Latest / The Rise of Colonialism: How Europe Divided the World — Fexingo History / The Maratha Navy: How Shivaji Challenged European Sea Power
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- Lucas: So far we've talked a lot about European navies carving up the Indian Ocean — the Portuguese carracks, the Dutch fluyts, the English galleons. But we haven't really looked at how indigenous powers fought back at sea. And one of the most fascinating examples is the Maratha navy under Shivaji Maharaj. Luna: The Marathas — they were mostly a land-based power, weren't they? I mean, Shivaji is famous for his guerrilla warfare in the Western Ghats. Lucas: Exactly right. But Shivaji realised early on that if he wanted to protect his coastline and challenge the Europeans, he needed a navy. The western coast of India — the Konkan coast — was dotted with Portuguese fortresses, English factories, and the Siddi of Janjira, who were allies of the Mughals. So in the 1650s, Shivaji started building a fleet. Lucas: He didn't have deep-water ships like the Europeans. Instead, he used local designs — the gurab, a shallow-draft vessel with oars and sails, and the smaller galivat. These could hug the coast, navigate creeks, and launch surprise attacks. He also recruited local Koli fishermen as sailors — they knew every shoal and current. Luna: So it was asymmetrical warfare, but adapted to the sea. Lucas: Exactly. And it worked. In 1664, Shivaji's navy raided the Portuguese town of Bassein, and later they attacked English ships near Surat. The English East India Company was furious — they called the Marathas 'pirates', but they were really a state-sponsored navy. The most famous Maratha admiral, Kanhoji Angre, would become a terror to European shipping for decades. Lucas: Kanhoji Angre operated from the fort of Vijaydurg, which he made virtually impregnable. He would capture European merchantmen, demand ransom, and often release them after extracting concessions. The Portuguese, English, and Dutch all tried to destroy him, but he outmaneuvered them every time. Luna: Wait — the Siddi of Janjira. Who were they exactly? Lucas: The Siddi were African-origin rulers who controlled the island fortress of Janjira, just south of Bombay. They were allied with the Mughals and had a powerful navy of their own. Shivaji tried to take Janjira multiple times but failed — the fortress was almost impossible to storm from the sea. So the Marathas had to contend with both the Europeans and the Siddi. Lucas: After Shivaji's death in 1680, his successors continued the naval tradition. Kanhoji Angre served under Shivaji's grandson Shahu and became the de facto ruler of the Maratha coast. By the 1720s, he controlled a fleet of over 200 vessels and had built a network of coastal forts — Suvarnadurg, Gheria, and others. Luna: How did the Europeans respond to him? They must have tried to crush him. Lucas: They did. In 1721, a combined Portuguese and English fleet attacked Angre's stronghold at Vijaydurg. But Angre used his shallow-draft vessels to lure the heavy European ships into shallow waters, where they ran aground. Then his gurabs swarmed them. It was a humiliating defeat for the Europeans. The English called him 'the pirate Angria' and put a bounty on his head. Lucas: Angre died in 1729, but his sons continued the fight. However, internal Maratha politics weakened the navy. By the mid-18th century, the British Royal Navy had grown too powerful, and the Maratha fleet declined. Still, for nearly a hundred years, the Maratha navy was a force that no European power could ignore. Luna: It's amazing that a land-based kingdom could challenge Europe's best navies with fishing boats and local know-how. Lucas: It really shows that European dominance wasn't inevitable. The Marathas adapted, innovated, and for a long time held their own. It's a reminder that the story of colonialism at sea isn't just about European ships — it's also about the people who resisted them.