The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.9

v4.c18.9

Shāh Jahān, with the energy which marked the early days of his rule, left Āgra for the Deccan in December, 1629. Early in the following year the Mughul forces invaded the Bālāghāt but were not well organised and after gaining one success suffered a defeat by Khān Jahān. The emperor therefore laid his plans for a concentrated attack after the rains. In dealing with the rebel Khān Jahān he also had to take account of the three kingdoms of the south, Ahmadnagar, Bījāpur and Golconda, which though jealous of each other could on occasion form alliances to repel the Mughuls. Experience had also shown that the Marāthās could not safely be neglected. One force under Khvāja Abu-’l-Hasan was sent west to Dhūlia to command the route for supplies from Gujarāt and to threaten Ahmadnagar from the north-west, while the main army was concentrated at Dewalgāon in the south of Berār ready when the time came to attack from the north-east. A third force was sent towards Telingāna (north of Hyderābād state). At the beginning of the reign the Marāthās had accepted posts under the Mughuls, but their leader Jadu Rāi, desiring to keep on terms with the ruler of Ahmadnagar, had sent sons and relations to take service with him. The king, knowing his duplicity, resolved to arrest Jadu Rāi and summoning him to court had him murdered, thereby driving the Marāthās for the time being into the Mughul camp.