3rd Part
Q. Critically examine the Mughal-Rajput relations under Akbar.
A. There are three phases of Akbar's Rajput policy.
First phase -
In the first phase, Akbar's attitude towards Rajputs softened. Rajputs had made an impression on Akbar's mind way back in 1557 when a Rajput contingent under Bhara Mal, the ruler of Amber, had demonstrated its loyalty to Akbar. During this phase, many matrimonial alliances took place between Rajputs and Akbar like Bhara Mal's daughter and Akbar in 1562, Bhagwant Singh's (Kachhawaha prince) sister to Akbar, etc. These marriages were in the nature of political compromise and did not imply conversion to Islam and break with Hindu traditions. A personal relationship, it was felt, would best ensure political allegiance. Rao Dalpat Rai, the governor (hakim) of Ranthambhor, was accepted in the imperial service and given jagir.
That Bhara Mal became a close confidant of Akbar is evident from the fact that when Akbar proceeded on the Gujarat campaign, Agra was placed under his charge a gesture shown for the first time to a Hindu Prince.
The Second Phase
Towards the end of 1570, the relations with Rajputs were further established. Rai Kalyan Mal of Bikaner submitted to Akbar by paying homage personally along with his son. Rawal Har Rai of Jaiselmer and Kalyan Mal's daughters were married to Akbar. Both rajas were firmly entrenched in their principalities and enrolled in the Imperial service. The Gujarat expedition of Akbar was an important landmark in 'the evolution of Mughal-Rajput relations. The Rajputs were enlisted as soldiers systematically and their salaries were fixed for the first time. Thus, the Rajputs were deployed outside Rajasthan for the first time and were given significant assignments and posts. During the Gujarat insurrection of the Mirzas, Akbar depended largely or Rajput( Kachawahas) Man Singh and Bhagwant Singh. Akbar also had to deal with the Mewar problem. The Rana of Mewar did not agree to personal submission and wanted to regain Chittor. Akbar remained firm on the principle of personal homage. In the meantime, Marwar was subdued by Akbar. During this phase, Rajputs were transformed from mere collaborators into allies of the Mughals.
Till the end of the second phase, Akbar's Rajput policy had not acquired a shape which would be disapproved by the Muslim orthodox religious elements or which would be a threat to the Muslim character of the state.
The Third Phase
The reimposition of jiziya by Akbar in 1575, which was a step in preparation for war with Mewar shows that Akbar had to rely on religion for serving political ends. The fall from power of the chief sadr Abdun Nabi and the proclamation of the mahzar
are important events that constitute the starting point of Akbar's break with orthodoxy.
During the invasion on Punjab by Akbar's brother Mirza Hakim (the ruler of Kabul) in 1580, Akbar relied upon Rajputs such as Man Singh and Bhagwant Singh who displayed considerable valor during the siege and successfully resisted it. Akbar rewarded them by making Bhagwant Das the governor of Lahore and Man Singh the commander of the Indus region. An important consequence of Mirza Hakim's invasion was that from now onwards the Rajputs became the sword-arm of the Empire and became actively involved in Mughal administration.
Thereafter, Akbar tried to forge close relations with the Rajput ruling houses by entering into matrimonial alliances like in 1580, Mani Bai, the daughter of Bhagwant Das, was married to Prince Salim. In 1583, Jodhpur Mota Raja Udai Singh (Marwar) daughter was married to Salim. Rai Kalyan Singh's (Bikaner) daughter & Rawal Bhim's (Jaisalmer) daughters were also married to Salim. Prince Daniyal was married to a daughter of Raimal of Jodhpur. These marriages reveal Akbar's desire to compel his successor to the throne to carry on the policy of maintaining a close relationship with the Rajputs.
The year 1585-86 marks an important landmark in the administrative sphere when the subas were given an administrative shape. Each sub was to have two amirs or sipahsalars as well as a diwan and a Bakshi. The Kachhawahas got the largest share of appointments among Rajputs. By 1585-86, Akbar's Rajput policy had become fully developed. The alliance with Rajputs had become steady and stable. The Rajputs were now not only allies but were partners in the Empire.
