The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c11.81

c11.81

In the next year (A.D. 1676) Shiváji made his famous expedition into the Karnátak. He first went to Golkonda, where he concluded a treaty hostile to Bijápur and the new regent. He then proceeded to the south, where he recovered the jáhgir that had been granted to his father and plundered or took the other districts belonging to Bijápur in that quarter. In the meantime Abdul Karim, with the Mughals, proceeded to attack Golkonda in revenge for the treaty made with Shiváji. The expedition was unsuccessful, and to add to the difficulties of the situation Abdul Karim died. He was succeeded by Musáud Khán, an Abyssinian, who owed his appointment to Dilír Khán the Mughal general, and who consequently favoured the Mughal faction. The new regent did not display much generalship or statesmanlike ability. He dismissed a large portion of the cavalry who took service with the enemies of Bijápur, and before long he had the mortification of seeing the whole Southern Marátha Country overrun by Shiváji's troops. He was further pressed by the Mughals under Sultán Múazzim, Aurangzíb's son, who demanded Pádsháh Bibi the king's sister. The demand was refused, but as one of the factions in the city was prepared to support it by force, the princess of herself went to the Mughal camp in the hope of saving her brother and country. The sacrifice was of no avail. The siege of Bijápur was pressed, and in his despair the regent applied to Shiváji for aid. The latter at once made a diversion by a vigorous attack on the Mughal possessions in the Dakhan. On a further application from Musáud Khán the Maráthás hovered around the besieging army and cut off its supplies, so that Dilír Khán had to raise the siege. He accordingly marched to the west, plundered Athni, and was laying waste the country to the south of the Krishna when he was again attacked by the Maráthás and forced to retreat. Shiváji, in return for the assistance rendered to Bijápur on this occasion, received a grant of most of the Bijápur possessions in what is now the Madras Presidency. He died shortly afterwards (A.D. 1680) and was succeeded by his son Sambháji.