Shivaji Bhosale (19 February 1630 - 3 April 1680); was the founder of the Maratha Empire; which lasted until 1820; and at its peak covered much of the Indian subcontinent. An aristocrat of the Bhosle Maratha clan; Shivaji led a resistance against the Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur and the Mughal Empire and established Hindavi Swarajya ('self-rule of Hindu people'). He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital; and was crowned Chhatrapati ('paramount sovereign') of the Marathas in 1674.

Shivaji established a competent and progressive civil rule with the help of a disciplined military and well-structured administrative organisations. He innovated military tactics; pioneering guerrilla warfare methods which employed strategic factors like geography; speed; and surprise and focused pinpoint attacks to defeat his larger and more powerful enemies.

From a small contingent of 2;000 soldiers inherited from his father; Shivaji created a force of 100;000 soldiers; he built and restored strategically located forts both inland and along the coast to safeguard his territory. He revived ancient Hindu political traditions and court conventions; and promoted the usage of Marathi and Sanskrit; rather than Persian; in court and administration.