Vijaydurg Fort

Vijaydurg Fort
विजयदूर्ग किल्ला
Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra

Bastions of Vijaydurg fort
Vijaydurg Fort
Coordinates 16°33′39″N 73°20′00″E / 16.5607°N 73.3334°E / 16.5607; 73.3334
Type Sea fort
Site information
Open to
the public		 Yes
Site history
Built 1193 (1193)
Built by Bhoja II
Materials Stone, Mortar

Vijaydurg (sometimes written as Viziadurg), the oldest fort on the Sindhudurg coast, was constructed during the regime of Raja Bhoja II of the Shilahar dynasty (construction period 1193-1205) and restructured by Shivaji Maharaj.[1][2][3]

Earlier, the fort encompassed an area of 5 acres (1 acre = 4840 square yards or 4047 square metres) and was surrounded by sea on all four sides. Over the years the eastern trench was reclaimed and a road constructed thereon. Presently the area of fort is about 17 acres and is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. Shivaji extended the area of the fort by constructing three walls on the eastern side, each 36 metres high. He also constructed 20 bastions.[3]

According to legend, this is one of only two Maratha forts where Shivaji personally hoisted the saffron flag. The other fort is Torna.[3]

Vijaydurg Fort was called the "Eastern Gibraltar", as it was virtually impregnable.[4] Its locational advantages include the 40 km long Waghotan/Kharepatan creek. Large vessels cannot enter the shallow water of this creek. Also, Maratha warships could be anchored in this creek and yet remain invisible from the sea. It is a protected monument.[4][5]

Etymology

The name Vijaydurg comes from two words, "Vijay" meaning Victory and "Durg" meaning Fort. The fort was earlier known as "Gheria", as it is situated close to the village of "Girye". Shivaji captured this fort from Adil Shah of Bijapur in 1653 and renamed it as "Vijay Durg" as the then Hindu solar year's name was "Vijay" (Victory).[4]

Location

Vijaydurg fort is located at the tip of the peninsular region of Vijaydurg in Devgad Taluka, of district Sindhudurg. It is one of the several coastal forts on the western coast of Maharashtra, India. It is surrounded by water on three sides and connected to land through a narrow road. The port adjacent to the fort is a natural port and is still used by local fishermen.[4]

History

In 1653 Shivaji Maharaj had captured this fort from Adil Shah of Bijapur and renamed it as “VijayDurg”. The original name of the fort was “Gheria” and the first fortification appears to have been constructed in 1200 during the regime of Raja Bhoj II. Shivaji developed Vijaydurg as an important base for Maratha warships.[4]

Maratha Empire looked to be in a decline after death of Shivaji In 1680, when his son and successor Chhatrapati Sambhaji was captured by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and brutally tortured to death on 21 March 1689. Later in that year the fort of Raigad fell in the hand of Mughals. Wife of Shambhaji and his infant son Shahu along with many others were captured and were treated as state prisoners.[4]

Shivaji’s second wife’s son Raja Ram then took in charge of the Maratha Empire. Inspired by the valiant death of Shambhaji, they fought back against the Mughals. It was during his reign Kanhoji Angre alias Conajee Angria became admiral of naval army of the Marathas. In 1698, Kanhoji made Vijaydurg the capital of his territory along the coast.[4]

In 1700 Raja Ram died. Tara Bai,the brave widow of Raja Ram took over the control of Maratha Empire. Putting her infant son on Maratha throne styled as “Shivaji II”, Tara Bai led successful operations against the Mughal from 1700 to 1707. Taking advantage of discomfiture of Shivaji’s ruling house Kanhoji Angre became the most “Powerful and independent Naval Chief of West coast of India”. Tarabai gave Kanhoji title of Sarkhel (Admiral). At one time Kanhoji Angre was master of the whole coast from Bombay (Now Mumbai) to Vengurla.[4]

The successors of Maratha Empire
Painting done by unknown artist in 1685 near Golconda as per records found at British Library 
Original painting Of Rajaram Maharaj 
Maharani Tarabai lead the Marathas in the 27 year war with Mughals after death of her husband Rajaram 
Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre. Admiral of Maratha Navy 1698 - 1729 

Aurangzeb died in 1707 and Shahu was released from the clutches of Mughals. He challenged Tarabai and her son’s legitimacy to the Maratha throne. The Marathas were divided but ultimately Shahu won the right to the throne as Chhatrapati and Tarabai was retreated to rule a small area of Kolhapur under the name of his son Shivaji II in 1713. She was later overthrown and imprisoned till her death by her husband’s second wife Rajas Bai.[4]

