelmed sooner or later. When legendary Rajput warriors had fallen to the might of the Empire then there was no hope for half-civilized hill men, whose warriors credential was yet to be established. When the prince of Jaipur was not ashamed to serve the mighty Empire then-obscure Marathas should not have any qualms about doing so. Jai Singh's viewpoint was practical but he also underestimated the potentials of Shivaji.
An interesting piece that deserves a mention. A person who had been watching the proceedings at Aurangzeb’s court was his own daughter Zinat-in-Nisa. The bravery of Shivaji’s fable had spread across the length and breadth of the country. Shivaji’s courage, pride and audacity had a profound impact on her; so much so that she had fallen in love with him. She was never married. Years later, Shivaji’s grandson was at the possession of Augrangzeb’s men due to a series of events. He has been handed over to Zinat-in-Nisa and the child was intended to be made Muhammadan. However, she begged to her father for not interfering with the child’s religious belief and he reluctantly consented. When Aurangzeb died, one of the people who turned up at his grave was Shivaji’s grandson, who was now the King of the Marathas. He visited to show his gratitude for Aurangzeb’s generous act towards him.
The book is the study of the Maratha state; whose memory gave rise to Hindu nationalism. The detractors of the Maratha empire allege that the Marathas wanted a kingdom only for themselves and their kingdom was never Hindu. Though not mentioned in the book their raid on Bengal and Jaipur in 1742 and 1750 respectively have been heavily criticized. We miss a point that to preserve itself it fought with the Hindus by allying with the Muslims. Daryadarang, Ibrahim Khan, Daulat Khan, Siddhi Hilal, Kazi Hyder and Siddi Ibrahim were some of the Shivaji’s prominent Muslims warriors. So the religious angle to the Maratha empire is debatable.
The moot question is why renowned warriors like the Rajput’s failed against the Mughals but the Marathas could resist successfully, besmirched their reputation and finally vanquished them. The Rajput’s were not united and hence were defeated against Ghazni, Khilji, Mughals, Marathas and the British. Shivaji could however successfully unite all castes including the lower castes and they fought for a common goal. The Maratha empire hence could dominate India for a century and a half. The book is informative no doubt. What makes it special is bringing to the reader attention about unheard tales. Shivaji is one of the favourite topics for historians and they keep coming up with their own version and interpretations, without distorting the actual essence. This book is no different. Comparing the events with European history was irritating at times and I feel it debased the book somewhat. There is a slew of material on Shivaji and the Marathas available in the form of books, articles, videos, and movies. There are options galore and so don’t restrict yourself to this book only.
Shivaji Bhonsale was born in a hill fort near Junnar, Pune into a family of Maratha bureaucrats. His father Shahji Bhonsale was a general in the army of Bijapur Sultanate. His renowned mother Jijabai was a religious lady and had a great impact on Shivaji’s upbringing. Shivaji’s parents often argued regarding his allegiance to the Bijapur service. Shivaji loved his mother and had a strong devotion towards her. From the age of thirteen, he was trained by a saint, scholar and administrator, Dadaji Kanodev. He gave shape to the Shivaji’s estate. Many from mountain villages and forests came to settle down in the estate. Dadaji restored the estate to former prosperity. Shivaji made his first military conquest at the age of sixteen by attacking and capturing Torna fort in the Bijapur Sultanate. This was followed by the conquest of three more forts. He halted his conquests only after Bijapur Sultan, Mohammed Ali Shah imprisoned his father. He shifted his focus towards building and consolidating his army until his father’s release.
To counter Shivaji, the Bijapur Sultan sent his general Afzal Khan to suppress him. Afzal Khan advanced with his army, hoping to either draw his opponents into submission or draw him out from mountains. Afzal Khan offered attracted terms. As per it, the Sultan would recognize his claim to the control of territories, held by Shivaji provided he make a nominal act of submission. They finally decided to meet. Shivaji was however sceptical of Afzal Khan’s motive. He feared deceitful plans and sensed treachery. Shivaji and Afzal Khan embraced in customary fashion, as done by opposing parties at a peace conference. Afzal Khan tried to kill Shivaji with a concealed weapon. Shivaji who himself came armed with tiger claw in one hand and dagger in another retaliated and killed him. The outcome was that Bijapur was never able to challenge and subdue Shivaji again. The Bijapur maintained a modus vivendi with Shivaji.