Q. Discuss the factors that led to the rise of Maratha power in the seventeenth century.
A. Socio-Economic content - There is a socio-economic content in the rise of the Marathas. Shivaji's success lay in his ability to mobilize the peasants in his area. It is generally argued that he discontinued jagirdari and zamindari & established direct contact with the peasants thus freeing them from exploitation. He did not completely do away with the system. Instead, he curtailed the powers of big Deshmukhs, reformed the abuses and established necessary supervisory authority.
Hence, he made the old system work better. Besides, their power was also restricted by curtailing their armed retainers. This is the main reason that Shivaji's military strength did not consist of 'feudal levies' of the bigger deshmukhs. Petty landholders, who were often at the mercy of bigger deshmukhs, befitted by this policy. For example, the deshmukhs of Male, who were the first to rally to Shivaji's side, were petty landholders. Similar was the case with Morays of Javli, Khopdes of Utroli and Nimbalkars of Phaltan. Besides, his emphasis on extension and improvement of
cultivation benefited not only the peasants in general but also these petty landholders in particular.
Social - There also lies the social content of the Maharashtra movement. Shivaji tried to raise the status of his family by entering into matrimonial alliances with the leading deshmukh families-Shirkes, Morays, Nimbalkars. Thus he followed a dual policy, i.e, curtailing the political power of the bigger deshmukhs on the other hand, and entering into matrimonial alliances with them for claiming equal status on the other hand. His coronation (1674) not only put him higher in status among other Maratha clans, but also put him at par with other Deccani rulers thus he claimed
exclusive right to collect sardeshmukhi.
Thus the social movement launched by Shivaji served a powerful means to weld together the Marathas and the kunbis (cultivating class). Kunbi peasants, kolis and other tribals of Maval area who rallied around Shivaji in large numbers were also motivated by the desire to raise their status in the social hierarchy. Thus, the Maratha rise was not just a result of a desire to overthrow the yoke of foreign rule, it had deep-rooted socio-economic reasons.
Bhakti movement - The intellectual and ideological framework for their rise was provided by the bhakti movement which got "crystallized into "Maharashtra dharma". This helped in providing the Marathas a cultural identity as well. The emphasis of the bhakti saints on egalitarianism provided ideal background vis-a-vis justification for the mobility in the varna scale by individuals and groups. (Rise of Marathas of such humble origins as the Sindhias exemplifies the success of the movement. During this time, a sizeable number of groups improved their status in the varna hierarchy and legitimized their right to political power.)
It was 'Maharashtra Dharma' that resulted in the political independence of the Marathas. He described it as jayshnu (aggressive) Hinduism as against the sahishnu (tolerant) Hinduism. The credit goes to a 17th-century saint-poet Ramdas who expressed an unfavorable opinion about the Turko-Afghan-Mughal rule. Shivaji used it to his advantage. He used this popular ideological chant of Maharashtra dharma against the Deccanis and the Mughals.
Q. Critically analyze the Mughal-Maratha relations in the seventeenth century.
A. The Mughal-Maratha relations can be divided into four phases: (i) 1615-1664; (ii) 1664-1 667 ;
(iii) 1667-1 680 and (iv) 1680- 1707.
First Phase: 1615-1664 -
The Mughals, as early as Jahangir's reign realized the importance of Maratha chieftains in Deccan politics. Jahangir succeeded in persuading some of the Maratha chieftains to defect his side in 1615. As a result, the Mughals succeeded in defeating the combined Deccani armies (1616). Shah Jahan, too as early as 1629, attempted to win over the Maratha sardars. Shahji, the father of Shivaji, joined the Mughals this time but later defected and conspired against the Mughals. Shah Jahan, realizing the emerging threat of the Marathas, opted for a Mughal-Bijapur alliance against the Marathas. He asked the Bijapur ruler to employ Shahji, but to keep him at a distance from the Mughal territory in Karnataka (Treaty of 1636).
