Former Indian principality
Jaoli (or Jawali) principality was a Jagir of Maratha Morè (clan) which is located in the western part of the present day Maharashtra state. Jaoli was seen as a strategically important by Shivaji Maharaj as it is surrounded by dense forest with 13 forts.[citation needed]
History
The state was centered on the valley surrounding Jaoli.[1] Parsoji Moré a high ranking Maratha noble under Yusuf Adil Shah was sent in konkan to finish of the remnants of Shirke chiefs in konkan, by doing so he established the Jaoli state as a vassal of Adilshahi Sultanate and received the title Chandra Rao which his descendants continued to bear. Parsoji was the son of Bajirao Moré who was a noble under the Vijayanagara Empire and a descent of Mauryas of Konkan a branch of the Imperial Mauryan Empire. In the 1650s, it was ruled by Yashwantrao Moré who called himself the king of Konkan. He claimed to rule by the divine sanction of the god Mahabaleshwar (an aspect of Shiva), and had been formally recognized as the local Raje (king) by the Adil Shah.[2]
Around 1656, Shivaji Maharaj - Son of Shahaji Maharaj (another commander of Adil Shah) forcibly captured Jaoli in the Battle of Javali. Shivaji Maharaj, who had similarly captured other territories in the area, justified his action to the Adil Shah, arguing that he governed these territories better than the deposed rulers did. However, the Adil Shah doubted Shivaji Maharaj's loyalty, and sent his general Afzal Khan against Shivaji Maharaj. Shivaji Maharaj defeated Afzal Khan, and went on to establish an independent kingdom that evolved into the Maratha Empire.[2]
See also
References
17°59′N 74°25′E / 17.99°N 74.42°E / 17.99; 74.42
