Hambirrao Mohite

Hambirrao Mohite was the chief military commander in the army of the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. An able military general, he executed several campaigns for Chhatrapari Shivaji Maharaj and later served under Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.[1]

Hambirrao Mohite
Nickname(s)Sarnaubat
Born1630
Talbid, Satara, Ahmednagar Sultanate
(Now in Maharashtra, India)
Died1687 (aged 57)
Wai, Maratha Empire
AllegianceMaratha Empire
Service/branchMaratha Army
Years of service1670-1687
RankSenapati (Military general)
RelationsSoyarabai (sister), Tarabai (daughter), Tukabai (aunt)

Early life

Hambirrao was born in a Mohite-Chavhan Clan of 96 kuli Maratha to Sambhaji Mohite, a military chieftain. He grew up with 2 brothers. Harifrao, Shankarji and 2 sisters named Soyarabai and Annubai. Soyrabai later married Chatrapati Shivaji maharaj, which made Hambirrao Chatrapati Shivaji maharaj's brother-in-law. His paternal aunt, Tukabai was married to Shahaji Bhosale, the father of Shivaji and was instrumental in establishing the Mohites to royal favour.

After Prataprao Gujar's death, Shivaji maharaj made Hambirrao his Sarsenapati (commander).[1]

Attack on Burhanpur
Main article: Sacking of Burhanpur (1681)

Burhanpur was a major trade center connecting southern and northern India and had a total of 17 trade centers in the city. On 30 January 1681, Hambirrao Mohite and Sambhaji suddenly attacked Burhanpur. At that time the Subedar of Burhanpur was Jehan Khan. Only 200 soldiers were positioned in Burhanpur, while Hambirrao had an army of 20,000. The Mughals did not have the strength to oppose Hambirrao's army. Marathas got assets worth more than 1 crore hons in this battle.[2]

On 17 March 1683, Hambirrao defeated Ranamast Khan, one of the most powerful chieftains of Aurangzeb, in a battle at Kalyan-Bhiwandi.

Accession of Sambhaji
Main article: Sambhaji

After Shivaji's death in 1680, Mohite's sister tried to remove Sambhaji and place her own son, the ten-year-old prince Rajaram on the throne.[3] Mohite was away from Raigad at the time and was asked to rush back. On his return his sister requested him to ensure the army's support to her son as the next Chhatrapati of the Maratha kingdom.[4]

Hambirrao went to Panhala on context of arresting Sambhaji but changed allegiance and backed the older son of Shivaji against his own sister. This ensured the accession of Sambhaji and the failure of the conspiracy hatched by Soyarabai.[5]

Death
Main article: Battle of Wai

In 1687, in a battle fought near Wai province, Hambirrao defeated Sarja Khan, but a cannonball hit Hambirrao leading to his death.[6]

The film Sarsenapati Hambirrao is based on his life.[7]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hambirrao Mohite.
  1. Pratik Gupta (2014). Maratha Generals and Personalities. p. 43.
  2. Sawant, Indrajit. Marathyanche Swatantrayuddha Bhag 1 - Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
  3. Maharani Tarabai of Kolhapur, C. 1675-1761 A.D.,Śālinī Pāṭīla, pg 22
  4. Gordon, Stewart (1993). The Marathas 1600–1818 (1st publ. ed.). New York: Cambridge University. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-521-26883-7. Retrieved 5 June 2016
  5. J. L. Mehta (1 January 2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India: Volume One: 1707–1813. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 4,47. ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  6. Joshi, Pandit Shankar. Chhatrapati Sambhaji, 1657-1689 AD. New Delhi: S. Chand, 1980. p241
  7. Sarsenapati Hambirrao (2022) - IMDb, retrieved 2022-05-14
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