Aurangzeb also adopted his father's policy but failed. Thereafter, Aurangzeb's attempt to align with Shivaji failed too. Aurangzeb's exit and the war of succession left the stage free for Shivaj to act at will. Soon he occupied Kalyan and Bhivandi (Oct. 1657) and Mahuli (Jan. 1658). Thus the entire eastern half of the Kolaba district was captured by Shivaji from the Abyssinians (Siddis) of Janjira. Shivaji switched over to Bijapur and raided the Mughal Deccan followed by the first sack of Surat (6-10 January 1664) by the Marathas.
Second Phase: 1664-1647 -
During this phase Mughals under Mirza Raja, Jai Singh devised a plan for the outright conquest of Deccan. According to this masterplan, first of all, Bijapur was to be threatened by allying with Shivaji (treaty of Purandar 1665)after giving him concessions at the cost of Bijapur and shifting Shivaji's jagir to less sensitive areas, away from the Mughal Deccan. Aurangzeb's unwillingness and later Shivaji's imprisonment at Agra gave a big jolt to Jai Singh's plan. As a result, Mughals could neither succeed in destroying Shivaji with the help of Bijapur (1672-76) nor conquer Deccani states with Maratha's help (1676-79).
Third Phase: 1667-1680
After his escape from Agra( 1666), Shivaji did not desire to confront the Mughals immediately. Instead, he sought friendly relations. After consolidating his position, Shivaji attacked many forts ceded to the Mughals by the treaty of Purandar (1665) all in 1670. Taking advantage of the internal strife and weakened Mughal army, Shivaji sacked Surat for the second time (30 October 1670). This was followed by Maratha's successes in Berar and Baglana (1670-71).
Thus from the time of Jai Singh's withdrawal (1666) till 1680 when Aurangzeb finally embarked upon a forward policy of outright conquest this period i.e. the third phase seems to be a period of complete chaos and confusion. The Mughals could hardly plan to have a single track and instead, they acted without direction and aim. They could neither succeed in befriending Marathas nor the Deccanis nor in toppling them altogether.
Fourth Phase: 1680-1707 -
Shivaji died in this year (23 March), and Mughals under Aurangzeb embarked upon a policy of total conquest. The succession over the division of Shivaji's kingdom between his sons created confusion in Maratha camp. The struggle between Sambhaji and Rajaram weakened the infant Maratha kingdom which could hardly sustain itself before the mighty Mughals. As Aurangzeb was busy in tackling Bijapur and Golkonda rulers (1686-87), Marathas regrouped and became a formidable power and devastated Mughal territories from Aurangabad to Burhanpur. The execution of Sambhaji (1689) introduced new dimensions into the Maratha politics. The Mughals had to face severe resistance from the local elements-the Nayaks, valemas, Deshmukh's, etc. The Marathas continued their struggle unabated. They quickly recovered the lost territories. Not only ail the gains were lost but also the hardships and miseries through which the Mughal forces had to pass were - tremendous. This completely broke the morale of the Mughal army which looked totally shattered and weary.
Q. Analyse the factors that led to the rise of the Maratha power. Can it be termed as a Hindu reaction?
A. We can not call it 'Hindu' reaction because-
1. The earliest patrons of Marathas were Muslims, i.e., the rulers of Bijapur and Ahmednagar.
2. One does not find Shivaji fighting for the cause of Hindus and their welfare outside Maharashtra. Even within Maharashtra one does not find him undertaking social reforms. It is said that his assumption of the title haindava dharmoddharak at the time of his coronation was not much new in that period.
3. Shivaji praised Akbar's ideas of sulh kul.
Thus, Hindu hostility to Muslim hegemony was not the primary motivating factor as the hollowness of the ideology is well evident when Shivaji and other Maratha sardars collected chhauth and sardeshmukhi (a legalized plunder) across their boundaries.
Q. Describe the nature of Mughal- Rajput relations in the 16th-17th centuries.
A. Mughal-Rajput relations in the 16th century developed according to the political requirement of the two main ruling elites in North India-the Mughals and Rajputs. In the 17th century, however, it suffered a setback against the backdrop of the steady expansion of the Empire, internal conflicts among the Rajputs and proclamation of the principle of regional autonomy by different sections.
