Afzal Khan (general) - Revision history

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	{{Short description\|Indian Bijapur Sultanate general (d. 1659)}}		{{Short description\|Indian Bijapur Sultanate general (d. 1659)}}
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	{{Use Indian English\|date=August ~~2022~~}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=August 2019}}
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Afzal Khan		\| name = Afzal Khan

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	\| caption = A		\| caption = A painting of Afzal Khan, {{circa\|early 20th Century}}
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	\| death_date = {{death-date\|20 November 1659}} (10 November in [[Julian calendar]])		\| death_date = {{death-date\|20 November 1659}} (10 November in [[Julian calendar]])
	\| death_place = foot of the [[Pratapgad]] fort		\| death_place = foot of the [[Pratapgad]] fort

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Afzal Khan
| other names = Afzul Khan
| image = Afzul Khan - Early 20th Century.jpg
| image_size =
| alt = Afzal Khan
| caption = A
g of Afzal Khan, {{circa|early 20th Century}}
| death_date = {{death-date|20 November 1659}} (10 November in [[Julian calendar]])
| death_place = foot of the [[Pratapgad]] fort
| occupation = Military general
}}
'''Afzal Khan''' (died 20 November 1659) was a general who served the [[Adil Shahi dynasty]] of [[Bijapur Sultanate]] in India. He played an important role in the southern expansion of the Bijapur Sultanate by subjugating the [[Nayaka dynasties|Nayaka]] chiefs who had taken control of the former [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagara]] territory.

In 1659, the Bijapur government sent Afzal Khan to subjugate [[Shivaji]], a former vassal who had started acting independently. He was killed at a truce negotiation meeting with Shivaji, and his army was defeated at the [[Battle of Pratapgad]].

== Victory over the Nayakas ==

Amid the decline of the [[Vijayanagara Empire]], the Bijapur government campaigned against the [[Nayaka dynasties|Nayaka]] chiefs who had taken control of the former Vijayanagara territory. One of these chiefs was Virabhadra, the [[Nayakas of Keladi|Nayaka of Ikkeri]]. Kenge Nayaka (or Keng Nayak), the chief of Basavapattana and a discontented tributary of Virabhadra, helped the Bijapur army capture Ikkeri in exchange for 100,000 rupees, forcing Virabhadra to flee to [[Nagara (ancient city)|Bednur]].{{sfn|Shanti Sadiq Ali|1996|p=119}} Subsequently, the Bijapur government decided to capture the forts of [[Adoni]] and [[Tadipatri]], which were ruled by friends of Kenge Nayaka. Kenge Nayaka suggested that the march to these areas was difficult, and instead advised Bijapur to capture [[Bangalore]]. In exchange for this advice, Kenge Nayaka demanded the fort of [[Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka Fort|Sira]], which was located on the way to Bangalore.{{sfn|Shanti Sadiq Ali|1996|p=120}}

The Bijapur commander Randaula Khan sent a force led by Afzal Khan to capture Sira. Kasturi Ranga Nayaka, the commander of Sira, came out of the fort to negotiate with Afzal Khan, but Afzal Khan treacherously killed him. The defenders closed the fort gates before Afzal Khan could enter the fort, but Afzal Khan's contingent was soon reinforced by the main Bijapur army led by Randaula Khan. The Bijapur army captured the fort, and handed it over to Kenge Nayaka, while sending the captured wealth to Bijapur. Kenge Nayaka subsequently switched his allegiance to Bangalore, but then re-joined Bijapur, and convinced the Bangalore ruler Kempe Gowda to surrender his fort to Bijapur.{{sfn|Shanti Sadiq Ali|1996|p=120}}

Randaula Khan then invaded [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore]], whose ruler [[Kanthirava Narasaraja I]] negotiated peace by paying 500,000 rupees to Bijapur. Subsequently, Kenge Nayaka rebelled against Bijapur, and asserted independence at Basavapattana, where he raised an army of 70,000 soldiers to guard the fort. Randaula Khan then formed an alliance with his former overlord Virabhadra, the former Nayaka of Ikkeri, and besieged Basavapattana. Afzal Khan, along with [[Shahaji]] and some commanders of [[Siddi|African origin]], was deployed at the main gate of the Basavapattana fort. He entered the fort after a fierce battle, killed the guards, and captured the ''[[kasbah|qasba]]'' - the central part of the fortified town. Kenge Nayaka then launched three successive attacks against him, but Afzal Khan forced him to retreat. Encouraged by Afzal Khan's successes, the Bijapur forces attacked Kenge Nayaka's contingent from both sides. After losing 3,700 soldiers, Kenge Nayaka surrendered the fort, and agreed to pay Bijapur 4 million ''huns''. He was imprisoned, and later killed for attempting to bribe a guard for his release.{{sfn|Shanti Sadiq Ali|1996|p=121}}

