Kanhoji Angre ([kanʱod͡ʒiː aːŋɡɾe]), also known as Conajee Angria or Sarkhel Angré (August 1669 – 4 July 1729) was a Maratha Navy Admiral .

[citation needed]Despite attempts by the Portuguese and British to put an end to his privateering activities, Angre continued to capture and collect jakat from European merchant ships until his death in 1729.

[citation needed] In 1713, Shahu dispatched a formidable force led by the Peshwa, Bahirupant Pingle, to protect the region's inland territories and curb the expanding influence of Angria.

Expanding his conquests, Kanhoji seized strategic forts like Lohagad and Rajmachi near Khandala, poised to advance towards Satara.

In response, all available troops were rallied under the command of Balaji Vishwanath, recognizing the magnitude of Kanhoji's prowess and ambition.

A negotiation ensued, wherein Balaji proposed terms: if Kanhoji released the Peshwa, severed ties with Sambhaji, pledged allegiance to Shahu, and relinquished his conquests except for Rajmachi, he would be granted ten forts and sixteen fortified posts, crowned as the admiral of the Maratha fleet with the prestigious titles of Vizarat Mal and Sarkhel.

But he adroitly used his vaunted Ethiopian descent to gain ascendancy over the other bands of seafarers and their leaders along the Konkan Coast, a group that the Dutch with some justification called "Shivaji's roving and robbing armadas".

Citation of the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (historical archives of the Portuguese empire) is given to show that Kanhoji started his life as a humble servant of some Hindus in the island of Versova.

[13][better source needed] Under that authority, he was master of the Western coast of India from Mumbai to Vingoria (now Vengurla) in present-day state of Maharashtra, except for the property of the Muslim Siddis of Murud-Janjira who were affiliated with the Mughal Empire.

Kanhoji later swore allegiance to supreme Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shahu and his prime minister Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath.

[14] Under the leadership of Kanhoji, the Maratha developed a naval base at Vijayadurg featuring dockyard facilities for building vessels, mounting guns, and making the ships seaworthy.

Any ship sailing through Maratha territorial waters was to pay a levy called Chouth, which expressed Angre's dominance.

Between 1717 and 1720, the British East India Company (EIC) made at least two unsuccessful attempts to put an end to Maratha Navy attacks on their ships.

In 1720, Angre captured the EIC vessel Charlotte along its owner, a merchant named Curgenven who had been bound for China from Surat.

[25] The release was done along with the return of previously captured territory, with Kanhoji hoping that the British East India Company would help him in his other wars, but later Angre made an alliance with Balaji Viswanath and continued fighting the EIC.

[citation needed] He subsequently captured the British East Indiamen Somers and Grantham, near Goa as they were on a voyage from England to Bombay.

On 29 November 1721 a joint attempt by the Portuguese Viceroy Francisco José de Sampaio e Castro and British Governor Robert Cowan to capture Kanhoji proved unsuccessful.

Aided by Maratha warriors including Mendhaji Bhatkar and his navy, Angre continued to harass and plunder the European ships.

[citation needed] By the time of his death on 4 July 1729, Kanhoji Angre had emerged as a master of the Arabian Sea from Surat to south Konkan.

Kanhoji Angre stands as one of the most notable admirals of the Maratha Navy who caused significant troubles to the European trading companies.

Kanhoji is credited with the foresight that a Blue Water Navy's ultimate and strategic role is to keep the enemy engaged far from the shores of the homeland.

At one time, Kanhoji was so successful that he attracted enterprising Europeans in his fleet as mercenaries, including one Dutchman, whom he appointed to the rank of Commodore.

[citation needed] Kanhoji's harassment of British commercial interests and the English victory over the Portuguese at Swally led them to establish a small naval force that eventually became the modern Indian Navy.