Jahangir and Shah Jahan
During the reign of these rulers, the alliance with the Rajputs established by Akbar was strengthened despite certain hurdles. The most credible achievement of Jahangir was the cessation of war with Mewar. He did not press upon personal submission of the Rana and accepted the homage paid by his son. To Rana were restored all those territories which had been taken from him either in Akbar's time or Jahangir's time. Rana's son was also favored by a mansab and jagir. Jahangir established the tradition that Rana's son or brother should serve the Emperor. Matrimonial relations with Mughals were not forced upon the Rana. Jahangir carried forward Akbar's policy of establishing matrimonial relations with the Rajput rajas.
However, after Mewar's submission, these marriages took place less frequently. Most of them took place while Mewar was opposing the Mughals. Once Mewar had been humbled, the alliance with the Rajputs had become stable. Thus, to some extent, these marriages served only a fixed political aim. Marriages did bring about amicable relations between Mughals and Rajputs. They were mostly contracted in the anticipation of an imminent contest for power.
During Jahangir's reign the rulers of four leading states of Rajputana-Mewar, Marwar, Amber, and Bikaner-held the mansab of 5000 zat or above. The Kachchawahas lost their dominant position in the nobility. The rulers of the Rajput states now got higher mansabs in comparison to Akbar's time.
During Shah Jahan's reign, they were given important commands and were granted high mansabs. This reflects that he trusted the Rajputs and assigned them important duties. Shah Jahan, however, discontinued Jahangir's policy of not granting subadari to the Rajput rajas of leading houses. However, these assignments were few and infrequent.During Jahangir's and Shah Jahan's time, the Rajputs continued to be allies but their role in the administration was negligible.
Aurangzeb -
Aurangzeb's policy towards the Rajputs from the 1680s onwards caused worry both to the Rajputs as well as to a section of the Mughal nobility. This is evident from the Rajput-Mughal noble's complicity in the rebellion of Prince Akbar. The rulers of Mewar and Marwar were dissatisfied with Aurangzeb's policy and they wanted restoration of territories sequestered by Aurangzeb. In the second half of the 17th century, Aurangzeb became lukewarm towards the Rajputs. Rajputs were not given important assignments. He interfered in matters relating to Matrimonial alliances among the Rajputs. However. Aurangzeb's breach with
Mewar and Marwar did not mean a breach with the Rajputs in general. The rulers of Amber, Bikaner, Bundi, and Kota continued to receive mansabs. But they were not accorded high ranks or positions in Aurangzeb's reign like during the reign of Akbar and his successors Jahangir and Shah Jahan.
As the Mughal Empire got consolidated in the north, the next step was to extend its boundaries southwards which meant an alliance with local ruling elements, i.e., the Marathas. The Rajputs lost their prominent position in the Mughal system. The importance of Marathas increased in the second half of the 17th century.
However, Aurangzeb's Rajput policy reflected his incompetence to deal with issues effectively which affected the prestige of the Empire. It led to political and religious discord which demonstrated a lack of political acumen. All this gave impetus to rebellions by the Mughal Princes in league with the Rajputs.
Q. Ahmednagar
Q. Briefly discuss the rise of Ahmednagar as an independent kingdom.
A. The Nizam Shahi dynasty of Ahmednagar was founded by Malik Ahmed Nizamul Mulk Bahri in 1490. He was the son of Malik Hasan- the Prime Minister of the Bahmani kingdom. Malik Hasan started carving out this principality from Konkan and at the time of his death in 1510, the kingdom extended from Bir to Chaul and Ravedanda on the sea coast and from the frontiers of Khandesh in the north to Poona, Chakan, and Sholapur in the south. It included the Daulatabad fort also. This kingdom continued till 1636 when it was annexed by the Mughals. Throughout this period, the Ahmednagar rulers struggled to protect the territories under their possession from external aggression. At the same time, efforts were made to annex new areas. The biggest success in this direction came when Berar was annexed.