Bijapur's victory over Kenge Nayaka frightened the other Nayakas of present-day Karnataka into accepting Bijapur's suzerainty.{{sfn|Shanti Sadiq Ali|1996|p=121}} Randaula Khan sent Afzal Khan to capture [[Chikkanayakana Halli]], whose chief (''raja'') offered to accept Bijapur's suzerainty. The chief was allowed to keep control of the town (''qasba'') in exchange for 20,000 ''huns'', but Afzal Khan took control of the fort. Afzal Khan then besieged the fort of [[Belur, Karnataka|Belur]], joined by the main Bijapur army. After a four-month long siege, the local chief Venkatapati started peace negotiations, offering to cede the fort of [[Sakrepatna]] near Belur. Ultimately, he became a vassal of Bijapur, as did the Nayaka of [[Tumkur]].{{sfn|Shanti Sadiq Ali|1996|p=122}}

== Campaign against Shivaji ==

Afzal Khan is best remembered for his campaign against [[Shivaji]], the founder of the kingdom that later evolved into the [[Maratha Empire]]. This campaign, which resulted in Afzal Khan's death, came to be highly celebrated in the [[Marathi literature]].{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=20}} The earliest sources that describe the episode include:{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=21}}

* ''[[Powada#Details|Afzal Khan Vadh]]'' ("The Killing of Afzal Khan"), [[powada]] composed by Agrindas or Ajnandas in 1659, and probably revised later; the earliest known heroic ballad in [[Marathi language]]
* Cantos 17-21 of ''Shiva-Bharata'', composed by Shivaji's court poet Paramananda at the time of his coronation in 1674
* ''Shri-Shiva-Prabhuche Charitra'' (or the ''[[Sabhasad Bakhar]]''), a chronicle composed by Krishnaji Anant Sabhasad under the patronage of Shivaji's son [[Rajaram I|Rajaram]] in 1697
* The ''[[Jedhe Shakawali]]'' (Jedhe chronology), records kept by the Jedhe aristocratic family

=== Background ===

Shivaji was a son of the Bijapur's general [[Shahaji]], who had fought alongside Afzal Khan. He administered Shahaji's fiefs in the [[Pune district|Pune region]], and had started acting independently of the Bijapur government. He had captured territories ruled by other subordinates of Bijapur, and had negotiated with the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Aurangzeb]], who had invaded the Bijapur Sultanate. Shivaji claimed to be a loyal servant of Bijapur, but the Bijapur government doubted his loyalty.{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=21}} During much of the 1650s, the Bijapur government had been unable to take any steps against Shivaji because it was busy dealing with the Mughal invasion, internal factional politics, and a succession dispute. After a peace treaty with the Mughals, and the general acceptance of [[Ali Adil Shah II]] as the king, the Bijapur government became more stable, and turned its attention towards Shivaji.{{sfn|Stewart Gordon|1993|p=66}}

Ali Adil Shah II was a minor whose mother had been the de facto ruler since the mid-1640s, when his father had fallen seriously ill. The decision of sending Afzal Khan against Shivaji was probably taken by his mother.{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=22}} An English letter sent by [[factor (agent)|factor]] Henry Revington to [[East India Company]], dated 10 December 1659, states that the queen advised Afzal Khan to pretend friendship with Shivaji, because military strength would not be enough to defeat Shivaji.{{sfn|Bal Krishna I|1932|p=22}}{{sfn|Bal Krishna II|1932|p=49}}