In the same year, Shahuji sent his Peshwa (Prime Minister), Balaji Vishvanath from his headquarters at Satara to negotiate with Kanhoji Angre. Kanhoji agreed to acknowledge allegiance to Satara and shift his loyalty from Tarabai. In return Kanhoji was confirmed command of the Maratha fleet, and granted twenty-six forts and fortified places with their dependent villages.[4]

Vijaydurg is said to be the oldest fort in Sindhudurg coast. In the Pre-Independence era it was also known as “Eastern Gibraltar”. This is because the fort was almost unconquerable. Under the leadership of Kanhoji Angre, it withstood many naval attacks by the British and the Dutch. Kanhoji Angre died on 4 July 1729 and the Angres control of the fort ended in 1756 after the Peshwa-British Alliance defeated the Angres clan. In 1818 Vijaydurg was completely in the hand of the British Empire.[4]

Battle of Vijaydurg

Battle of Vijaydurg

Storming of Gheria
DateJan-Feb 1756
LocationVijaydurg Fort, Maharashtra, India
Result British & Peshwa victory
Belligerents
Maratha Empire

East India Company

Nanasaheb Peshwa
Commanders and leaders
Tulaji Angre

Admiral Watson

Nanasaheb Peshwa
Strength

2000 men
250 cannons

200 ships

500 British marines
20 British ships

1000 Marathas under Peshwa
Casualties and losses

500+ men
Tulaji Angre arrested

Fort captured by British Marines		 Nil

After the death of Kanhoji Angre, there were two short reigns by Sarfoji and Sambhaji. The two brothers Manaji and Tulaji started fighting for the Angre throne. Nanasaheb Peshwe had intervened in the disputes between Manaji and Tulaji. This created two spheres of influence, Manaji in the north at Kulaba and Tulaji in the south at Vijaydurg. Tulaji Angre was favored by Chhatrapati Shahu and was appointed as Sarkhel (Admiral) of the Maratha Navy. This was against the will of Nanasaheb Peshwa.[6]

Sarkhel Tulaji

Tulaji was brave and a much more skillful seaman than Manaji. This had gained him the favor of Chhatrapati Shahu. In a brief span, he had surpassed the record of his predecessors in the number of English ships captured: Charlotte of Madras, William of Bombay, Svern of Bengal and, Darby, Restoration, Pilot, Augusta and Dadabhoi of Surat. He had also captured Anjanvel from the Siddis of Janjira. Another reason for the Peshwa to go against Tulaji was that, Tulaji refused to admit the Peshwa as his superior, maintaining that both were equal servants of the Chhatrapati. He refused to pay revenue contribution and even annoyed the Peshwa by raiding his territory. Nanasaheb could do nothing as long as Shahu was alive, but after his death in 1749, Peshwa was free to wreck his vengeance on Tulaji.[6]

Death of Chhatrapati and rise of Peshwa

After the death of Chhatrapati Shahu, Peshwa was the next most influential ruler among the ones with huge armies and numerous land forts under his command or at his disposal under ownership of his vassals. Nanasaheb sought assistance of the English at Bombay to end Tulaji's reign. A treaty was signed according to which a ground force under command of the Peshwa and a naval force under command of the Company would attack and destroy Tulaji. Among other articles, the treaty provided that Fort Vijaydurg, when captured, would be given to the Peshwa.[6]

Fall of Suvarnadurg

In 1755, Commodore James of Bombay attacked the fort Suvarnadurg while the Peshwa's army started capturing land and other coastal forts of Angre. This isolated Suvarnadurg from landward. Commodore James first bombarded the fort from the west. 800 shots and shells were expended at a range of 100 yards, but the walls did not collapse.[7] He then entered the channel between the fort and the coast and fired on the eastern face as well as the main gate. Both gave way. Some of the garrison tried to escape from the fort by a tunnel running into the sea, but were discovered and killed.[8] Considerable damage had been caused inside the fort by the bombardment and the garrison, finding no hope of relief or reinforcements, surrendered. Commodore James returned to Bombay for the monsoons.

Attack on Vijaydurg

After the fall of Suvarnadurg and all other forts of the Angre, Vijaydurg was the only fort left under the command of Tulaji. In 1756, a large force under Admiral Watson converged on Vijaydurg. Watson had arrived at Bombay from eastern waters and had with him Colonel Clive with 500 marines. The English ships took station with Watson flying his flag on the Protector. Two bomb vessels were in the extreme east. The Maratha ships were anchored at the mouth of the creek, close to the fort. They all were bunched up, almost hull to hull. Amongst these was the Company's ship Restoration, which caught fire. The fire spread rapidly till the entire Angre fleet was destroyed, The bombardment of the fort had caused considerable damage inside the fort and magazine had been blown up.[6]