The first set-back to Ahmednagar came in 1511 when she lost Sholapur to Bijapur. Another set-back for Husain Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar came when Golkonda, Bijapur, and Vijaynagar joined hands to inflict a humiliating defeat on him, but he managed to secure the kingdom. Husain died in 1565 and was succeeded by his eldest son Mugtaza who ruled till 1588. In 1574, Murtaza annexed Berar to his kingdom; in 1588, he was killed by his son Hussain. But the latter was also killed in 1589.
The period between 1595 to 1600 was of turmoil when Ahmednagar faced Mughal onslaught and ceded Berar to the Mughals. Ahmednagar fort was captured by the Mughals in 1600 and its ruler Bahadur Nizam Shah was sent to the Gwalior fort as captive.
Malik Ambar, a Nizam Shahi noble, tried to revive the kingdom by enthroning a member of the royal family as Murtaza Nizam Shah II. Malik Ambar was not only a successful military commander but a very able administrator. With his death in 1626, Ahmednagar seems to have lost all hopes.
Thereafter Marathas under Shahji Bhonsle tried to help Ahmednagar against the Mughals under Shahjahan. Shahji Bhonsle enthroned a member of the royal family as Murtaza Nizam Shah 111. But Shahjahan forced Muhammad Adil Shah to accept defeat in 1636. A settlement was made, according to which, the Nizarn Shahi kingdom came to an end. Prince Aurangzeb was appointed the governor of the Mughal Deccan. He conquered the Nizam Shahi forts of Udgir and Ausa which completed the extinction of the Ahmednagar kingdom. Murtaza was.imprisoned in the Gwalior fort and, thus, the Nizam Shahi kingdom came to an end.
Q. Kingdom of Golkonda
A. The founder of the Qutb Shahi dynasty was Sultan Quli who belonged to the Turkman tribe of Qara-Quyunlu. He started to gain power during the reign of the Bahmani Sultan, Shihabuddin Mahmud (1482-1518). He became the governor of the Telingana province with Golkonda as its capital. He never declared his independence but the weakness of the Bahmani Sultan gave him an opportunity to rule independently. The Golkonda boundary now touched those of Vijaynagar and Bijapur. He wrested some territory from Orissa and extended his dominion to the Godavari-Krishna doab as far as Ellore and Rajahmundri. The Godavari river was fixed as the frontier between the two states. He captured Kondavidu from the Vijaynagar empire.
Ibrahim (1550-1580) was the first Qutb Shahi Sultan who formally ruled as an independent king and struck coins in his name. He was succeeded by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1580-161 1). He founded his capital in Hyderabad in 1591. During his reign, a number of European factories were established in Golkonda. The downward trend of the Qutb Shahi kingdom started from the Abdullah Qutb Shah reign in 1626 when the Mughal pressure on Golkonda increased. In 1636, he had to sign a "deed of submission" to the Mughals and a covenant by which Golkonda became a vassal to the Mughal empire. Finally, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb annexed Golkonda to the Mughal Empire in 1687.
Q. Kingdom of Bijapur.
A. The independent state of Bijapur was also carved out from the Bahmani kingdom in 1490. Bijapur remained independent till 1686 when it was annexed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. During this period of around 200 years, it was ruled by Adil Shahi kings. Its founder, Yusuf Adil Khan, of Persian descent, was the tarafdar (governor) of the Bijapur province of the Bahmani kingdom. He declared his independence in 1490. He enlarged his small territory by capturing Raichur, Goa, Dabhol, Gulbarga, and Kalyani. But he lost Goa to the Portuguese in 1510. During the period of his successors, efforts were made to retain and keep adding new
territories.
Ali Adil Shah I (1556-1580), the Sultan, captured the Vijaynagar forts of Adoni, Torgal, Dhanvar, and Bankapur. Ali Adil Shah, I was assassinated in 1580. After him, his minor nephew Ibrahim ascended to the throne; his aunt, Chand Bibi, took charge of him as his guardian. The biggest success of Ibrahim Adil Shah was the annexation of the kingdom of Bidar in 1619.
