The next two years Sambhaji spent on
consolidating his own position against his rival Rajaram. He,
therefore, made peace overtures to the Portuguese. However, no peace
treaty was signed and in 1682 Sambhaji prepared to attack Anjediva.
The Portuguese hastily fortified Anjediva in spite of Sambhaji's
protests. When in 1682 the Mughals attacked Sambhaji, the Portuguese
permitted the Mughal armies to pass through their territories.
Sambhaji attacked and looted the Portuguese villages and the
Portuguese in turn attacked some Maratha ships. The Portuguese also
refused to pay the tribute for Daman under the plea that Sambhaji
did not control the entire territory of the Raja of Ramnagar. In
January 1683 a Mughal envoy came to the Portuguese and proposed a
combined attack on Sambhaji. The Portuguese accepted most of the
other terms proposed by the Mughals but did not agree to enter into
a war against Sambhaji. In the middle of 1683, Sambhaji attacked and
took over Chaul. The Portuguese attacked Ponda. However, Sambhaji
was able to reinforce his troops in Ponda and defeated the
Portuguese. He then attacked the Portuguese fort of Juve and took it
over. Later, he attacked Bardez and also tookover the Forts of Tivim
and Chapora. Salcete was also occupied the same day when Bardez was
takenover. All seemed to be over for the Portuguese who were in no
position to oppose Sambhaji. However, once again a Mughal attack on
Sambhaji saved the day for the Portuguese. The Mughal Army entered
Konkan and Bicholim. Sambhaji vacated Bardez and Salcete and entered
into a Treaty with the Portuguese. Later on, both the Portuguese and
Sambhaji did not stick to the provisions of this Treaty. Sambhaji
continued to retain the Fort of Bardez and reinforced his troops at
Ponda in preparation for an assault on Goa. However, Sambhaji died
in 1689 when Aurangzeb got him killed. Aurangzeb wanted the
Portuguese to entered into a Treaty with Shivaji and along with
other things promised to control the Desais. The prisoners were
released. Next year, Shivaji again camped in Bicholim. Over 500 of
his agents were driven away by the Portuguese who it seems
discovered the plot to takeover Goa just in time. In 1666, Shivaji
also attacked Ponda which was garisoned by the Adil Shah troops. The
Desais and the Portuguese aided these troops to successfully resist
Shivaji. When in 1672, Shivaji conquered the Raja of Ramnagar near
Daman, he demanded the tribute due to the Raja from the Portuguese
of Daman. The Portuguese delayed the payment of the tribute and also
helped the Raja of Ramnagar to continue the struggle. However, in
1677, Shivaji finally defeated the Raja. He now prepared to attack
Goa. In the meantime in 1675, Shivaji had again besieged Ponda and
conquered it in spite of the aid sent by the Portuguese in Goa to
the Sultans troops in Ponda. All was ready when the untimely death
of Shivaji in 1680 saved the Portuguese.
The next two years Sambhaji spent on consolidating his own position
against his rival Rajaram. He, therefore, made peace overtures to
the Portuguese. However, no peace treaty was signed and in 1682
Sambhaji prepared to attack Anjediva. The Portuguese hastily
fortified Anjediva in spite of Sambhaji's protests. When in 1682 the
Mughals attacked Sambhaji, the Portuguese permitted the Mughal
armies to pass through their territories.
Sambhaji attacked and looted the Portuguese villages and the
Portuguese in turn attacked some Maratha ships. The Portuguese also
refused to pay the tribute for Daman under the plea that Sambhaji
did not control the entire territory of the Raja of Ramnagar. In
January 1683 a Mughal envoy came to the Portuguese and proposed a
combined attack on Sambhaji. The Portuguese accepted most of the
other terms proposed by the Mughals but did not agree to enter into
a war against Sambhaji. In the middle of 1683, Sambhaji attacked and
took over Chaul. The Portuguese attacked Ponda. However, Sambhaji
was able to reinforce his troops in Ponda and defeated the
Portuguese. He then attacked the Portuguese fort of Juve and took it
over. Later, he attacked Bardez and also took over the Forts of
Tivim and Chapora. Salcete was also occupied the same day when
Bardez was taken over. All seemed to be over for the Portuguese who
were in no position to oppose Sambhaji. However, once again a Mughal
attack on Sambhaji saved the day for the Portuguese. The Mughal Army
entered Konkan and Bicholim. Sambhaji vacated Bardez and Salcete and
entered into a Treaty with the Portuguese. Later on, both the
Portuguese and Sambhaji did not stick to the provisions of this
Treaty. Sambhaji continued to retain the Fort of Bardez and
reinforced his troops at Ponda in preparation for an assault on Goa.
However, Sambhaji died in 1689 when Aurangzeb got him killed.
Aurangzeb wanted the Portuguese to help him in tackling and
capturing Rajaram succeeded Sambhaji. All the Marathas joined hands
with Rajaram. Even the Konkan Desais forgot their quarrels with
Sambhaji and joined Rajaram. The Portuguese did not agree to the
request of the Mughals to arrest the families of the Desais who
joined forces with Rajaram. The Portuguese now decided that Rajaram
was better than the Mughals, but did not openly defy either. In
1694, a Maratha force entered Bardez and looted at will. The
Portuguese Viceroy nearly declared war, but peace. Was finally
declared. This lasted till Rajaram died in 1700.
The Mughals had captured Ponda in 1689. In 1702, the Marathas
attacked Ponda. The Portuguese sent the Bhonsle of Kudal to assist
the Mughals. Bhonsle even occupied Ponda for himself but the Mughals
recovered it in 1705. Thus, the Marathas were once again kept at
bay. The Mughal Maratha war ended with the death of Aurangzeb in
1707. For the next 30 years, Goa was left in peace by the Marathas
who concentrated on their internal quarrels and expansion to¬wards
the North.
