The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.12

v4.c20.12

For four years after Dilīr Khān's failure (February, 1680) nothing decisive was done by the Mughuls against Bījāpur, as they were busy opposing Shambhūjī and Akbar. Prince A‘zam's campaign (1682–83) was languidly conducted in the region north of the Nīrā river; thereafter even these desultory attacks ceased. In the meantime the condition of the ‘Ādil Shāhī government grew hopeless. Mas‘ūd resigned his post as minister in despair and disgust early in 1684, and his successor Āqā Khusrav died after six months of office (21 October). The leadership of the state then fell to Sharza Khān (a Mahdavī Sayyid) and ‘Abdur-Rauf (Afghān). The Mughuls then resumed the appropriation of bits of the ‘Ādil Shāhī kingdom and established their own outposts in these; Mangalvide and Sāngola were gained in May, 1684. Although a rupture between the two powers now seemed imminent and some acrimonious letters were exchanged, war did not actually break out until some months afterwards, and Aurangzib continued to send friendly letters and robes of honour to the ‘Ādil Shāhī court. But both sides used the interval in preparing for war, and on 11 April, 1685, the last Mughul siege of Bījāpur began. Rūh-ullah Khān and Qāsim Khān opened their trenches on the Shāhpur or north-western side, half a mile from the fort wall, while Khān Jahān ran his approaches from the Rasūlpur or western suburb. Prince A‘zam arrived on 24 June and took over the supreme command, encamping at the Begam Hauz, south of the city.