However,the peace with Bijapur hadn’t given Shivaji much respite. Soon he was forced to enter into a long battle with much more formidable adversary – The Mughal. When the Mughal army was approaching Bijapur, Shivaji’s men raided in the rear. Aurangzeb hadn’t forgotten and forgiven Shivaji for that. Shivaji had also raided Mughal town of Ahmednagar and Junnar. A furious Aurangzeb then had sent a large army under his uncle Shaista Khan to defeat Shivaji. On his way, Shaista Khan captured a few. Among the captured territories fall Pune which was the center of Shivaji’s reign. The Marathas were banned from entering the city. A wedding party had obtained permission for holding a possession. Shivaji and his men disguised themselves as bridegroom possession members and entered Pune. They entered Shaista Khan’s palace compound at midnight, with an intent of assassinating him. He was unaware and unprepared. During Shaista Khan's skirmishes with Shivaji, he lost his three fingers. The palace guards and attendants were killed. Shaista Khan's son too was killed during this encounter with the Marathas.
After accounting for Shaista Khan, Shivaji further decided to hurt the Mughals by targeting their richest town- Surat. Shivaji and his men plundered the city twice. What was his motive? The answer is money. Under the command of Shaista Khan, his small kingdom was ravaged especially key towns of Pune and Satara. His motive for the first attack was to spend a lot of money in order to strengthen the existing forts, build new ones and maintain an ever-growing army. The money had to be collected as fast as possible. He attacked for the second time because he needed money to counter the hostilities of the Portuguese and Siddi of Janjira. The money was also needed for his navy. Why did Shivaji choose Surat? It’s because it was not very far from Shivaji’s own kingdom. Despite being rich, Surat was not well protected. For a moment, the Mughals were helpless against an agile Maratha army. Their movements could not be accurately predicted. They were also sudden with lightning strokes and alacrity. The surprising part is that even after the first attack, the security measures were flimsy, enabling Shivaji to plunder the city for the second time. Whether it was really plundered or genocide? Well, the debate still goes on about the depredation of Surat.
Aurangzeb then sent Rajput Raja Jai Singh to suppress Shivaji. This was the only time ever that Shivaji was faced with a commander whose military credibility matches that of his. Jai Singh realized that focal point of Shivaji's resistance laid in the chain of mountain forts. So he decided to reduce the fortress one by one. He also ignored minor acts of revenge and local losses. He finally succeeded in capturing various forts and thereby forcing Shivaji to surrender and sign a treaty. As per the treaty, 23 forts had to be ceded and 400000 rupees had to be paid to the Mughals. During the arrest, Raja Jai Singh treated Shivaji with respect. Shivaji was invited to Agra by Aurangzeb and he had no option but to accept it reluctantly. If an invitation is refused, then he would be either arrested or executed. If the invitation is accepted, he may be treated as a prisoner. He still accepted Aurangzeb’s invitation and was put into house arrest. He however escaped. His escape in huge baskets of sweets could leave anybody spellbound. His escape is legendary and we have been hearing tales about it since our childhood.
Shivaji launched an expedition under Tanaji Malusare to capture Kondana Fort, which was under Mughal possession, in the Battle of Sinhagad. While the fort was seized, Malusare died and hence, the fort was renamed Sinhagad. A movie was recently released that was dedicated to Tanaji Malusare. Tanaji was played by Ajay Devgan and other key characters were played by Saif Ali Khan and Kajol. The movie has been declared as super-hit
He later captured lands and extended his domain. He was crowned as King of Marathas at Raigarh, earning the title Chhatrapati. He went on an extensive campaign to raid more territories like Khandesh, Bijapur Ponda, Karwar, Kolhapur, Janjira, Ramnagar, Belgaum. He moved southwards and seized forts of Vellore and Gingee. His sphere of authority was increasing. His success at South was clouded by domestic difficulties. Shivaji’s son Shambaji was hardly impressed with either his father’s energy level or simplicity of his father’s subject. Highlighting Shambaji’s instability and selfish indulgence, Shambaji’s stepmother Queen Soyra repeatedly argued with Shivaji and claimed throne for her son Rajaram .
Going back to Afzal Khan's encounter with Shivaji. The question which is still the subject of debate was that who stuck first? Was it a treacherous act or an act of self-defiance? For the Marathas, it was an act of national liberalization. It marked the dawn of their national independence. About Afzal Khan, it's being stated that he had a premonition of his coming end and so he killed and buried all his 63 wives. The 63 tombs on the burial place still exist but in a desolated state. There are other interesting facts about the incident and the person. It’s not mentioned in the book though. I had picked it from an article which was on excerpts from T.C.A Raghavan’s History Men.
