Afzal Khan (general)

Afzal Khan was a Bijapuri general. Prominent in his own time, he is best known today for his death; he was killed as part of the Battle of Pratapgad by the Maratha king Shivaji outside Pratapgad in 1658.

Biography

Afzal Khan was the most powerful Sardar (Lord) in the court of the Bijapur Sultanate. He was responsible for the death of Shivaji's elder brother.

Death

He was sent by Ali Adil Shah II to curb the activities of Shivaji in the western Deccan. He destroyed several Hindu temples in an attempt to lure Shivaji out of the Western Ghat mountains and onto the plains. Temples destroyed by him include the temple of Tuljapur, Pandharpur and Shikhar Shinganapur. He slaughtered a cow in the temple of Tuljapur and attempted to destroy the idol of the goddess Bhavani, Shivaji's family idol. This latter plan was foiled by the Guravs (Kadam) of the Temple, who hid the original idol in their house and placed a fake idol in the temple.

Shivaji was not to be lured, and Afzal Khan met him at Pratapgad, a fort near the town of Satara, a location which was strategically advantageous for Shivaji's infantry. Afzal Khan attempted to garner support from local militarily independent landlords of Pratapgad, who nominally acknowledged the suzerainty of the Adil Shahi. The powerful nobleman Kanhoji Jedhe, as directed by Shahaji, helped Shivaji to counter these moves and attract their support.

Shivaji and Afzul arranged a meeting at a large tent at the foothills of Pratapgad. It was agreed that the meeting would be unarmed, and each man was to bring ten personal bodyguards, remaining one arrow-shot distance away. Both were prepared for treachery: Afzal hid a "kataar", a small and sharp dagger, in his coat. Shivaji wore armour under his clothes, and carried a weapon called "bagh nakh" ("tiger claws"), consisting of an iron finger-grip with four razor claws, which he concealed within his clenched fist.

As the two men entered the tent fixed for meeting, Khan pretended to greet Shivaji with a hug, and stabbed Shivaji in the back with his "kataar". However, Shivaji wore an iron gear under his coat and was saved. Shivaji opened his fist and disemboweled Khan with his "bagh nakh". Afzal managed to hold his gushing entrails and hurtled outside, faint and bleeding, and threw himself into his palanquin. But Khan was decapitated by one of Shivaji's bodyguards shortly down the slope. Sambhaji Kawaji and Jiva Mahala, two of Shivaji's bodyguards, were instrumental in protecting their king from Afzal's bodyguards.

Shivaji sped towards the fortress as his lieutenants ordered a bugle to be sounded. It was a pre-determined signal to his infantry, which had been strategically placed in the densely covered valley. All of Shivaji's generals, including his Senapati ("Army chief") Netaji Palkar launched a surprise attack and routed Afzal Khan's army. Afzal Khan's son managed to escape with help from Maratha generals including Khandaji Khopade. The severed head of Khan was sent to Rajgarh to be shown to Jijabai, Shivaji's mother. She wanted vengeance for the deliberate maltreatment of Shahaji, Shivaji's father, in his captivity by Afzal Khan, and for the death of her elder son, Sambhaji, who was treacherously killed by Afzal Khan.

Tomb

Afzal Khan was buried near Pratapgad.

References

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