The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.45

v4.c18.45

An event of greater importance was the recovery of Qandahār, the possession of which was so long disputed by the rulers of Persia and India, even after its importance on a trade route had diminished. During the first ten years of Shāh Jahān’s reign he lost no opportunity of trying to impress the Shāh of Persia with his own prowess. Persian envoys were received with great pomp and costly gifts were made to them. After each success in putting down rebellions or coercing the kings in the Deccan an Indian ambassador was sent to the Shāh to magnify the achievement. Shāh ‘Abbās, the great Persian monarch, died a year after Shāh Jahān ascended the throne. His young successor was occupied for a number of years in contests with the Turks, and in suppressing the revolts which inevitably followed the death of a strong and merciless ruler. On the Indian border ‘Alī Mardān Khān upheld Persian interests as governor of Qandahār, and was successful in subduing Sher Khān Tārīn of Qoshanj who had been oppressing travellers on the trade route. In 1632 Sher Khān appealed to Shāh Jahān, who granted him an interview and gave him a post in the Punjab. Though the Persian monarch was gradually improving his position, the Turks on the west and the Uzbegs on the north-east were still troublesome, and the Mughuls followed up their Indian successes by intrigues with ‘Alī Mardān. He had a personal grievance against Sārū Taqī, the minister of the Shāh, who had called him to account for his governorship and when met by prevarication despatched a force to ensure compliance. Alarmed by this insistence ‘Alī Mardān Khān asked help from the Mughul officers at Ghaznī and Kābul, and impressed by Shāh Jahān’s recent successes offered to surrender Qandahār to him. Early in 1638 the commandant of Ghaznī arrived and was allowed to enter the fortress. He was followed in a few days by the governor of Kābul and ‘Alī Mardān Khān publicly acknowledged his change of allegiance by having the name of Shāh Jahān recited in the Friday prayers and stamped on the coinage of the city, while the fortress was formally handed over to the Mughuls, though a party within it was still in favour of the Persians and corresponded with the leader of the force which had been sent to secure it. In a short campaign the surrounding district was again brought under Mughul sway. ‘Alī Mardān Khān was handsomely rewarded and later in the year was made governor of Kashmīr, and honoured by a visit from the emperor.