As discussed, Shivaji was defeated by very efficient Jai Singh. He saw remote or no hope for an independent Hindu kingdom. Those who resisted would be overwhelmed sooner or later. When legendary Rajput warriors had fallen to the might of the Empire then there was no hope for half-civilized hill men, whose warriors credential was yet to be established. When the prince of Jaipur was not ashamed to serve the mighty Empire then-obscure Marathas should not have any qualms about doing so. Jai Singh's viewpoint was practical but he also underestimated the potentials of Shivaji.
An interesting piece that deserves a mention. A person who had been watching the proceedings at Aurangzeb’s court was his own daughter Zinat-in-Nisa. The bravery of Shivaji’s fable had spread across the length and breadth of the country. Shivaji’s courage, pride and audacity had a profound impact on her; so much so that she had fallen in love with him. She was never married. Years later, Shivaji’s grandson was at the possession of Augrangzeb’s men due to a series of events. He has been handed over to Zinat-in-Nisa and the child was intended to be made Muhammadan. However, she begged to her father for not interfering with the child’s religious belief and he reluctantly consented. When Aurangzeb died, one of the people who turned up at his grave was Shivaji’s grandson, who was now the King of the Marathas. He visited to show his gratitude for Aurangzeb’s generous act towards him.
The book is the study of the Maratha state; whose memory gave rise to Hindu nationalism. The detractors of the Maratha empire allege that the Marathas wanted a kingdom only for themselves and their kingdom was never Hindu. Though not mentioned in the book their raid on Bengal and Jaipur in 1742 and 1750 respectively have been heavily criticized. We miss a point that to preserve itself it fought with the Hindus by allying with the Muslims. Daryadarang, Ibrahim Khan, Daulat Khan, Siddhi Hilal, Kazi Hyder and Siddi Ibrahim were some of the Shivaji’s prominent Muslims warriors. So the religious angle to the Maratha empire is debatable.
The moot question is why renowned warriors like the Rajput’s failed against the Mughals but the Marathas could resist successfully, besmirched their reputation and finally vanquished them. The Rajput’s were not united and hence were defeated against Ghazni, Khilji, Mughals, Marathas and the British. Shivaji could however successfully unite all castes including the lower castes and they fought for a common goal. The Maratha empire hence could dominate India for a century and a half. The book is informative no doubt. What makes it special is bringing to the reader attention about unheard tales. Shivaji is one of the favourite topics for historians and they keep coming up with their own version and interpretations, without distorting the actual essence. This book is no different. Comparing the events with European history was irritating at times and I feel it debased the book somewhat. There is a slew of material on Shivaji and the Marathas available in the form of books, articles, videos, and movies. There are options galore and so don’t restrict yourself to this book only.
June 9, 2017
Sivaji's life and victories
Gives you a good account on the life of the greatest warrior prince of India. Though in some places the narrative drifts off into writings and musings, that are more familiar with the Englishmen. Overall the book is a good read.
Gives you a good account on the life of the greatest warrior prince of India. Though in some places the narrative drifts off into writings and musings, that are more familiar with the Englishmen. Overall the book is a good read.
April 25, 2020
Really great warrior raised from small to a very big one.He even faced the great emperor Aurangzeb. Very bold Hindu king who saved our frontiers till his last days.He was compassionate towards ladies and respected all religions in spite of being a staunch Hindu king.
January 14, 2018
A wonderfully narrated and richly researched door into 17th century India.
August 16, 2017
The book is written by a British Civil servant about 80 years ago.
The author has done a beautiful job at writing this length of biography of one of the greatest personality of Indian history.
The fact that the author, being British is able to understand & portray the small details of Indian culture & society, their influence on historical events and not being judgmental in it is a commendable skill of the author. Presentation is serene.
The book describes neatly the sanctity of Mother-son relation throughout and the fact that Jijabai was the most important character in life of Shivaji is aptly portrayed.
The contemporary politics of the states such as Mughals, Rajputs (Jaipur & Jodhpur)Bijapur and Marathas is described along-with the story and giver the reader a comprehensive idea about the situations.
The features which make the book outstanding read are:
1- The personality of Shivaji is described without any bias.
2- God connection of the biography with contemporary politics.
3- Narration and built up to the historical events is lively.
4- The mother- son relation is described with a touch of emotion, which renders the entire narration with a soothing sense.
