History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c62.s10: § 13. Dilir Khan invades Bijapur; Shivaji assists Adil Shah, 1679.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c62.s10
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§ 13. Dilir Khan invades Bijapur; Shivaji assists Adil Shah, 1679.
v4.c62.s10.1
But the sacrifice of the royal maiden was of no avail to the doomed dynasty. Mughal greed was insatiable, and Mughal statecraft knew no generosity or fidelity to plighted word. Dilir Khan now demanded that Masaud should resign the regency and retire to his own fief, while the Bijapur government would be carried on by a creature of the Mughals (Hakim Shams-ud-din) supported by a Mughal garrison, and the Bijapuri army would be sent away to fight Shivaji. Masaud wisely rejected the proposal as "a stratagem of the Mughals for putting an end to the Adil-Shahi dynasty." (B.S. 490.) He imprisoned Venkatadri, his right-hand man, who had entered into collusion with Dilir Khan to effect this change of wazirs, (12 Aug. 1679.) At the same time, Masaud's son slipped away from the Mughal camp with his troops and returned to Bijapur.
v4.c62.s10.2
The Mughal general, being thus openly defied, at once declared war against Bijapur. On 18th August he crossed the river and halted near Dhulkhed to assemble his full force. Masaud sent envoys to avert the blow, but his new overtures were scornfully rejected. This was the last and greatest Mughal invasion of Bijapur before the final attack by Aurangzib in 1685, and we shall describe it in detail.
v4.c62.s10.3
Dilir Khan had passed from diplomatic pressure into war in a fit of anger. But his own position was really weak, though he trusted to achieve much by his former seduction of most of the Bijapuri nobles. For one thing, he lacked the chief sinews of war; his treasure-chest was empty, while his soldiers' pay was in arrears. Secondly, the new viceroy of the Deccan, Prince Shah Alam, was his sworn enemy, and tried his best to foil his undertakings and cover him with discredit. The viceroy refused to supply the general with siege artillery and even the necessary money, saying that Dilir was merely wasting the resources of the empire and would be paid his expenses only if he succeeded in capturing Bijapur. (Ishwardas, 59 a; B.S. 492.)
v4.c62.s10.4
Dilir Khan was thus brought to a halt at the very outset of the campaign, and wrote entreating the Prince for money. Masaud utilized the delay in strengthening the defences of Bijapur, provisioning the fort, and mustering troops from all the provinces. Above all, he sent an envoy to Shivaji appealing to him to come to the rescue of Adil Shah in his supreme need. (B.S. 493.)
v4.c62.s10.5
Shivaji's response was prompt, effectual and highly creditable to his wisdom and sense of honour. He told off 10,000 Maratha cavalry to aid Masaud, despatched 2,000 ox-loads of provisions to Bijapur, and proclaimed to his subjects that they should send grain and other necessaries to that city for sale to save it from scarcity. Urging Masaud to confine himself to the defence of the capital with the 10,000 Marathas placed under his orders, Shivaji himself undertook to go with the rest of his army and punish Dilir Khan.
v4.c62.s10.6
The Mughals took possession of Mangalvide (52 miles north of Bijapur) and the country between the Bhima and the former fort, in September 1679. They also raided Salotgi, Kasigaon, and Almala, and besieged Akluj, but without success. Dilir Khan, after receiving money and building some redoubts to guard his communications, advanced from Dhulkhed (15th Sept.) and coming to Halsangi halted there for three weeks, fortifying his position. On 6th October he reached Bahman-halli and next day Baratgi (6 m. n. e. of the capital), setting up a line of outposts all the way. Here he was met by the agents of Masaud with offers of peace. But the repeated palaver between the two parties only resulted in much loss of time.