Fall of Vijaydurg

Tulaji, meanwhile had left the fort and gone to the Peshwa's camp seeking a negotiation but was promptly arrested and sent to one of the inland forts as a prisoner. The garrison was asked to surrender and in the absence of any response Clive landed his marines on 11 February 1756, entered and captured the fort. A huge amount of booty was captured. 250 pieces of cannons, stores and ammunition, 100,000 Rupees and 30,000 in valuable items fell into English hands.[6] Vijaydurg was not handed over immediately to the Peshwa as per the terms of the treaty. It was eventually given up but only after the Company obtained Bankot in exchange.[9]

End of Maratha Naval Supremacy

The battle of Vijaydurg marks the end of the Maratha Navy as a potent force.[9] The Maratha Admiral Dhulap captured some ships later. The Sawants of Sawantwadi, the Chhatrapati of Kolhapur and the Gaikwads of Baroda, all had a few ships. But the command of the seas, for all practical purposes had passed to the Company permanently. they achieved this in 1756 only because of the alliance with the Peshwa.[9]

Features of Architectural Interest

Movies

The Vijaydurg Fort features in the movie Killa (The Fort), an Indian Marathi drama film directed by Avinash Arun. Killa's locations include Guhagar, the Vijaydurg Fort and Ganpatipule.[16][17] The cycle race between Chinmay (the lead character) and his friends to the fort lends the movie its title.

Some of the locals claim that Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer, a British scientist was observing a solar eclipse from this fort on 18 August 1868. The y claim that during his observation that the Helium Gas was discovered on Sun in the form of a yellow flame.
The published reports on the discovery of helium report, that helium was discovered by two scientists independently in 1868. French astronomer Jules Janssen observed helium emission lines on August 18, 1868 as a bright yellow line during a total solar eclipse in Guntur, India.[18] On October 20 of the same year, English astronomer Norman Lockyer observed a yellow line in the solar spectrum. He took the observation in West Hampstead, United Kingdom.[19] Norman Lockyer set up an observation post at the Vijaydurg Fort for the Solar eclipse of January 22, 1898. In his report he does not mention that he ever had been to the Fort before.[20] On that occasion a platform was built.

World Helium Day

Since 2009 World Helium Day is celebrated at the Fort. Friday, 18 August 2015, has a significance in the glory of the Fort and the Festival with the announcement of setting up of a Science Centre. The Festival was organised by Ex MLA of the area Shri. Pramod Jathar and Dr. Rajesh Ghangurde, Director, The Big Discovery with students and locals The platforms at the fort are called 'Sahebache katte' (The Englishman’s platform)

World Helium Day Celebration

See also

References

  1. ↑ Coastal Konkan - Forts, Temples, Exotic Beaches
  2. ↑ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p. 207. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  3. 1 2 3 "Top 5 Forts in Maharashtra: Revisiting History This Monsoon". India Destinations. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Konkan Odyssey - Part 4
  5. ↑ "List of the protected monuments of Mumbai Circle district-wise" (PDF).
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Naravane, M. S.; Battles of the Honorary East India Company: Making of the Raj, op cit page 103, New Delhi, 2006
  7. ↑ Keay, I., op cit page 267
  8. ↑ Keay, I., op cit page 268
  9. 1 2 3 Naravane, M. S.; Battles of the Honorary East India Company: Making of the Raj, op cit page 104, New Delhi, 2006
  10. ↑ Vijaydurg Marvels
  11. ↑ TOI EPaper - Underwater Secrets!
  12. ↑ Nature Club Holidays - One Day Forts
  13. ↑ konkanonline.com - Vijaydurg Fort
  14. ↑ India Travel Guide - Forts - Maharashtra - Vijaydurg
  15. ↑ India Today - Shivaji's citadels are crumbling with neglect
  16. ↑ Scroll.in - Decorated Marathi movie ‘Killa’ is a sensitive portrayal of the wonder and blunder years
  17. ↑ Diary of a Dancebee - Film Review | Killa (The Fort)
  18. ↑ Kochhar, R. K. (1991). "French astronomers in India during the 17th – 19th centuries". Journal of the British Astronomical Association. 101 (2): 95–100. Bibcode:1991JBAA..101...95K.
  19. ↑ Cortie, A. L. "Sir Norman Lockyer, 1836-1920". Astrophysical Journal. 53: 233–248. Bibcode:1921ApJ....53..233C. doi:10.1086/142602.
  20. ↑ Lockyer, Norman; Chisholm-Batten, R. N.; Pedler, A. (1901). "Total Eclipse of the Sun, January 22, 1898. Observations at ViziadrugAuthor". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. 197: 151–227. JSTOR 90835. doi:10.1098/rsta.1901.0017.
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