Ibrahim was succeeded by Muhammad Adil Shah (1627-1656). He conquered Tivy, Barder, Sarzora, and culture from the Portuguese. During his reign, the kingdom reached the zenith of its glory. At the time of his death in 1656, the boundaries of the kingdom extended from the Arabian sea to the Bay of Bengal and the tributes from the subdued Nayaks compensated for the loss incurred by payments to the Mughals.
After Mohammed Adil Shah's death, his son Ali ShahIII(1656-1672) succeeded him. During this period, the Mughal & Maratha invasions weakened the kingdom. After his death, his four-year-old son Sikandar was declared the Sultan (1672-1686). During this period, factional fights, interference by Golkonda and the Marathas and Mughal invasions shattered the kingdom. Finally, in 1686, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb defeated the Adil Shahi forces and annexed the kingdom to the Mughal Empire.
Q. Explain the factors which shaped the policy of Mughals towards Deccan states in the 16th and 17th centuries. Q. Give a detailed account of the Deccan policy of the Mughal emperors.
Q. Discuss Shahjahan's Deccan policy. Examine the significance of the treaty of 1636.
A. The Deccan policy of the Mughals was not determined by any single factor. The strategic importance of the Deccan states and the administrative and economic necessity of the Mughal empire largely guided the attitude of the Mughal rulers towards the Deccan states.
Babar, the first Mughal ruler, could not establish any contact with Deccan because of his pre-occupations in the North. Still, his conquest of Chanderi in 1528 had brought the Mughal empire close to the northern confines of Malwa. Humayun also could not find enough time because of his involvement in Gujarat, Bihar and Bengal to devote himself in the Deccan affairs in spite of repeated appeals from Burhan Nizam Shah I. In this way, Akbar was the first Mughal emperor who wished to extend 'the Mughal suzerainty over the Deccan states
Akbar -
Akbar wanted the Deccan rulers to accept his overlordship. It was during the campaigns in Gujarat during 1572-73 that Akbar, after being fully secured in the North, made up his mind for the conquest of the Deccan states because of the rebels, driven out of Gujarat, used to take refuge in Khandesh, Ahmednagar, and Bijapur. Moreover, with the conquest of Gujarat, Akbar wished to assume the rights which the previous rulers of Gujarat had enjoyed in relation to the Deccan states, i.e., the rights of overlordship. Since 1417, the Deccan states had acknowledged the supremacy of the Sultans of Gujarat, had\ read khutba in their names and had paid the annual tribute. Internal conflict among the Deccan states also motivated the Mughal ruler to intervene in their affairs. Akbar's desire to protect the trade route towards the Gujarat sea-ports and to establish his domination there was one of the important factors that guided his Deccan policy. Besides, the Portuguese had established themselves very well on the Western coast of India and had emerged as a force to reckon with. Akbar wanted to assert Mughal suzerainty over the Deccan states in order to drive the Portuguese away from the western coast of India.
Jahangir -
Jahangir intended to follow Akbar's expansionist policy in the Deccan. But Jahangir failed to achieve his objective in the Deccan because:
# he could not wholeheartedly devote himself to this task;.
# the court intrigues and jealousies of the Mughal nobles found Deccan a place for a free play of their ambitions and
# superior generalship of Malik Ambar of Ahmednagar.
During the reign of Jahangir, there was no addition to the Mughal territory in the Deccan. The Mughal court politics, the mutual dissensions of the Mughal nobles posted in the Deccan, their acceptance of bribe offered by the Deccani rulers weakened the Mughal authority in the Deccan states. In the case of the Deccan states, the over-ambition of Malik Ambar belied the hopes of a joint front of the Deccan states.
