Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

Later Mughals v1.c6.s1: Sec. 1.—Death of Alamgir : His Children.

Later Mughals v1.c6.s1

Language
English

Contents

Sec. 1.—Death of Alamgir : His Children.

v1.c6.s1.1

After an illness of a few days Alamgir died in his camp at Ahmadnagar on the 28th Zul Qada 1118 A.H., corresponding to the 3rd March, 1707, New Style, in the 91st (lunar) year of his age and the 51st of his reign. The actual place of his death is probably denoted by the "Barahdari Aurangzeb's tomb," marked on the map between pp. 688 and 689 in Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. xvii. The place lies 2 miles n. e. of Ahmadnagar town.

v1.c6.s1.2

Alamgir had five sons and five daughters.* The eldest son, Muhammad Sultan was born near Mathura on 4th Ramzan 1049 (30th Dec., 1639) and died on the 7th Shawwal 1087 (14th Dec., 1676), in the thirty-ninth year of his age and in the twentieth year of his father's reign. He left no issue. The fourth son it will only be necessary to mention. His name was Akbar, he was born on 11th Zul Hijja 1067 (21st Sept., 1657) and after rebelling and joining the Rajputs in 1681, he fled to the Mahratta Court of Sambhaji and thence to Persia. He died at Mashhad on the 31st March, 1706.† At the Emperor's death there thus remained only three claimants for the throne, his second, third and fifth sons.

v1.c6.s1.3

† This date is given by the Tarikh-i-Muhammadi. But, according to the Masir-i-Alamgiri, pp. 483 and 537, Akbar died in 1704. The date of his birth is given as 11th Zul Hijja by Kambu and as 12th by Masir,—a later compilation. [J. S.]

v1.c6.s1.4

The second son Muhammad Muazzam was born at Burhanpur in the Dakhin on 30th Rajab 1053 (14th Oct., 1643). His mother, and the mother of the eldest son, Muhammad Sultan, was Nawab Bai, daughter of Rajah Raju, Rajah of Rajauri in Kashmir. She died at Dihli in 1691.

v1.c6.s1.5

∗ The dates concerning them are taken mostly from the Masir-i-Alamgiri, Tarikh-i-Mdi and Abdul Hamid's Padishahnama, with corrections by J. Sarkar.

v1.c6.s1.6

Muhammad Azam the third son was born of Dilras Banu Begam, daughter of Shah Nawaz Khan Safawi on the 12th Shaban, 1063 (9 July, 1653). He is usually styled Ali-jah and often Azam Tara.

v1.c6.s1.7

The fifth and last son, Muhammad Kam Bakhsh, was born 10th Ramzan, 1077 (7th March, 1677). His mother was Bai Udipuri who died at Gwaliyar in June 1707, a few days after the defeat of Azam Shah by Bahadur Shah.

v1.c6.s1.8

Of Alamgir's daughters, the eldest was Zeb-un-nissa Begam, born on the 10th Shawwal 1047 (26th Feb., 1637).* She died at Dihli, a State prisoner, in 1702, unmarried. She used to write poetry under the name of Makhfi or the Hidden.

v1.c6.s1.9

The second daughter was Zinat-un-nissa Begam, born on the 1st Shaban 1053 (16 Oct. 1643), her mother being the daughter of Shah Nawaz Khan.

v1.c6.s1.10

She took an active interest in the cause of her full brother Azam Shah, and after his defeat refused to be reconciled to Bahadur Shah. He conferred on her the title of Padshah Begam and sent her to end her days in Dihli. She died there on the 18th May 1721 at the age of eighty years.

v1.c6.s1.11

Badr-un-nissa Begam, the third in order, was born of Nawab Bai on 29th Shawwal 1057 (28 November, 1647). She died on 28th Zul Qada 1080 (20th April, 1670) in the 13th year of the reign.

v1.c6.s1.12

The fourth daughter Zubdat-un-nissa Begam was born on the 26th Ramzan 1061 (13 Sept. 1651). She died on the 17th Feb. 1707, less than a month before her father. She had been married to her cousin Sipihr Shukoh, son of Prince Dara Shukoh, by whom she had a son Ali Tabar who died a six month old infant in the end of 1676. (T-i-Mhdi).

v1.c6.s1.13

∗ The Masir-i-Alamgiri (538) wrongly gives the year as 1048 A. H. Abdul Hamid's Padishahnama (ii. 22) gives the correct figure 1047 A. H. [J. S.]

v1.c6.s1.14

Mihr-un-nissa Begam the fifth daughter was born of Aurangabadi Mahal on the 3rd Safar 1072 (29 Sep. 1661). She was married to Ezad Bakhsh, son of Prince Murad Bakhsh, and died on the 18th Zul Hijja 1117 (1st April, 1706), a year before her father.

