 |
| Koli Raja Ramrao Patil, Janjira island, 1489 |
The
Raja Ramrao Patil, also written as
Itwarrao Koli in some historical texts, was the
Koli king and founder of
Janjira Island. He was also the
Admiral of the
Ahmednagar Sultanate's
Ahmednagar Navy during reign of
Sultan Burhan Nizam Shah. Ramrao Patil initially settled and fortified Janjira Island. At the time Janjira Island was established by the Koli king Ramrao Patil, the Janjira Fort was known as
Madhekot fort.
 |
| Koli chief Ramrao Patil of Janjira island, 1489 |
Ramrao Patil was the
commander-in-chief of the
Ahmednagar navy, Despite his position as commander-in-chief, he was more preoccupied with administering his own Janjira Island (Madhekot) than the Ahmednagar Sultanate, leading to a rift between the Sultan of Ahmednagar and the Koli king of Janjira, Ramrao Patil. Due to this conflict, the Koli king of Janjira, Ramrao Patil, refused to obey the orders of the Nizam Sultan of Ahmednagar. Sultan Ahmed Nizam Shah of the Ahmednagar Sultanate appointed a new Admiral of the Ahmednagar Navy, named
Piram Khan Siddi.
 |
| Madhekot (Janjira) fort of Koli raja Ramrao Patil |
Koli king Ramrao Patil of Janjira collected taxes from ships passing near Janjira. Consequently, Sultan Ahmed Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar found the Kolis' Janjira Fort a highly advantageous location and expressed his desire to capture Janjira. Following this, Sultan Ahmed Nizam Shah of the Ahmednagar Sultanate ordered his Admiral Piram Khan Siddi and trusted warrior
Bhairam Khan Siddi to attack Koli king Ramrao Patil's fort in Janjira with the Ahmednagar navy and warships and to capture Janjira.
 |
| Koli chief Ramrao Patil of Janjira island, 1489 |
Pirm Khan Siddi, the new admiral of Ahmednagar navy, marched from Surat with a fleet of ships to attack Janjira, but when Pirm Khan Siddi saw the fortifications of the Kolis at Janjira, he did not dare to attack Ramrao Patil because Pirm Khan Siddi had served under Ramrao Patil as a soldier and Pirm Khan Siddi knew the war strategies of Koli king Ramrao Patil. Therefore, Pirm Khan Siddi stayed in the sea for many days but did not have the courage to attack Ramrao Patil. Pirm Khan Siddi planned to enter the Janjira fort as a businessman. Pirm Khan Siddi went to Koli king Ramrao Patil as a merchant and with folded hands requested Ramrao Patil that I am a merchant and I have 300 big boxes of liquor and silk on my ships and the weather at sea is bad, please help me and get my silk and liquor boxes stored in a safe place in your fort. I will pay you tax as well as many more. Koli King Ramrao Patil had some boxes inspected and permission granted to Piram Khan Siddi and Piram Khan Siddi's boxes stored safely. Half of these boxes contained Piram Khan Siddi's soldiers.
 |
| Madhekot (Janjira) fort Koli chief Ramrao Patil, 1489 |
To thank the Koli King of Janjira, Ramrao Patil, Piram Khan Siddi gave liquor to Ramrao Patil, his chief soldiers, and his associates. He also made the women who had come with Piram Khan Siddi dance to Ramrao Patil's tune. When the Koli King and other Kolis became intoxicated, Piram Khan Siddi secretly ordered his soldiers from the large boxes and began a massacre. After this, the Janjira fort fell to Ahmednagar, and Ahmednagar's Sultan Ahmed Nizam Shah appointed Piram Khan Siddi as the commander and administrator of Janjira.
 |
| Koli king, Ramrao Patil of Janjira island, 1489 |
 |
| Koli king Ramrao Patil, Janjira island, 1489 |
 |
| Madhekot island (Janjira island) of Koli Raja Ramrao Patil |
 |
| Madhekot (Janjira) fort of Koli Raja Ramrao Patil |
 |
| Madhekot Island (Janjira island) of Koli Raja Ramrao Patil |
 |
| Madhekot Island (Janjira island) of Koli Raja Ramrao Patil |
 |
| Madhekot Island (Janjira island) of Koli Raja Ramrao Patil |
See more Koli articles
Comments
Post a Comment