The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.170

v4.c19.170

The use of the royal title by the kings of the Deccan was always resented by the Mughul emperors, who wrote of them usually as “rulers” or “governors” of their diminions and addressed them as “‘Ādil Khān” and “Qutb-ul-Mulk”. A skilful retort was made by Abu-’l-Hasan Qutb Shāh to Aurangzīb’s envoy to Golconda in 1685, who rudely told Abu-’l-Hasan that he had no right to the royal title. “You are wrong,” replied the king, “for if I am not a king how can your master call himself the king of kings?”