Muhammad Muazzam (Shah Alam)

v1.c6.s1.t1.1

After the imprisonment and death of his elder brother, Sultan Muhammad, the second son, Muhammad Muazzam, became heir-apparent. The latter, in the early part of his father's reign, from 1664, was actively employed in the Dakhin against the Mahrattas and the Muhammadan kingdom of Bijapur. In 1683-4 he commanded an army in the Konkan without much success and then served under his father at the siege of Golkonda. Aurangzeb's suspicious nature is sufficiently notorious: and his intrigues against his father had prepared him to expect a similar conduct on the part of his own children. More than twenty years before this period, Muhammad Muazzam had been suspected of intriguing for power at the time of his father's temporary illness. During the siege of Golkonda, some communications passed between Abul Hasan the ruler of that place and the Prince. These messages referred to a proposed intercession for peace to be made through Mhd. Muazzam. Aurangzeb assumed that they were of a disloyal nature and at once placed his son under arrest, (4th March, 1687.)*

v1.c6.s1.t1.2

Muhammad Muazzam was kept a prisoner for nearly seven years during the whole of which time he behaved with the utmost discretion, showing throughout the most complete outward humility and resignation. After applying various tests, Alamgir readmitted his son to partial favour. His two eldest sons Muizz-ud-din and Mhd. Azim were released and appointed to commands. In 1695 Muhammad Muazzam (styled in his father's lifetime Shah Alam) was himself released, and on the 9th Shawwal 1106 (24th May 1695) sent as governor to Akbarabad. He passed one year (up to 24th July 1696) in Agra, proceeding thence to Lahor, Multan and Uch. On the death of Amir Khan, the subahdar of Kabul, he assumed the government of that province, reaching the city of Kabul on 4th June 1699 after a march by way of Jhang, Peshawar, the Khaibar Pass, Jalalabad and Jagdalak. For eight years the hot season was spent in Kabul and the cold weather at Jalalabad or Peshawar or in marches through the country. On the 25th Nov. 1706 he pitched his camp at Jamrud twelve miles west of Peshawar and he was still there when he heard first of the illness and then of the death of his father at Ahmadnagar in the Dakhin. The Prince's two youngest sons Rafi-ul-qadr and Khujista-Akhtar were then with him, the eldest Muizz-ud-din was at Multan, and the second Muhammad Azim on his way from his Government in Bihar to his grandfather's camp in the Dakhin.*

v1.c6.s1.t1.3

∗ The story of his Konkan expedition and arrest is told, with references to authorities, in Sarkar's History of Aurangzib, vol. iv. ch. 44 and 47. The story of the relaxation of his captivity, in Khafi Khan, ii. 397-398, 404, 407-418, 437, 443 and M.A. 335, 341-351, 370-373. [J.S.]

Azam Shah

v1.c6.s1.t2.1

Alamgir's second surviving son, Azam Shah, had for many years looked on himself as his father's destined successor. It may be surmised that he was not altogether without his share in the intrigues which led Alamgir to distrust and at length imprison the elder son Muhammad Muazzam. In any case Azam Shah used the opportunity offered by his brother's long removal from power to increase his own authority and influence. In 1701 he was appointed to the Government of Ahmadabad Gujarat and sent to administer that province in person. There he acquired considerable wealth and increased the numbers of his armed force. In 1706 his father reluctantly permitted him to return to the imperial head-quarters, the Prince's eldest son Bidar Bakht being transferred from Malwa to Ahmadabad as his father's deputy. It was not long before quarrels arose between Azam Shah and his youngest brother Muhammad Kam Bakhsh. His jealousy was also aroused by the independent position and the rumoured wealth of Prince Muhammad Azim, second son of Muhammad Muazzam, who had been *subahdar* of Bengal and Bihar for some years. One of Alamgir's last acts was to recall this grandson from Azimabad Patna, at the instigation of Muhammad Azam. As we shall see presently, this very act turned out to have a most disastrous influence upon Azam Shah's own future.*

v1.c6.s1.t2.2

∗ Jagjivandas, f. 37-51. The earlier dates have been corrected by a reference to the official history, Masir-i-Alamgiri, 373, 382, 374. [J.S.]