Shivaji reportedly commanded a 60,000 infantry after his conquest of [[Jawali, Maharashtra|Javli]].{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=64}} On the other hand, Afzal Khan's army - including infantry and cavalry - had 10,000 soldiers. This number is supported by the English letter, as well as ''Tarikh-i-Ali''.{{sfn|Bal Krishna I|1932|p=21}} Nicholas Gier claims that Maratha sources exaggerate the strength of Afzal Khan's forces in order to glorify Shivaji's victory, stating that it had as many as 35,000 infantry; 12,000 cavalry; and 500 cannons.{{sfn|Nicholas F. Gier|2014|p=17}} The ''[[Chitnis Bakhar]]'' states that Afzal Khan's army numbered 30,000 men; and Sabhasad states that it had 12,000 cavalry plus additional infantry. ''Shivaji-Pratpa'', ''Rairi Bakhar'', ''[[91 Qalami Bakhar]]'', and ''Tarikh-i-Shivaji'' state that Afzal Khan's army numbered 12,000.{{sfn|Bal Krishna I|1932|p=21}}

=== Desecration of temples ===

Afzal Khan, like the ruler of Bijapur, was a Muslim, while Shivaji was a Hindu. According to ''Shiva-Bharata'' (1674), composed under Shivaji's patronage, Afzal Khan's army started its march amid several evil [[omen]]s, such as falling meteors and thunderbolts in cloudless sky. The text states that Afzal Khan first came to [[Tuljapur]], where he destroyed the idol of Shivaji's family goddess [[Bhavani]], and slaughtered a [[cow in Hinduism|cow]] (considered holy by the Hindus) in front of [[Tulja Bhavani Temple|her temple]]. ''Afzal Khan Vadh'' states that Afzal Khan challenged the goddess to show her some miracle. He went on the desecrate the Hindu temples at [[Vithoba Temple|Pandharpur]] and Shikhar Shingnapur (Shambhu Mahadev).{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=22}}

Sabhasad also supports the account of Afzal Khan's desecrations at Tuljapur and [[Pandharpur]]. The ''[[Chitnis Bakhar]]'' and ''[[Shiva Digvijaya]]'' state that the idols at Tuljapur and Pandharpur were removed before Afzal Khan could destroy them.{{sfn|Bal Krishna I|1932|p=22}} The contemporary English letters of the [[East India Company]], the [[Dutch East India Company]]'s Dagh-register, and the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] records do not mention any desecration of temples by Afzal Khan.{{sfn|Bal Krishna I|1932|p=21}}

Afzal Khan finally encamped at [[Wai, Maharashtra|Wai]], a town that he had governed in the earlier years.{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=22}} Shivaji had taken up residence in the newly-fortified [[Pratapgad]], and Afzal Khan's desecration of Hindu sites was probably aimed at provoking Shivaji into leaving the safety of the fort.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=65}} These actions alienated the local Hindu ''deshmukhs'', who could have provided local support to Afzal Khan. Since Afzal Khan had governed the Wai region in the past, and knew it well, he presumed that he did not need such local support.{{sfn|Stewart Gordon|1993|p=67}}

=== Negotiations ===

At Wai, Afzal Khan wrote to local chiefs, seeking their support against Shivaji. Vithoji Haibat Rao, the ''deshmukh'' of Gunjan-[[Maval]], was asked to bring a contingent to Javli in Afzal Khan's support. Khandoji Khopde agreed to support Afzal Khan on the condition that he would be made the ''deshmukh'' of Rohidkhore, which was held by Shivaji's loyalist [[Kanhoji Jedhe]].{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=66}}

According to Sabhasad, Afzal Khan then sent his envoy Krishnaji Bhaskar to Shivaji, declaring that he was a great friend of Shivaji's father Shahaji. He promised that he would use his influence in the Bijapur court to get the king to officially recognize Shivaji's control over Konkan and various forts. He also promised to secure further distinction and military equipment for Shivaji from Bijapur. Finally, he declared that Shivaji was welcome to attend the Bijapur court, or be granted an exemption from personal attendance, if he so desired.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=66}}

Meanwhile, Afzal Khan's unchallenged march to Wai had greatly frightened Shivaji's followers. His well-equipped army had freely plundered the territory of Shivaji, who had confined himself to a fort instead of challenging Afzal Khan in an open battlefield. Both Sabhasad and ''Chitnis Bakhar'' state that Shivaji's counsellors urged him to avoid losses by negotiating peace with Afzal Khan.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=67}}

Texts such as ''Afzal Khan Vadh'' and ''Shiva-Bharata'' claim that the goddess Bhavani appeared in Shivaji's dream, warning him of Afzal Khan's treacherous plans, and assuring him of victory. After waking up, Shivaji prayed to the goddess, and resolved to either win against Afzal Khan or die fighting.{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=22}} He summoned the armies of his generals - [[Moropant Trimbak Pingle|Moro Trimbak Pingle]] from Konkan and [[Netaji Palkar]] from the [[Western Ghats|Ghats]] - close to Pratapgad.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=68}}

