Siege of Janjira | |||||||
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Part of Deccan Wars | |||||||
Murud-Janjira fort | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Siddis of Janjira Mughal Empire |
![]() ![]() Supported by rebels aganist Aurangzeb under Prince Akbar | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Siddi Yaqub Siddi Qasim Siddi Khairiyat |
Sambhaji Prince Akbar Durgadas Rathore Dadaji Raghunath Deshpande Kondaji Farzand ![]() | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Unknown | 20,000 Men | ||||||
Location within Maharashtra |
The Siege of Janjira was a military campaign undertaken by the Maratha Confederacy, commanded by Sambhaji, the second Maratha ruler, against the Siddis of Janjira in January 1682. The Maratha forces, led by Sambhaji, withdrew from Janjira to the Konkan region in response to Mughal attacks, leaving a contingent behind under the command of Dadaji Raghunath Deshpande. Despite their efforts, the Marathas were unable to capture the fort, and the Siddis pursued the retreating forces, plundering Maratha territories.
The Siddis of Janjira, who allied with the Mughal Empire following the fall of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, posed a significant threat to the Marathas of Konkan. During Shivaji's reign, several unsuccessful attempts were made to capture Janjira, the Siddi's capital. After Shivaji's death, his son Sambhaji, along with Prince Akbar, the rebellious son of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, and the Rajputs of Marwar, sought to besiege the Janjira fort. Initially, Sambhaji dispatched his commander Dadaji Raghunath Deshpande, later joining the siege himself. However, continuous Mughal attacks on the Konkan region forced Sambhaji to withdraw at an interval. Following Sambhaji's departure, the remaining Maratha forces were compelled to retreat from Janjira, resulting in heavy casualties among the Marathas.