Battle of Kolhapur
Battle of Kolhapur was a battle that took place on 28 December 1659 near the city of Kolhapur, Maharashtra between the Shivaji and the Adilshahi forces. The battle is known for brilliant movement of flanks by Shivaji, similar to tactics of Babur against Rana Sanga. Background. Shivaji had killed Afzal Khan and routed his army in the battle of Pratapgarh on 10 November 1659. He took advantage of this victory and in a great offensive took a large hilly tract running about 200 km under his command. A number of forts like Vasota fell to Marathas. By  December 1659, Shivaji appeared near Panhala fort. Rustam Zaman was directed from Bijapur. He arrived near Miraj in the vicinity of Kolhapur on 27 December 1659. Battle. Composition of Adilshah’s forces. Rustam Zaman was assisted by other chieftains: Fazal Khan, Malik Itbar, Sadat Khan, Yakub Khan, Aankush Khan, Hasan Khan, Mulla Yahya and Santaji Ghatage. Adilshah's forces were consisted of selected well known cavalry. In addition, elephants were deployed as first line of defense. The centre was commanded by Rustam Zaman himself, left flank by Fazal Khan, right flank by Malik Itbar. Fateh Khan and Mullah Yahya were  on the rear guard. In total Rustam Zaman had an army of 10,000 cavalry. Composition of Maratha forces. Shivaji was assisted by Maratha Cavalry leaders: Netaji Palkar, Sardar Godaji Jagtap, Hiroji Ingale, Bhimaji Wagh, Sidhoji Pawar Jadhavrao, Hanmantrao Kharate, Pandhare, Siddi Hllal, and Mahadik. Center was commanded by Shivaji himself. Siddi Hilal and Jadhavrao were on left flank. Ingale and Sidhoji Pawar on right flank. Mahadik and Wagh on the rear guard. Netaji Palkar was off the centre. In all Shivaji commanded an army of 3,500 light cavalry much less than his rival Rustam's 10,000 cavalry. Movement and clash  of forces. Rustam Zaman was planning to move towards Panhala fort. Shivaji anticipated this movement and in a quick dash, with 3,500 cavalry appeared before the 10,000 strong Adilshahi forces and attacked the enemy in the early morning of 28 December 1659. Shivaji charged the center and instructed his generals to outflank the enemy. Other Maratha commanders attacked their respective flanks, resulting in 2,000 of Rustam Zaman force to be killed. With 20% of their army dead, and Shivaji pressing hard from the center, Rustam's forces started to crumble and ran away from the battle. By afternoon Rustam Zaman  had fled the field. Outcome. Shivaji gained a large territory and secured front of his emerging empire. Adilshahi forces lost about 2000 horses and 12 elephants to the Marathas. The Marathas under Shivaji's leadership, continued to conquer more Adilshahi territories. In one of the incidences, Shivaji tried to conquer an Adilshahi fort named "Khelna" but the terrain of the fort was difficult; conquering the fort was easier said than done. The Adilshahi garrison at the fort was also defending the fort valiantly. Therefore, Shivaji came up with a plan. Accordingly, a group of Marathas went up to the fort  and convinced the Adilshahi chief ("killedar") at the fort that they were not content with the rule of Shivaji and thus, had come to serve Adilshah. The Marathas were successful and the next day, they revolted and caused total chaos inside the fort. Simultaneously, Shivaji attacked the fort from outside and within no time captured the fort. Shivaji renamed the fort as Vishalgad.