Muhammad Kam Bakhsh

v1.c6.s1.t3.1

Alamgir had felt that his end was approaching, and he foresaw that if his two sons Azam Shah and Kam Bakhsh were left together his death would be the signal for instant hostilities. The Mahrattas were at the time giving great trouble in the vicinity of the imperial camp, and any dispute among the claimants to the crown would provide them with an opportunity of which they would not be slow to avail themselves. Further, as is usual with fathers, Alamgir was fonder of his youngest than of his other sons. Kam Bakhsh was therefore appointed to be *subahdar* of Bijapur and on the 16th February 1707 set out for the south with Hasam Khan (Mir Mallang) who had been recently named as his chief adviser, accompanied by a large body of Mughal troops under the command of one of their chief men, Muhammad Amin Khan. Kam Bakhsh was directed to march to his destination with all possible expedition.†

v1.c6.s1.t3.2

† K. K. ii. 547, M.A. 520, Dil. 158a.

v1.c6.s1.t3.3

A few days afterwards Azam Shah was told by his father that as his deputy in Malwa was not capable of suppressing the disturbances in that province, he must proceed to it in person. Mace-bearers with strict orders were deputed to urge on his departure. He left the imperial quarters on the 22nd February 1707 and marched northwards, but without making very rapid progress. In four marches he had only reached the bank of the river Godavari about 40 miles from his father's camp. [Kamwar Kh.]

Alamgir's Will

v1.c6.s1.t4.1

The story goes that Alamgir left a will with directions for his own burial and for the partition of the Empire between his three sons. It is said that it was found by Hamid-ud-din Khan, head of the household, under the Emperor's pillow.* As the terms of the will accord with the measures taken by the Emperor giving his three sons the provinces that he had assigned to them in his lifetime, it may be assumed to be authentic. Its terms were also appealed to afterwards by Muhammad Muazzam (Bahadur Shah) when he wrote to his brother, Azam Shah, offering him a compromise. This will is a little vague but its substance may be thus stated. It entreats his successors to leave Kam Bakhsh unmolested, should he content himself with the two new provinces, that is, Bijapur and Haidarabad. Amir-ul-umara, that is Asad Khan, his Wazir, is recommended as Wazir. Of the two capitals, Agra and Dihli, one should be taken by each son. With the city of Agra should go the province belonging to it, the Dakhin subahs, Malwa and Ahmadabad Gujarat; and with the city of Dihli, the country of Kabul and all the remaining provinces. There is an injunction to be true and faithful to Azam Shah, and this seems to conflict somewhat with the supposed impartiality of the testament; but as Azam Shah, in spite of this declaration in his favour, declined to be bound by the other provisions of the will, the suspicion that he might have drawn up the document for his own benefit must fall to the ground.

v1.c6.s1.t4.2

∗ Mas.-Alamgiri, 442, 496, 512, 520; K. K. ii. 516, 518, 541, 546-'7.

v1.c6.s1.t4.3

Taking the provinces and the revenue in dam, (forty to the Rupee) as stated by James Fraser† the proposed distribution would have given the following results:—

v1.c6.s1.t4.4

† Nadir Shah, p. 34. A translation of the will is given on pp. 36-37

v1.c6.s1.t4.5

| Bahadur Shah, | 12 Subahs | ... | 5,175,956,440 dam |
| Azam Shah, | 6 Subahs | ... | 4,704,255,400 dam |
| Kam Bakhsh, | 2 Subahs | ... | 2,191,665,000 dam |
| | 20 Subahs | ... | 12,071,876,840 dam |

v1.c6.s1.t4.6

∗ Khafi Khan, ii. 549, Kamwar Kh. A copy of the will had reached Surat as early as 18 Oct. 1707, (Valentyn, iv. 274.) [The will making a partition of the Empire and alleged to have been found under his pillow after his death, is given in Br. Mus. Addl. 18,881, f. 76 b, and I.O.L. MS. 1344, f. 49 b. A different one, containing directions about his burial and instructions for his successor, is given in Hamid-ud-din's Ahkam-i-Alamgiri, text edited by me, pp. 12-14, with an Eng. trans. J. S.]