It was a campaign launched by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb to capture the Konkan region from the Maratha ruler Sambhaji.

The harsh climate and the Maratha guerrilla strategy forced the numerically strong Mughal army into a slow retreat.

The remaining few thousand troops including Shah Alam were rescued by the Siddis and Ruhulla Khan and then joined Aurangzeb's camp.

[7] Sambhaji had prepared well for the invasions and the Maratha forces promptly engaged the numerically larger Mughal army in several small battles using guerrilla warfare tactics.

At this same time Aurangzeb devised a pincer attempt to attack the Maratha capital at Raigad Fort from the North and the South.

[5] Both Sambhaji and the viceroy had information that Mughal prince Muazzam was coming to the aid of Portuguese with a 100,000 strong force.

The owner of the French factory in Surat, Francois Martin, has described the poor condition of the Portuguese, he said the viceroy was completely dependent on Mughal aid now.

[citation needed] After having captured Salsette and Bardesh (Bardez) the Marathas were eager to take the island of Goa as well.

He went to the body of St. Francis Xavier, lying in the Bom Jesus church in old Goa, and placed his sceptre on the dead saint's hand and prayed for his grace to avert the Maratha threat.

When Sambhaji learnt of Muazzam's approach from Ramghat which is 30 miles from Goa, he withdrew all his forces to Raigad on 2 January 1684.

[5] Sambhaji didn't want to get trapped between Portuguese and Mughal armies, hence he decided to adopt a defensive strategy.

Orleans said that "Sambhaji didn't consider himself strong enough to resist such huge numbers and thought of securing safety by a masterly retreat which he affected so cleverly that he retired to his fastness before the Moghuls could engage him".

On 15 January 1684, he burned down Dicholi; the forces of Muazzam destroyed temples and looted the port of Vengurla.

On their way back, the Mughal army suffered much (while going through Ramghat) due to the scarcity of food, constant attacks by the Marathas, and disease.

When Muazzam crossed the Ramghat, he was left with little cavalry, the Marathas were constantly attacking him from all sides using guerrilla tactics.

The expedition of Konkan by Muazzam was a big failure as the Mughals lost 60,000 soldiers, hundreds of camels, artillery pieces, lakhs of rupees, with virtually no gains.

Aurangzeb sent Khan Jehan to help, but Hambirrao Mohite, commander-in-chief of the Maratha army, defeated him in a fierce battle at Patadi.