The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.73

v4.c18.73

By the middle of February, 1656, Aurangzīb himself arrived in front of Golconda. An attack by the king’s troops was repulsed, and he again sent presents and offered to despatch his own mother to ask pardon for his offences. Two further attempts to drive off the Mughuls failed, and reinforced by Shāyista Khān and troops from Mālwā, Aurangzīb was about to press the siege when he received orders from Shāh Jahān to pardon the king. These commands were for the present kept secret, as though the king had promised to pay arrears of tribute the negotiations about marriage were not complete. The payments and restoration of Mīr Jumla’s property continued in instalments, and to hasten full compliance Aurangzīb mounted large guns. Finally, the king’s mother was received and agreed to pay ten million rupees. Mīr Jumla now arrived in the camp and was formally invested with a robe of honour, and a month later the marriage was celebrated. Though the Qutb Shāhī dynasty lingered on for some years its independence was now thoroughly sapped and its decline is marked by the issue of coin shortly after this time with the touching legend “It has come to an end, well and auspiciously”.¹ Mīr Jumla received the title of Mu‘azzam Khān and Shāyista Khān that of Khān Jahān. After the death of Sa‘d-ullah, the learned and capable minister of Shāh Jahān, Mīr Jumla was appointed to succeed him and exercised great influence.