Shivaji's 1664 sack of Surat dealt a major blow to Mughal prestige and funded Maratha expansion with enormous plundered wealth.
Key Facts
- Start Date
- 5 January 1664
- End Date
- 13 January 1664
- Duration of plunder
- 6 days
- City destruction
- Two-thirds of Surat burnt down
- Loot transferred to
- Rajgad, Western Ghats near Poona
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Surat was the Mughal empire's wealthiest maritime trade hub on the Arabian Sea, making it a high-value target for Shivaji, who sought resources to fund his nascent Maratha State and to undermine Mughal authority in the Deccan region.
On 5 January 1664, Shivaji led a surprise Maratha assault on Surat, overwhelming the Mughal garrison commanded by Inayat Khan. The attack was so sudden that residents had no time to flee. Maratha forces plundered the city for six days, burning two-thirds of it before withdrawing.
The Marathas defeated the Mughal military unit at Surat and transferred the enormous loot to the fortress of Rajgad in the Western Ghats. The raid severely damaged Mughal prestige, disrupted their maritime trade revenues, and provided Shivaji's Maratha State with significant financial resources for further campaigns.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Shivaji.
Side B
1 belligerent
Inayat Khan.