The Escape from Agra (1666) — Shivaji Maharaj

The Escape from AgraIn 1666, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb invited the Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj to his court in Agra. Aurangzeb insulted Shivaji by making him stand behind low-ranking nobles. Outraged, Shivaji stormed out of the court. Aurangzeb immediately placed him and his young son, Sambhaji, under house arrest.Shivaji knew he needed a clever plan to escape. He feigned a severe illness and requested permission to send large baskets of sweets to saints and temples as a religious offering for his recovery. The Mughal guards strictly searched the baskets for the first few days. Over time, the guards grew careless and stopped checking thoroughly.On August 17, 1666, Shivaji and his son hid inside two of these large sweet baskets. They passed right through the unsuspecting guards. Shivaji had left a loyal lookalike behind in his bed to deceive any onlookers. By the time the Mughals realized he was gone, Shivaji was already riding hard toward Maharashtra, disguised as a wandering ascetic. This daring escape cemented his legacy as a brilliant master of strategy.