Sack of Surat

Battle of Surat
Part of Maratha campaigns in Gujarat
Early 20th century depiction of the Sack of Surat by Shivaji.
Date 5-8 January 1664 Location Surat, Gujarat Subah, Mughal Empire (Now Gujarat, India) Result Maratha victory
Belligerents
Maratha Kingdom	Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Shivaji	Inayat Khan
Strength
4000 cavalry[1]	5000 garrisons[2]
Casualties and losses
Shivaji ordered the beheading of four Imperialist prisoners and the amputation of the hands of twenty-four others.[3]

The battle of Surat, also known as the Sack of Surat, was a land battle that took place on 5 January 1664, near the city of Surat, in present-day Gujarat, India, between Shivaji, leader of the fledgling Maratha State and Inayat Khan, a Mughal commander. The Marathas defeated the Mughal military unit posted at Surat.

Surat was a wealthy port city used by the Mughals for maritime trade in the Arabian Sea. The city was populated mostly by Hindus, but there were Muslims & others as well; including the officials of the Moghal administration at the city. According to historian James Grant Duff, Surat was attacked by Shivaji on 5 January 1664; the attack was so sudden that the population had no chance to flee, the violent plunder of the Mahratta forces continued for six days & two-thirds of the city was burnt down. The loot was then transferred to Rajgad fort hidden in the Western Ghauts near Poona (Pune).