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(May 14, 1657 – March 11, 1689) was the eldest son of the Maratha Empire founder Chatrapati Shivajiraje, and succeeded him as the Chhatrapati or the High Protector of the Maratha Empire.

A scholar of Sanskrit and eight other languages, Chatrapati Sambhajiraje quickly gained a firm political standing in the Maratha kingdom and, by the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji's coronation in 1674, he was able to impress visiting dignitaries with his acumen, intelligence, personality and, most important of all, modesty.

At the time of Chatrapati Shivaji's death, there was news of impending attack of Aurangzeb's army on Maharashtra and at such a crucial juncture, a strong leader like Sambhaji was need of the hour. Therefore Hambirrao did not support his own sister and sided with Sambhaji. Annaji Datto and other courtiers were arrested. It was chiefly because of Hambirrao's support that Sambhaji was able to ascend to his rightful place on the maratha throne in 1681.

However, any joy thereof was to be very shortlived. Within a year or so of Sambhaji's coronation, Sultan Muhammad Akbar took shelter with him and sought Sambhaji's aid in winning the Mughal throne from his father Aurangzeb. The Mughal Emperor invaded the Deccan vowing to destroy the Maratha state that had been founded by Chatrapati Shivaji. He at the head of the full strength of the Mughal army, which at the time was the largest and most powerful land army in the world. Sambhaji led the Maratha fight against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. It was to be the final war in both men's lives, and would last all of 27 years.

It was a disproportionate battle in all senses. Aurangzeb's army was at least 8 to 9 times larger than Sambhaji's. His whole empire was around 15 times bigger than Sambhaji's. However Sambhaji led the fight valiantly and did not let Aurangzeb win even a single major victory. The tenacity and sheer will of the Maratha resistance to the mughal invasion is best illustrated by the story of the Ramshej fort near Nashik. Aurangzeb's commanders claimed that they would win the fort within hours but the fight for the fort lasted for over six years. Sambhaji also made strategically adroit moves by comprehensively defeating the enemies of Swarajya like Siddi of Janjira,Chikkadev Rai of Mysore and Portuguese of Goa and Thane-Vasai before they could turn on him and support Aurangzeb.

The Marathas lead by Chatrapati Sambhajiraje fought almost singlehandedly against all the enemies, both in the Deccan and the mughal power. To make matters worse, there was a devastating famine in Maharashtra in 1686-87