Shivaji was born in Junnar (Shivneri Fort) which is 100 km east of Mumbai. According to the Maharashtra government, the warrior-king's birth anniversary falls on 19 February.
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He was called the ‘Father of Indian Navy’ for his strategic plan to protect the coastline from other rulers. He established the navy, which no other Indian ruler ever did.
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Shivaji was known for his secular reign and had a sizeable number of Muslims employed in his army. His main aim was to overthrow Mughal rule and create a Maratha empire in the region.
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When he was only16-years-old, Shivaji captured his first fort "Torna" (Tornagad) or "Prachandagad". This marked his first big step towards building a Maratha empire.
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Shivaji is known for his famous guerilla tactics. His father had left him 2,000 soldiers which he with his intelligence and great warfare strategies converted to 10,000 soldiers.
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His combat with Afzal Khan is very popular. He defeated the veteran with a single strike when they had met in a hut where they were allowed to carry a single sword.
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Shivaji passed away on 3 April, 1680 at the age of 52