The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.17

v4.c20.17

For nearly thirty years after Aurangzīb’s accession the kingdom of Golconda enjoyed respite from Mūghul attack, because of the pre-occupation of the Mūghuls with the Marāthās and ‘Ādil Shāh and also because Qutb Shāh paid his tribute regularly. Abu-’l Hasan (accession 1672), the last Sultān of this line, resigned his royal functions to his Brahman minister Mādanna and shut himself up in his palace with a host of concubines and dancing-girls. All power in the state was monopolized by Mādanna, his brother Ākkanna and their nephew surnamed Rustam Rāo; the administration grew more and more inefficient and corrupt, and the Muslims complained of Hindu predominance and their own humiliation in the state. Above all, Mādanna was a staunch supporter of the defensive alliance with the Marāthās for an annual subsidy.