Lastly, being written by an Englishman, the author has tried to do a comparative analysis of historical events & personalities with that of European counterparts which make the book accessible & understandable for the ones having knowledge of European history.
The author has done a beautiful job at writing this length of biography of one of the greatest personality of Indian history.
The fact that the author, being British is able to understand & portray the small details of Indian culture & society, their influence on historical events and not being judgmental in it is a commendable skill of the author. Presentation is serene.
The book describes neatly the sanctity of Mother-son relation throughout and the fact that Jijabai was the most important character in life of Shivaji is aptly portrayed.
The contemporary politics of the states such as Mughals, Rajputs (Jaipur & Jodhpur)Bijapur and Marathas is described along-with the story and giver the reader a comprehensive idea about the situations.
The features which make the book outstanding read are:
1- The personality of Shivaji is described without any bias.
2- God connection of the biography with contemporary politics.
3- Narration and built up to the historical events is lively.
4- The mother- son relation is described with a touch of emotion, which renders the entire narration with a soothing sense.
Lastly, being written by an Englishman, the author has tried to do a comparative analysis of historical events & personalities with that of European counterparts which make the book accessible & understandable for the ones having knowledge of European history.
August 19, 2019
The book works as a quick biography of a cult Indian hero - Shivaji. The writing is lucid, the biography fast paced and engaging. If you want to quick refresh or an introductory book of the 17th century Indian subcontinent, this book will be of great help.
There are flaws nonetheless - the only two characters the writer seemed interested while writing the book were Shivaji (protagonist) and Aurangzeb (the antagonist). No other characters develop or have any important influence on either the two characters or the book in itself. The writer seem to be too biased towards the protagonist and his own superiority of being an Englishman. For him Shivaji was an interesting character but not interesting enough as European royalty - there are literal chapters where he draws the parallels, quite patronizingly between kings and queens of Europe versus those of India. The ending of the book too weirdly ends abruptly, with loose ends and hasty glorification of his hero.
He however did manage to highlight the austere yet charismatic character and courage of Shivaji and his singular dream of Swarajya (self governance) - a historical figure that still inspires millions of Hindus.
All in all, a good book to initiate oneself on the golden chapter of India's original struggle of freedom and self governance, and the hero who achieved that dream.
There are flaws nonetheless - the only two characters the writer seemed interested while writing the book were Shivaji (protagonist) and Aurangzeb (the antagonist). No other characters develop or have any important influence on either the two characters or the book in itself. The writer seem to be too biased towards the protagonist and his own superiority of being an Englishman. For him Shivaji was an interesting character but not interesting enough as European royalty - there are literal chapters where he draws the parallels, quite patronizingly between kings and queens of Europe versus those of India. The ending of the book too weirdly ends abruptly, with loose ends and hasty glorification of his hero.
He however did manage to highlight the austere yet charismatic character and courage of Shivaji and his singular dream of Swarajya (self governance) - a historical figure that still inspires millions of Hindus.
All in all, a good book to initiate oneself on the golden chapter of India's original struggle of freedom and self governance, and the hero who achieved that dream.
May 6, 2018
A book written around 90 years ago and still reads like it was written for the modern reader. I came across this one quite by accident and so had no expectations of this. I must say it surpassed them by the time I was on page 10!
Though every kid growing up in India, especially Maharashtra does know Shivaji’s story but then those are just caricatures. It is books like these which add the colour and flesh to these historical legends.
The author surely looks at Shivaji as a hero. Even though this book is supposed to be historical non fiction it reads like a novel. Such is the writing that one forgets that it is non fiction book. It helps the cause when the writer is so in awe of the protagonist.
What makes this book special is also the little juicy life details the author talks about. He has covered every other nationality which operated in India in those days. This is the aspect which makes the book a very enjoyable read.
Though every kid growing up in India, especially Maharashtra does know Shivaji’s story but then those are just caricatures. It is books like these which add the colour and flesh to these historical legends.
The author surely looks at Shivaji as a hero. Even though this book is supposed to be historical non fiction it reads like a novel. Such is the writing that one forgets that it is non fiction book. It helps the cause when the writer is so in awe of the protagonist.
What makes this book special is also the little juicy life details the author talks about. He has covered every other nationality which operated in India in those days. This is the aspect which makes the book a very enjoyable read.