Shivaji treated Afzal Khan's envoy Krishnaji Bhaskar with respect, and met him secretly at night, urging him as a Hindu to divulge Afzal Khan's real intentions. Krishnaji hinted that Afzal Khan had treacherous plans. Shivaji then sent Krishnaji back to Afzal Khan with his own agent Gopinath Pant.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=69}} The envoy presented Shivaji as someone who respected Afzal Khan as an elder and an associate of his father, and as someone who was willing to submit easily.{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=22}} However, his real objective was to find the enemy's military strength and intentions. Sabhasad states that Gopinath bribed Afzal Khan's officers, and learned that Afzal Khan planned to arrest Shivaji at the meeting.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=69}}

After learning these details from Gopinath, Shivaji pretended that he was scared of Afzal Khan, and refused to come to Wai for a meeting.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=69}} Shivaji's envoy proposed a negotiation meeting with only a few bodyguards at Javli, located near the foot of the Pratpagad fort.{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=22}} Afzal Khan agreed, and accordingly, Shivaji ordered his men to clear forest and create a path from Wai to Pratapgad.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|pp=69-70}}

The place chosen for the meeting was a [[mountain crest|crest]] located below Pratapgad, overlooking the [[Koyna River]] valley. One day before the meeting, Afzal Khan marched to Par, a village near Pratapgad, via the Radtondi pass. His soldiers encamped in scattered places, close to water bodies near the source of the Koyna River. Meanwhile, Shivaji placed his soldiers in ambush at various intervals along the path leading to the meeting point. He set up luxurious tents at the meeting place.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=70}}

Before departing for the meeting, Shivaji left instructions for continuation of his government, in case he was killed at the meeting.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=68}}

=== Meeting with Shivaji and death ===
[[File:Death of Afzal Khan.jpg|thumb|left|A painting from the 1920s depicts [[Shivaji]] injuring Afzal Khan]]
[[File:WaghNakh weapon.jpg|thumb|[[Bagh nakh]] (or wagh nakh), the weapon used by Shivaji against Afzal Khan]]

Shivaji took precautionary measures to defend himself against Afzal Khan: he put on thin [[chain mail]] and an iron cap under his clothes, and concealed two weapons: the [[bagh nakh]] ("tiger claws" or metal hooks attached to fingers), and a sword said to be "possessed" by the goddess.{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=22}} He left for the meeting accompanied by two soldiers - his expert swordsman Jiva Mahala and Shambhuji Kavji, each of whom carried two swords and a shield.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=70}}

Afzal Khan left his camp at Par with an escort of 1,000 soldiers. However, Shivaji's envoy Gopinath argued that such a large escort would scare Shivaji away from the meeting, and convinced Afzal Khan to bring only two soldiers to the meeting, just like Shivaji. Accordingly, Afzal Khan left most of his escort at a short distance from the meeting place, and came to meet Shivaji in a ''[[Palanquin|palki]]'', accompanied by five men: two soldiers, his expert swordsman Sayyid Banda, and the Brahmin envoys Krishnaji and Gopinath.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=71}}

Shivaji, who was waiting at a distance from the meeting place, demanded that Sayyid Banda leave the tent where the meeting was scheduled. Afzal Khan agreed to the demand: both Afzal Khan and Shivaji now entered inside the tent, each accompanied by three men - two soldiers and an envoy.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=72}} Afzal Khan insulted Shivaji by calling him a peasant ({{transl|mr|kunbi}}) boy, and Shivaji responded by calling him a son of a fry cook ({{transl|mr|bhatari}}).{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=22}}

According to the Maratha texts, Afzal Khan asked Shivaji to submit to the Bijapuri king Adil Shah, and be recognized as a vassal lord. He pretended to embrace Shivaji, but then quickly stabbed him with a concealed weapon. Shivaji was protected by his chain mail, and retaliated.{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=23}} Afzal Khan then rushed out of the tent; his companion Sayyid Banda attacked Shivaji, but was killed by Jiva Mahala.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=73}} This event is remembered in a [[Marathi language]] idiom ''Hōtā Jivā Mhaṇun Vāchlā Shivā'' ("Because of Jiva; Shivaji survived the attack").<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-we-are-no-strangers-to-terror-1211939|last=Linah Baliga|title='We are no strangers to terror'|date= 7 December 2008|access-date= 3 June 2015|work=[[DNA India]]|location=[[Mumbai]]}}</ref>