SHAH JAHAN -
During the period between the death of Jahangir & the accession of Shah Jahan, the Mughal governor of the Deccan, Khan Jahan Lodi, with the intention of securing help in times of necessity, gave away Balaghat to the Nizam Shah. Shah Jahan, after ascending the throne, ordered Khan Jahan Lodi to recover it but the latter failed. Khan Jahan fled to the Deccan and took shelter with Nizam Shah. His rebellion and the shelter given to him by the aggressive policy of the Nizam Shahis and the loss of Balaghat made Shah Jahan very angry with Nizam Shah and it resulted in the Shah Jahan's adoption of an aggressive policy towards the Deccan states.
Shahji Bhosle's support to the Ahmednagar state brought Shah Jahan to the Deccan in 1636 and a new phase of warfare started. Shahji was defeated and the Mughals occupied a number of forts. Then they devastated and occupied large tracts of land in Bijapur. Muhammad Adil Shah sued for peace. A settlement was made in 1636 according to which the Nizarn Shahi state came to an end. It was divided ( between the Mughals and Bijapur. The terms of the treaty were as follows:
1) Nizam Shahi State was divided between Bijapur and the Mughal empire. Bijapur was given the entire Konkan and the pargana of Dhakan, Parenda, and Sholapur beyond the Sina, the district of Vengi between the Bhima and the Sina and the district of Bhalki on the Manjira river to the north-east of Kalyani.
2) Adil Shah had to give up his claims to Udgir and Ausa forts and was required to abstain from hindering any Mughal attempts to subdue Nizam Shah's officers still in charge of these forts.
3) No violation of the boundaries thus created should be made by either party.
4) Adil Shah was to pay to the Mughal Emperor rupees twenty lakhs in a lump sum as a tribute.
5) Adil Shah should live in peace and good relationship with Qutb Shah as the latter had agreed to pay an annual tribute of rupees 2 lakhs and had to become a vassal of the Mughal empire.
6) Both the parties would neither seduce officers and soldiers from the other nor would give refuge or service to them. ,
7) If Shivaji Bhonsle sought Adil Khan's service, he should be entertained only on the condition that he hands over to the Mughal officers the forts of Junnar, Trimbak, and Pemgarh which ware in his possession. ) (not required in 500 words)
Thus, Bijapur became a subordinate ally of the Mughal Empire, though it retained its independence. The extinction of Ahmednagar brought the Mughals to the borders of Bijapur and paved the way for the Mughal conquest of Bijapur.
Aurangzeb -
Aurangzeb, an advocate of direct conquest of the Deccan states, immediately after his accession faced a very complicated situation in the Deccan. The growing power of the Marathas and the suspicious attitude of the Deccan states towards the Mughals made Aurangzeb much more careful to adopt an aggressive policy in the Deccan. The good relationship between the Mughals and Bijapur got ruptured because the Mughals sought help from Bijapur against Sambhaji, but instead of helping the Mughals, Bijapur secretly assisted the Marathas. Thus, the Mughals opened the campaign in 1685 and Sikandar Adil Shah surrendered to them in 1686. He was made a captive and the Bijapur state became a part of the Mughal Empire.
Aurangzeb learned that Abdullah Qutb Shah of Golconda had been financially helping Shivaji's son Sambhaji. Abdullah's promise of large military help to Sikandar Adil Shah during the Mughal invasion of 1685 also came to the Emperor's knowledge. He ordered Prince Muazzam to invade the Qutb Shahi territory. In the second battle of Malkher in 1686, Qutb Shahi forces were routed. It led to the defection of the Qutb Shahi nobles to the Mughals which forced Abdullah to leave Hyderabad and shut himself in Golkonda fort. The Emperor reached very close to Golkonda fort in 1687 and besieged it. After eight months of siege, Abdullah surrendered to the Mughals. He was imprisoned in Daulatabad fort and Golkonda became a part of the Mughal empire.
Aurangzeb who, before his accession, was a staunch advocate of forwarding policy in the Deccan was not in favor of outright conquest of Bijapur and Golkonda. The rising power of the Marathas, threat of an alliance between the Marathas and Bijapur-Golkonda as well as the internal crisis of the Empire compelled Aurangzeb to conquer Bijapur and Golkonda in the 1680s. All these points to the fact that the Deccan policy of the Mughals was determined by the needs of the contemporary situation.
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