Shivaji and the Mughal-Jesuit Alliance: The 1671 Goa Letter

In 1671, Shivaji Maharaj wrote a remarkable letter to the Portuguese Viceroy in Goa, protesting the alliance between the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and the Jesuits. This episode explores the diplomatic and religious context of that letter — how Shivaji, a Hindu king defending Swarajya, positioned himself against Mughal expansion while also critiquing European missionary politics. We discuss the Portuguese role in the Deccan, the Jesuits at Aurangzeb's court, and the nuanced way Shivaji balanced military resistance with diplomatic outreach. The letter itself reveals a leader who understood both realpolitik and the power of moral argument. Lucas and Luna also touch on the broader question of religious tolerance in 17th-century India, contrasting Shivaji's policies with Aurangzeb's growing orthodoxy. A forgotten piece of early modern diplomacy that sheds new light on the Maratha worldview. #ShivajiMaharaj #MughalHistory #Jesuits #Goa #PortugueseIndia #Deccan #Swarajya #Aurangzeb #Diplomacy #ReligiousTolerance #MarathaEmpire #17thCentury #EarlyModern #HindaviSwarajya #Mavala #Rajpatra #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo