Vijaydurg

**VijayDurg Fort: The "Eastern Gibraltar"** * **1200:** First fortified as "Gheria" by Raja Bhoj II. * **1653:** Captured by Shivaji Maharaj, renamed "VijayDurg," and developed as a major Maratha naval base. * **1680-1689:** Maratha power declines after the death of Shivaji Maharaj and the brutal torture/death of his successor Chhatrapati Sambhaji (March 21, 1689). Raigad Fort falls to Mughals. * **1698:** Kanhoji Angre (Conajee Angria) makes Vijaydurg his coastal capital. He rises as the "Powerful and independent Naval Chief of West coast of India," given the title Sarkhel (Admiral) by Tarabai. * **1707:** Aurangzeb dies. Shahu (Sambhaji's son) is released and claims the throne against Tarabai's son, Shivaji II. Shahu ultimately wins. * **1713:** Balaji Vishvanath (Peshwa) negotiates with Kanhoji Angre, securing his allegiance to Satara. Kanhoji retains command of the Maratha fleet and 26 forts. * **1729 (July 4):** Kanhoji Angre dies. * **Fort Legacy:** The oldest fort on the Sindhudurg coast. Unconquerable ("Eastern Gibraltar"), it withstood British and Dutch naval attacks under Kanhoji Angre. * **1756:** Angre control ends after the Peshwa-British Alliance defeats the Angres clan. * **1818:** Vijaydurg falls completely to the British Empire. * **Post-Kanhoji:** Short reigns by Sarfoji and Sambhaji. Later, brother Tulaji Angre (favored by Chhatrapati Shahu and appointed Sarkhel) ruled Vijaydurg, while Manaji ruled Kulaba, creating two spheres of influence.