Afzal Khan was subsequently killed and beheaded. The various sources differ regarding who killed Afzal Khan, and how:{{sfn|Bal Krishna I|1932|pp=22-23}}

{| class="wikitable"
! Source
! Weapon used by Shivaji to injure Afzal Khan
! Afzal Khan was beheaded by...
|-
| Sabhasad's ''Shri-Shiva-Prabhuche''
| ''bagh nakh'' and dagger
| Sambhaji Kavji
|-
| ''Shri Digvijaya''
| ''bagh nakh'' and sword
| Yesaji Kank
|-
| ''Chitnis Bakhar''
| ''bagh nakh'' and sword
| Yesaji Kank and Tanaji Malusare
|-
| ''Jedhe Karina''
| ''bagh nakh'' and sword
|
|-
| ''91 Qalami Bakhar''
| dagger and sword
| Shivaji himself
|-
| ''Tarikh-i-Shivaji''
| ''bagh nakh'' and dagger to cut open Afzal Khan's stomach; also used ''shamsah'' and other weapons
| Shivaji himself, using a sword
|-
| ''Shiva-Bharat''
| The Bhavani sword
|
|-
| Rairi Bakhar
| dagger concealed in right arm
|
|-
| English letter
| dagger concealed near chest
|
|-
| [[John Fryer (travel writer)|John Fryer]]
| [[stiletto]] (dagger) concealed in coat sleeve
|
|-
| [[Khafi Khan]]'s ''[[Muntakhab-al Lubab]]''
| dagger
|
|-
| [[Niccolao Manucci]]
| "small and very short [[scalpel|lancet]]"
|
|}

''[[Muntakhab-al Lubab]]'', a work by the Mughal chronicler [[Khafi Khan]], attributes the treachery to Shivaji instead: it states that Shivaji feigned humility and tears while approaching Afzal Khan, confessing his sins and asking for forgiveness after every 3-4 steps. He then pretended to tremble with fear, and requested that Afzal Khan's companions withdraw to a distance. In reality, he had stationed his soldiers in ambush in every cave, and concealed a [[bichuwa]] (dagger), which he used to treacherously attack Afzal Khan.{{sfn|Anees Jahan Syed|1977|p=168}}

After Afzal Khan's killing, Shivaji's [[Maratha (caste)|Maratha]] troops, hidden in the forest, came out and routed the Bijapur army at the [[Battle of Pratapgad]],{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=23}} on 20 November 1659 (10 November 1659 in [[Julian calendar]]).{{sfn|Mohan Apte et al.|2003|p=21}} According to Revington's letter, around 3,000 of Afzal Khan's soldiers died in the battle.{{sfn|Bal Krishna II|1932|p=51}} Two of Afzal Khan's sons were captured by Shivaji's soldiers.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=74}} Another son - Fazl Khan - escaped along with Afzal Khan's wives with the support of Khandoji Khopde.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|pp=74-75}} The Maratha texts state that many of Afzal Khan's men were killed, but those who surrendered were invited to join Shivaji.{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=23}}

== Legacy ==
[[File:Afzalkhan's tomb Pratapgad.jpg|thumb|Afzal Khan's tomb at Pratapgad]]
Afzal Khan's head was presented before the goddess Bhavani and Shivaji's mother [[Jijabai]] as a trophy, and later buried under the "Abdullah Tower" at Pratapgad. The rest of Afzal Khan's body was buried in Javli.{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=23}}

Shivaji's victory over Afzal Khan caught the popular imagination of the local public, and ballads glorifying the event were sung by wandering bards ([[gondhali]]s).{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=77}} The victory is also glorified in the [[Marathi literature|local literature]] (see [[Powada]]). The ''Afzal Khan Vadh'' equates Shivaji to [[Rama]], and Afzal Khan to [[Ravana]]. The ''Shiva-Bharata'' similarly describes Shivaji as an avatar of [[Vishnu]], while portraying Afzal Khan as a demonic incarnation. The ''Shri-Shiva-Prabhuche'' compares the conflict to the legendary [[Kurukshetra War]], equating Shivaji to [[Bhima]] and Afzal Khan to [[Duryodhana]].{{sfn|James W. Laine|2003|p=23}}

