The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.106

v4.c19.106

Only a few clear successes but no decisive result was achieved by Mughul arms in the Deccan during the first twenty-four years of the reign, because Shāh ‘Ālam, who was viceroy for nearly one-half of this period, was a timid and unenterprising prince, and was further thwarted by the open hostility of his chief officer, Dilīr Khān; the Hindu officers in the Mughul camp secretly fraternised with the Marāthā defender of their faith, while the Muslim generals were glad to bribe him to let them live in peace. The annexation of the Deccan was impossible except by a much more powerful army than any provincial viceroy’s and a chief with the relentless vigour and determination of Aurangzīb.