Rajapur is a city and a municipal council in Ratnagiri district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

During the days of the Bijapur Sultanate, Rajapur was an important maritime trade centre due to a navigable creek that connects it to the Arabian sea.

[3] After defeating the Bijapuri general Afzal Khan, Shivaji Maharaj entered the present-day Ratnagiri district and started capturing the important ports and towns.

Many Bijapuri generals fled to Rajapur because its governor, known by the title Rustam-i-Zamani, was on friendly terms with Shivaji.

The East India Company had stationed several men in the town, under the charge of Henry Revington to facilitate the trade of saltpeter, pepper, calicoes and cotton.

When Rustam-i-Zamani heard about the approach of the Maratha army, he procured funds from one of the company's brokers and escaped with the money in a junk (ship).

[4] However, a rogue officer at Kharepatan refused to set Gyfford free unless he received a bribe.

Shivaji managed to escape from Panhala, and decided to take revenge as he assumed that the company had supported Siddi Jauhar.

Instead, they tried to negotiate their release in exchange for their support in capturing the Danda Rajpuri sea fort.