History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c64.s17: § 24. Minor operations, 1683-85.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c64.s17
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§ 24. Minor operations, 1683-85.
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Towards the end of 1683 the Emperor arrived at Ahmadnagar. From this centre he used to send flying columns to drive away the Marathas wherever they were reported to be raiding, while large independent armies under his sons Shah Alam and Azam and his chief generals Khan-i-Jahan and Shihab-ud-din Khan (finally created Firuz Jang) were posted at important strategic positions for conquering the enemy's dominions. Thus in December 1683 Sarbuland Khan was detached from Ahmadnagar to punish a Maratha band near Bahadurgarh, Ruhullah Khan to the bank of the Nira, and Bahramand Khan towards Ashti, while Mamur Khan gained a great victory over the Marathas, probably in the Puna district. (M.A. 240.)
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Then the Marathas appeared in the north, and in January 1684 Bahramand Khan had to march to the neighbourhood of Mungi-Pattan to disperse them. Shortly afterwards Khan-i-Jahan after a forced march of 60 miles defeated "the infidels" with heavy slaughter on the bank of the Krishna and captured their property. (M.A. 241.)
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∗ The best accounts of this expedition are those by Ishwardas (full) and Manucci (latter half only.) K. K. (ii. 280, 291-292) and Dil. (181 and 183) tell us nothing new. The few references in F. R. have been alrendy given. The Portuguese records and Jedhe S supply some useful details and dates. B.S. 528, 531 says that the Prince reached Ahmadnagar on 29th June, by way of Bidri and Tikota.
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Shihab-ud-din Khan, who had gained many victories over the Marathas, was highly rewarded on 24th Dec. 1683 and given the title of Ghazi-ud-din Khan. [M.A. 240.] In the following February and March Prince Azam was posted at Bahadurgarh in the south, Bahramand Khan at Nasik in the north-west, and Shihab-ud-din Khan at Puna and Garh Namuna in the south-west, whilst Ruhullah Khan marched to the far south in April to reinforce and escort the broken remnant of Shah Alam's army after the Ramghat expedition. In the same month 112 officers of Shambhuji who had been captured were put to death by order of the Emperor. (M.A. 240-243.) In May, the Mughals occupied Sangola and Mangalvide. (B.S. 530). During the rainy season (June—September) of this year the Mughal army intended to canton along the brow of the Western Ghats "for the greater conveniency of coming down on surprise; they keep as yet good correspondence with all places belonging to the king of Bijapur, but......have proclaimed that whoever they find in Shambhuji's territories must expect no mercy." (Karwar to Surat, 7th May 1684, in F.R.
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Surat 109.) But their signal victories over the Marathas enabled the imperialists to change their plan of war and send considerable forces against Bijapur in the winter of this year.
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Their campaign in the first half of 1684 was highly successful; many Maratha forts were taken, their field armies repeatedly defeated, and much territory annexed. Their crowning feat was the capture of two wives, one daughter and three slave-girls of Shambhuji, who were confined in the fort of Bahadurgarh in July. (M.A. 245-246.) One wife and one sister of the Maratha king had been captured before by Dilir Khan and lodged in Ahmadnagar fort. [Akh. 27 Nov. 1681.]
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Where was Shambhuji all this time? After the failure of his attack on Goa at the end of 1683, he entirely gave himself up to pleasure. On 10th February 1684, the Dutch factors write, "Shambhuji is not in very good odour with his officers. He diverts himself far too much with women and drink." (D.R. vol. 37, No. 936.) Manucci (ii. 258) gives the same evidence, "Shambhuji's victories were not the fruit of his own labour, but were due to his officers. He was much more inclined to spend his time with women, amusement, and wine, than to take the field and emulate the example of valour and untiring exertion bequeathed him by his father." The Maratha ministers, however, were wise enough to aid Bijapur when Adil Shah was hard pressed by the Mughals, but from the character of their master such aid was not effective* like that given by Shivaji in 1679.
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The rainy season and the month of fasting (August 1684) being over, the campaign was resumed in September. On the 21st of that month Shihab-ud-din Khan was sent against the Maratha capital, Raigarh.† About the middle of January 1685, he made a fresh dash into Konkan by the Bhorghat and set fire to the village (Pachad) at the foot of this fort, "slew many of the infidel chiefs, plundered their wealth and property, made many captives and gained a great victory," but at Gagoli he was attacked by Kavi-kalash and forced to withdraw [Jedhe.] For his brilliant success he was created Khan Bahadur Firuz Jang, and lavishly rewarded along with his officers. On his return to Court on 26th March he received further favours. (M.A. 248-255.)
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∗ On 15th June 1684 the Karwar factors write, "The major part of the Mughal's army lies at Bijapur gates ;......they will compel the king to send his army with them against Shambhuji or take his country. The poor king [Sikandar] is in a perplexed dilemma ......Shambhuji recruits him with money and men but in vain." (F. R. Surat 109.)
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† This date is given by M.A. 248, but it ought to be one month earlier. On 3rd Sept. the factors at Vissava wrote to Surat, "Just now came news that the Mughal forces have surrounded Rairi." On 19th Feb. 1685, the Karwar factors write, "We hear there is another party [of Mughal troops] of 40,000 horse at the foot of Rairi." (F. R. Surat 109.)
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In October 1684, we find Mughal outposts holding Chakan, Garh Namuna and Supa in the Puna district. Many Maratha captains were induced by Firuz Jang to desert to the imperial side, among them being Padamji, Ankoji, Malhar Rao, and Subhan Chand, and, later, Arjunji the son of Shambhu's uncle. In May 1685 more of his officers,—Babaji (or Manaji), Vikaji, Nagoji and one Shambhuji—were won over by Aurangzib. (Jaipur records.) Early in December Kondana was captured by Abdul Qadir; evidently it was poorly defended. (M.A. 249-258.) While every Maratha soldier was sorely needed for home defence, they made the mistake of blindly following their policy of mulk-giri and raiding Khandesh. On 5th February 1685 they entered Dharangaon, plundered it, and burnt about a quarter part of the town or more than 1,000 houses. This band of horsemen was only six to seven thousand strong and led by Ranke Rao (? Ranga or Janki Rao) and Niloji Pandit. The incursion did not continue for more than eight days; but this small force in such a short time "made a vast havoc in the country, ......seeing that the king [Aurangzib] had drawn most of his forces towards Bijapur and left the passages on this side but thinly guarded." (Jetpad to Surat, 12th Feb., in F.R. Surat 109.) At the same time there were frequent conspiracies against Shambhuji and rumours about his being deposed and even killed. In February the imperialists gained the fort and town of Karwar. (Karwar to Surat, 19 Feb. 1685, in F.R. Surat 109.)
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But at the end of March the siege of Bijapur began, the Mughal forces were concentrated there, and in May the Emperor himself arrived at Sholapur to direct the operations. The pressure upon the Marathas ceased, and the war entered on a new stage.