Several legends about Afzal Khan's fatal campaign became popular in the following years. One of these legends claims that he had a premonition about his death before he started his march against Shivaji. Therefore, he buried his 63 wives at Afzalpura near Bijapur to ensure that no other men would get them after his death.{{sfn|Jadunath Sarkar|1920|p=76}}

An annual ''[[urs]]'' (death anniversary celebration) was held at Afzal Khan's tomb, but in the 1990s, right-wing Hindus objected to the alleged Muslim glorification of Afzal Khan as a martyr during the event. They formed an organization called Pratapgarh Utsav Samiti, and started organizing "Shiv Pratap Din" ("Shivaji Glorification Day") to celebrate Shivaji's victory over Afzal Khan.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Whither Martyrs? |journal=Outlook |volume=44 |issue=26–34 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=svgvAQAAIAAJ |access-date=2 February 2020 |year=2004 |publisher=Hathway Investments |page=86 }}</ref> The Samiti observed the day at the Pratapgad fort from 1996 to 2004, when the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]]-[[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]]-led state government banned the politicized celebration because of provocative speeches and riots at the event.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/allow-event-to-mark-killing-of-afzal-khan-shiv-sena-to-bjp-govt/7965/ |title=Allow event to mark killing of Afzal Khan: Shiv Sena to BJP Govt |date=12 November 2014 |newspaper=Financial Express }}</ref><ref name="VC_defiant">{{cite news |url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/civic/defiant-hindu-group-to-celebrate/articleshow/50208684.cms |title=Defiant Hindu group to celebrate |newspaper=Pune Mirror |author=Vijay Chavan |date=17 December 2015 }}</ref> In 2014, the state passed a resolution banning exhibition of paintings of Shivaji killing Afzal Khan, after some Muslim groups objected to such a painting.<ref name="VC_defiant"/>

== See also ==
{{commons category|Afzal Khan (Adilshahi General)}}
* [[Shaista Khan]], a Mughal general whose defeat by Shivaji is similarly celebrated in Marathi literature

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |author=Anees Jahan Syed |title=Aurangzeb in Muntakhab-al Lubab |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6XoBAAAAMAAJ |year=1977 |publisher=Somaiya }}
* {{cite book |author=Bal Krishna |title=Shivaji the Great |volume=I. Shahji |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MEGm2Zuxax4C |year=1932 |publisher=D. B. Taraporevala Sons |ref={{harvid|Bal Krishna I|1932}} }}
* {{cite book |author=Bal Krishna |title=Shivaji the Great |volume=II |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MEGm2Zuxax4C |year=1932 |publisher=D. B. Taraporevala Sons |ref={{harvid|Bal Krishna II|1932}} }}
* {{cite book |author=Jadunath Sarkar |title=Shivaji and His Times |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7xNFAAAAIAAJ |year=1920 |publisher=Longmans, Green and Company }}
* {{cite book |author=James W. Laine |title=Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ShDPwAACAAJ |year=2003 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-566771-4 }}
* {{cite journal |author1=Mohan Apte |author2=Parag Mahajani |author3=M. N. Vahia |title=Possible errors in historical dates: Error in correction from Julian to Gregorian calendars |journal=Current Science |volume=84 |issue=1 |year=2003 |pages=21–22 |ref={{harvid|Mohan Apte et al.|2003|p=21}} }}
* {{cite book |author=Nicholas F. Gier |title=The Origins of Religious Violence: An Asian Perspective |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0LBhBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA17 |year=2014 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=978-0-7391-9223-8 }}
* {{cite book |author=Shanti Sadiq Ali |chapter=The Bijapur Kingdom |title=The African Dispersal in the Deccan: From Medieval to Modern Times |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-3CPc22nMqIC&pg=PA120 |year=1996 |publisher=Orient Blackswan |isbn=978-81-250-0485-1 }}
* {{cite book |author=Stewart Gordon |title=The Marathas 1600-1818 |series=The New Cambridge History of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHK-BhVXOU4C |year=1993 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-26883-7 }}
{{ref end}}

== External links ==

* {{cite book |author=R. P. Karkaria |title=Pratapgad Fort and the Episode of Shivaji & Afzal Khan: Told from the Original Mahratta Chronicles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vHpKAAAAYAAJ |year=1896 |publisher=Arya-Bhushana Press}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Afzal}}
[[Category:History of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:History of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Adil Shahi dynasty]]
[[Category:Indian generals]]
[[Category:1659 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]