A History of the Mahrattas v1.c11.77

v1.c11.77

1656.—Meer Joomleh and Aurungzebe concurred in their ideas of the facility and expediency of reducing the kingdoms of Beejapoor and Golcondah into provinces of the Moghul empire, and of spreading their conquests over the whole peninsula; but Aurungzebe pretended to be actuated more by the hope of propagating the Mahomedan faith in that region of idolatry than swayed by a desire of possessing its resources. Meer Joomleh having been invited to the imperial court was shortly after raised to the rank of vizier, and took every opportunity of urging the fitness of a plan, in which both he and Aurungzebe probably calculated their own future advantage. A very short period had elapsed when an event occurred which drew the Emperor partially to accede to their schemes of conquest, and induced him to authorize a war. This was the death of Mohummud Adil Shah, who, after a lingering illness, expired at Beejapoor, 4th November, 1656.¹