History before Shivaji Maharaj

Before Shivaji Maharaj, the history of the region now known as Maharashtra saw a succession of rulers and empires, with the Marathas already known as a clan of brave warriors. From the 6th century CE to the 8th century, the Chalukya dynasty ruled, and the name “Maharashtra” appears in a 7th-century inscription. The region was also ruled by the Rashtrakutas, the Western Chalukyas, and the Yadavas (Seunas). In the 16th century, the Portuguese occupied Mumbai, and by the time Shivaji came to power, the region was under the influence of the Bijapur Sultanate and the Mughal Empire.