June 2, 2016
This was my first book on Shivaji's life. I believe it qualifies to be called as a biography of Shivaji. The title very precisely captures the subject matter of the book. The author has aptly described the era and the main events that transpired in Shivaji's lifetime. Although at certain places it appears that the author has been boasting about the bravery of English officers, it gives a brief insight on relationships between the English (or any other kingdom of that era ) with those of the Marathas. The book has a fast pace and keeps the avid reader engrossed till the end. It's a worthy book for People who want to know or want to start knowing on the advent of the Maratha kingdom.
April 15, 2019
Dennis kincaid was a British Civil servant. Initially, I was skeptical that whether the book of india's hero would be full of biases and manipulated for Indians. But it seem like books was written for English Audience and It explained the grandness of Shivaji how hard his upbringing was, how the feeling of being marginalized by moguls rulers propelled him to create a Hindu Empire. How he build the Maratha Empire Under the eyes of Aurangzeb. An excellent read if you want to know about Grandness of Shivaji Bhonsle.
July 23, 2017
Shivaji is highly celebrated in the state of Maharashtra and having lived there for a few years, I was always interested in knowing more about him. This book gave a lot of insight on the famous hero of India!
The pace of the book is just enough to keep one interested and wanting for more. There are minor typos throughout the book. Overall, an amazing book to know about Shivaji. Specially if you're an European because the author's laid numerous parallels with historical events from Europe.
The pace of the book is just enough to keep one interested and wanting for more. There are minor typos throughout the book. Overall, an amazing book to know about Shivaji. Specially if you're an European because the author's laid numerous parallels with historical events from Europe.
August 30, 2017
A very well written book.
Through village lore's, family stories, books and poetry not only did the writer uncover the story of Shivaji but also gives us knowledge as to the origins of many of the forts,maratha military tactics, weapons, slangs and family names.
Being written much after the empires rise he was able to get many perspectives from the marathas, british, moguls, ottomans and others involved.
Through village lore's, family stories, books and poetry not only did the writer uncover the story of Shivaji but also gives us knowledge as to the origins of many of the forts,maratha military tactics, weapons, slangs and family names.
Being written much after the empires rise he was able to get many perspectives from the marathas, british, moguls, ottomans and others involved.
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November 15, 2021A must read
This book delivers a perspective on Maratha history. Most books written by other authors delivered only details. However there are a few factual mistakes which the author has committed. Also he has relied more on western sources which cannot but paint a biased image to the author. However coming from the British perspective book is a well written and well researched one
This book delivers a perspective on Maratha history. Most books written by other authors delivered only details. However there are a few factual mistakes which the author has committed. Also he has relied more on western sources which cannot but paint a biased image to the author. However coming from the British perspective book is a well written and well researched one
October 7, 2017
Nice reading. Shivaji the great rebel. Hindutva resurgence in India started with him.
Nice reading. Shivaji the great rebel. Hinduthva resurgence in India started with him. Har har mahadev. Legendary warrior of India.
Nice reading. Shivaji the great rebel. Hinduthva resurgence in India started with him. Har har mahadev. Legendary warrior of India.
March 1, 2019
Great piece of art, both in terms of research and in writing. Conceptualises everything very clearly and without any extra feeds. Just as it is.
April 23, 2020
Must read for every youth of this nation.I am deeply ashamed that, am reading this books in my late 30s.As per me every Indian should read this gem of a book in their teens.
While reading this book on multiple occasions, I strongly felt a resemblenes between our beloved PM Modi and shivaji. 1) When young 10 years old shivaji was presented in front of Sultan, instead of bowing in Muslim style he chose to do a Namasakara in a very Manly way, the same typical modi style namasakara.
2) After defeating enemies Shivaji always treated them with utmost respect.In the same manner in 2012 Gujarat assembly elections after scoring a convenient victory over keshu Bhai Patel, right after results modi visited keshu Bhai Patel seeking his blessing and treated him with utmost respect.Later keshu Bhai was appointed to board of trust of somanathapur temple.
3) Tactful retreat - Book mentions that when situation required shivaji always made Tactful withdrawal.In the same manner during the initial months of his first term modiji withdrew Land reforms act which was perceived as anti farmers.
While reading this book on multiple occasions, I strongly felt a resemblenes between our beloved PM Modi and shivaji. 1) When young 10 years old shivaji was presented in front of Sultan, instead of bowing in Muslim style he chose to do a Namasakara in a very Manly way, the same typical modi style namasakara.
2) After defeating enemies Shivaji always treated them with utmost respect.In the same manner in 2012 Gujarat assembly elections after scoring a convenient victory over keshu Bhai Patel, right after results modi visited keshu Bhai Patel seeking his blessing and treated him with utmost respect.Later keshu Bhai was appointed to board of trust of somanathapur temple.
