Wikipedia
Shahaji Raje Bhonsle was a Maratha general from the 17th century. The eldest son of Maloji Bhosale of Verul, Shahaji inherited the Pune and Supe jagirs, under the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. During the Mughal invasion of Deccan, he joined the Mughal forces and served Emperor Shah Jahan for a brief period. After being deprived of his jagirs, he defected to the Bijapur Sultanate in 1632 and regained control over Pune and Supe. In 1638, he also received the jagir of Bangalore, after Bijapur's invasion of Kempe Gowda III's territories. He eventually became the chief general of Bijapur, and oversaw its expansion.
An early exponent of guerrilla warfare, he brought the house of Bhonsle into prominence. He was father of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. The princely states of Tanjore, Kolhapur and Satara are also Bhonsle legacies.