Sambhaji raje Bhonsle was the elder son of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and succeeded him as the Maratha leader after Shivaji's death in 1680.

Sambhaji was a scholar of Sanskrit and eight other languages. He led the Maratha's fight against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who had invaded the Deccan in 1682 to end Maratha raids on Mughal territory, suppress Maratha independence, and to conquer the last of the independent Deccan sultanates. Sambhaji was captured in an ambush by Mughal troops in 1688. He refused to convert to Islam, and shortly thereafter died while being tortured and dismembered; in so doing earned the title of Dharmaweer. He was succeeded as leader of the Marathas by his younger brother Rajaram .

There is some dispute among historians about his ability as a ruler. Some historians have portrayed him as ineffective and/or alcoholic. Other historians, notably S.G. Shevde, portray Sambhaji as a capable ruler.

References

Sawant, Shivaji (Translated by Ved Kumar). Chhava. A Marathi historical novel.