Dadoji Kondadeo


Dadoji Kondadeo was an administrator of the Pune jagir and the nearby Kondana fort. He was appointed by Shahaji, a noble and general of the Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur..

Biography

Early life

Dadoji Kondadeo was born in the Daund area of present-day Maharashtra and spent time at Malthan, in the present-day Shirur Tahsil of Pune District. He gradually rose high in Adilshahi service and became the chief civil administrator on behalf of Adilshah at the Kondana fort before managing Shahaji's jagir.

Dadoji and the Poona jagir

Shahaji appointed Kondadeo as administrator of the Poona jagir restored to him after he joined the service of Adilshahi in 1637. Shahaji himself was based in Bangalore as the commander of Adilshah during this period. As the administrator, Konddeo established complete control over the Maval region, winning over or subduing most of the local Maval Deshpandes. He also rebuilt the settlement of Pune, including the construction of the Lal Mahal palace, and encouraged the return of prominent families who had left during its destruction by another Adilshahi general, Murar Jaggdeo, in 1631.

As the caretaker of Shivaji

Shahaji moved Shivaji from Shivneri to Pune. According to some source, it was here that his development was entrusted to Konddeo at the request of his mother, Jijabai.

Modern Controversies