New History of the Marathas v1.c14.19

v1.c14.19

2. Koppal seized.—The Hindus of the south who had long been oppressed by the Muslims hailed Shivaji’s expedition with all their heart, eager as they were to transfer their allegiance to Shivaji if he would extend them his protection. The fort of Koppal commanded the Bijapur possessions between the Krishna and the Tungabhadrā rivers and was securely held by two Afghan captains in Bijapuri service, Husain Khan Miana and his brother Abdul Rahim Khan. This “gate of the south” as Sabhāsad calls it, was of strategic importance for Shivaji’s hold on the Karnatak. The Hindus of the Tungabhadrā regions had sent pathetic appeals to Shivaji to put down the atrocities perpetrated upon them by the Miana brothers. So when Shivaji decided to visit Golconda, he thought it necessary to subdue these two Afghan chiefs with a view to preventing them from threatening his rear from Koppal. When he arranged his march southward early in January 1677, he despatched a strong force in two divisions under Hambir Rāo Mohite and Dhanāji Jādhav to put down the Miana pathans and secure Koppal. Some stiff actions took place and the Marathas succeeded in inflicting severe defeats upon the Afghans. Abdul Rahim Khan was killed and his brother Husain Khan was taken alive. He surrendered the fort of Koppal to Hambir Rāo and was allowed to proceed wherever he liked. Hambir Rāo and Dhanāji both joined Shivaji at Bhāgānagar in March. The gate of the Eastern Karnatak was firmly secured and its possession opened the last memorable phase of Shivaji’s life.