3) Tactful retreat - Book mentions that when situation required shivaji always made Tactful withdrawal.In the same manner during the initial months of his first term modiji withdrew Land reforms act which was perceived as anti farmers.
November 6, 2019
A balance of a historic report and an occasionally artistically written record of events by a Britisher in the Indian Civil Services during the British Raj, this book is definitely a decent overview of the amazing and magnanimous Shivaji, who was born and brought up in hills and forests, constantly escaping from authorities wanting to capture and kill him and his mother, and who grew up to become one of the greatest kings of all times, possibly the only one with the potential to challenge the Mughal Empire.
Although reading all the events in a fairly neutral and only occasionally praising tone of a Britisher, I couldn't help but get goosebumps quite frequently at the daring feats of Shivaji, his superb military action, his always outsmarting mind and his devotion to his mother's vision, sometimes against his own will, culminating in successfully conquering and building such a large empire, especially considering that he begun without any advantages at all.
This story is a must-know.
Kincaid's book has successfully created a thirst in me to know more about this amazing King.
Although reading all the events in a fairly neutral and only occasionally praising tone of a Britisher, I couldn't help but get goosebumps quite frequently at the daring feats of Shivaji, his superb military action, his always outsmarting mind and his devotion to his mother's vision, sometimes against his own will, culminating in successfully conquering and building such a large empire, especially considering that he begun without any advantages at all.
This story is a must-know.
Kincaid's book has successfully created a thirst in me to know more about this amazing King.
January 20, 2020
I found this book fascinating to read. It is realistic, though part fiction and part chronicler as admitted by the author himself. However, it is admirable for the fact that this is written by a British Civil Servant while posted in India, and at a time when the general opinion among British historians about Shivaji wasnt reverential. To that extent, the author's applaud is quite realistic and believable, given it is against the tide of contemporary opinions.
Shivaji is a demigod for Indians, and will remain so forever. Such a people's King doesnt appear on the political and social life of a country in centuries. He is like Frederick the Great of India.
The exceptional qualities of him have been brought out quite well in this book, hence recommended highly..
Shivaji is a demigod for Indians, and will remain so forever. Such a people's King doesnt appear on the political and social life of a country in centuries. He is like Frederick the Great of India.
The exceptional qualities of him have been brought out quite well in this book, hence recommended highly..
November 25, 2018
Dennis Kincaid's version of Shivaji is the first piece of literature that I have read on the man (barring having heard the legends and studying about him, while in school years ago.) After doing a lot of research I picked up this book basis that it is probably the most extensively researched and neutral version of the life of one of India's most interesting historical figures. This has been a most insightful read and despite it being written in the most simplistic style it gives the feeling of the best thriller one may have read. I strongly recommend this novel to all kinds of readers. Truth, really is stranger than fiction!
May 20, 2019
With the increase of over scientism, people got obsessed with facts and figures but give least importance to rhetoric, poetry while writing historic tales. We had tradition of telling the historic tales like prataparudra charitram, Prithviraja Vijaya, manu Charitra through ballads or poetry. This is one such book which was told in poetic form, it was written for English readers in West but still the best one I have read so far on Shivaji.
When RSS stalwart Eknath Ranade has asked historian Sita Ram Goel to write some books for his cadres he translated this to Hindi, no doubt goelji would have been impressed with the way narration was done.
When RSS stalwart Eknath Ranade has asked historian Sita Ram Goel to write some books for his cadres he translated this to Hindi, no doubt goelji would have been impressed with the way narration was done.
May 26, 2019
Shivaji is known for his bravery. He was a brave man who stood his ground against the mighty forces of Aurangzeb without a grain of fear in his eyes. As he was clever in handling warfares many wars never required heavy bloodshed. He build his kingdom from few people living in hills to a huge army of more than 50000.
Two people were of huge influence in his life and they were his mother Jijabai and his teacher Dadaji Konddev.
Aurangzeb once said about him after his death “He was a great captain and the only one who had the magnanimity to raise a new Kingdom. My armies have been employed against him for nineteen years, and ,nevertheless, his state has been always increasing”
Two people were of huge influence in his life and they were his mother Jijabai and his teacher Dadaji Konddev.
Aurangzeb once said about him after his death “He was a great captain and the only one who had the magnanimity to raise a new Kingdom. My armies have been employed against him for nineteen years, and ,nevertheless, his state has been always increasing”
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