The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.47

v4.c18.47

This campaign, like others which occupied the forces in various parts of the empire during the next few years, was of slight importance. The ruler of Bāglān, a fertile tract now in the Nāsik district, which lay on the route between Surat and Burhānpur, and was thus familiar to the earlier European travellers, had successfully resisted Akbar, but acknowledged the supremacy of Jahāngīr. Aurangzīb, when appointed governor of the Deccan, was directed to subdue it completely and was successful at the end of 1637. Further west the Mughuls besieged the Portuguese in Damān and Diu, but peace was made through the mediation of Fremlin, the British chief at Surat. In the north the affairs of Kāngra were troublesome. The nominal governor was Jagat Singh, who had given valuable assistance in the reduction of the fortress. He had been sent in 1634 to coerce the refractory Khattaks in the hilly country between Kābul and Peshāwar, and during his absence his son, Rājrūp, was in charge of the Kāngra valley. The revenue due from the tract was not paid and the Mughul officers failed to restore the administration. At his own request Jagat Singh was deputed to bring the tract into order in 1640, but for a year he did nothing and was deprived of his office as he had encroached on a neighbouring jurisdiction and had built a fortress. He disobeyed a summons to return to court and prince Murād Bakhsh was sent against him with three generals in the autumn of 1641. Murād’s fiery advance soon caused Jagat Singh to offer terms which were refused, and the Mughul forces captured Nūrpur and besieged the new fortress of Tārāgarh. The demolition of the outer walls soon brought about a final submission early in 1642.