Raid of Surat by Marathas under the leadership of Shivaji
Raid of Surat by Marathas under the leadership of Shivaji Shivaji demanded tribute from the ruler of Surat, which was rejected by the Mughal Sardar. This angered Shivaj and he decided to attack Surat. The Mughal Sardar was very surprised by the suddenness of the attack and not willing to face the Maratha forces, he hid himself in the fort of Surat. However, there was an attempt of life on Shivaji by the emissary sent by the Mughal sardar. Surat was under attack for nearly three days, in which the Maratha army looted all possible wealth from Mughal and Portuguese trading centers. The Maratha soldiers took away cash, gold, silver, pearls, rubies, diamonds and emeralds from the houses of rich merchants such as Virji Vora, Haji Zahid Beg, Haji Kasim and others. The business of Mohandas Parekh, the deceased broker of the Dutch East India Company, was spared as he was reputed as a charitable man.Similarly. Shivaji did not plunder the houses of the foreign m...