The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.18

v4.c20.18

Soon after the Mūghul siege of Bījāpur had commenced, a letter from Qutb Shāh to his agent in the emperor’s camp was intercepted, in which he called Aurangzīb a mean-minded coward for attacking a helpless young orphan like Sikandar ‘Ādil Shāh, and promised to send a large army in support of Bījāpur. At this Aurangzīb sent Shāh ‘Ālam with a strong force to seize Hyderābād (July, 1685); but this division was effectively checked at Mālkhed and practically besieged by a Golconda army for more than two months. There were frequent fights, in which the Mūghuls could make no advance, as the enemy greatly outnumbered them; their heavy losses took the heart out of the imperialists and the rains added to their hardships. But early in October, the Golconda commander-in-chief, Mīr Muhammad Ibrāhīm, was bribed to come over to the Mughuls, and his disheartened soldiers fled back to their capital.