History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c39.s5: §5. Relations with Central Asia.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c39.s5
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§5. Relations with Central Asia.
v3.c39.s5.1
With the Powers of Central Asia, Aurangzib's intercourse was more frequent and uniformly cordial. The first foreign embassy that he received after his accession was one sent by Subhan Quli, king of Balkh, which presented him (January and February, 1661) with valuable Turki horses, camels, hunting animals, dry fruits, &c., and received Rs. 26,000 in return. On 19th November in the same year, Khwajah Ahmad, the envoy of Abdul Aziz Khan, king of Bukhara, made his bow and delivered to Aurangzib a congratulatory letter from his chivalrous antagonist of the war of 1647. On the ambassador and his entourage the Emperor spent one lakh and twenty thousand Rupees, besides Rs. 12,000 sent to the Bukhara chancellor. But both the envoys from Balkh and Bukhara died in India from the effects of the very miserly and dirty way in which they lived.
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The compliment was returned by the despatch of a mission from India to Central Asia, under Mustafa Khan Khafi (2nd July, 1664), with gifts worth 1½ lakhs for Abdul Aziz Khan and one lakh for Subhan Quli Khan. Two other envoys came from these kings in 1667, and received in return 2 lakhs and 1½ lakhs respectively in cash and kind. These Central Asian Powers kept up frequent intercourse with Aurangzib throughout his reign, by means of friendly letters and gifts, and we have many mentions of envoys coming from them.
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In April 1664 arrived Mir Fulad, with a friendly letter from Abdullah Khan, king of Kashghar, and in June he returned with gifts worth half a lakh for himself and his master. A reply was despatched in October 1665 with Khwajah Ishaq, who returned from the way on learning that a civil war had broken out in the country. Peace having been restored, he was sent again in November next year. Three other embassies from the same country are recorded in the official history of the reign. Envoys were also received from Urganj (Khiva) and Shahar-nau, but they were on a smaller scale and represented petty chieftains only.*
v3.c39.s5.4
In 1668 came a guest of the highest rank from Central Asia. Abdullah Khan, king of Kashghar, was deposed by his son Bulbaras Khan, and when fleeing to India with his family was robbed of all his property on the way. In this distressed condition he was met and relieved by Khwajah Ishaq, the envoy sent earlier from the Mughal Court. On hearing the news, Aurangzib wrote to his governors of Kashmir and the Panjab to study the ex-king's comfort in every way, pay him one lakh of Rupees for his expenses, and supply him with the imperial plate tents and furniture. The subahdar of Kashmir was commanded to escort him personally to Delhi.
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∗ Balkh missions.—A. N. 605-8 (in 1661), 1050, 1063 (in 1667); Storia, ii. 36-44 (=Bernier, 116-123) graphic description; M. A. 90 (in 1669), 149 (in 1676), 193 (in 1680), 483 (1704), 516 (1706). Bukhara missions.—A. N. 637, 644, 662-665, 673, 738, (1661-62), 863 (1664), 1035, 1049 (1667); M. A. 104 (1670), 108 (1671), 158 (1676), 216 (1681), 337 (1690), 440 (1701, from 'Turan'). Urganj missions.—A. N. 1048, 1063 (1667); M. A. 112 (1671), 207 (1681). Kashghar missions.—A. N. 858-61 (1664), 915 (1665), 984 (1666); M. A. 79 (1669), 228 (1683), 337 (1690). Shahar-nau.—M. A. 240 (1683).
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The royal fugitive reached the capital on 15th March, and was welcomed on the way by the Grand Wazir and the Paymaster, and presented to the Emperor, who cordially received him, shook hands with him, seated him near his person and dined with him. The guest was lodged in a fine mansion on the Jamuna which had been furnished with the Emperor's own upholstery, and was daily supplied with food from the imperial kitchen. He roamed in the imperial pleasure gardens with his wives, and was treated to an elephant-combat, which was an exclusive prerogative of the Mughal sovereigns. After spending eight months in happiness at Delhi, he set out to visit Mecca. The same honours were done to him on the way to the port of embarkation. The Mughal Government spent on this august guest ten lakhs of Rupees in all or 1½ million livres of the French money of the time. In August 1670 he reached Surat on his return from Mecca, received one lakh of Rupees more from the treasury, and settled at Delhi, where he died in extreme old age, on 20th October, 1675.*
v3.c39.s5.7
There were a few scholars and merchants in Central Asia with whom Aurangzib regularly corresponded. One such was Khwajah Abdul Ghaffar of Trans-Oxiana, to whom he used to write letters describing his conquests in the Deccan during his second viceroyalty and his victories over his brothers. These foreign friends were not forgotten after his accession. Abdul Ghaffar was presented with Rs. 12,000 in 1660 and again in 1661, with Rs. 5,000 in 1663, Rs. 10,000 in 1665, and Rs. 14,000 in 1667. Other Khwajahs of that country were similarly enriched with purses from Aurangzib.†
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† Abdul Ghaffar,—letters in Adab, 131b—135b, gifts in A. N. 462, 605, 848, 876, 1035. Other Khwajahs, A. N. 605. Khwajahs of Juibar in A. N. 1063.