History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c65.s1: § 1. Aurangzib's policy towards Bijapur from 1680 to 1683.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c65.s1
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§ 1. Aurangzib's policy towards Bijapur from 1680 to 1683.
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For four years after Dilir Khan's failure and retreat (February 1680), nothing was done by the Mughals against Bijapur, as they were harried and distracted by the fertile audacity of Shambhuji, who raided various points in the imperial dominions with startling rapidity and unexpectedness. The Adil-Shahis got a respite from foreign attack, but it was of no avail to them; their monarchy was now in the last agonies of dissolution, the sad story of which will be unfolded in this chapter.
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After the last invasion under Dilir had been rolled back, the regent Siddi Masaud highly rewarded the victorious Berad chieftain, Pam Nayak. He also released his former favourite Venkatadri Murari from prison (where he had been confined from 12 Aug. 1679 to 12 May 1680), after torturing and fleecing him, though this Brahman's diplomatic skill had detached Sharza Khan from the Mughals and brought him back to the side of his old master, Adil Shah. (B.S. 523.)
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His rebel son Akbar having taken refuge with Shambhuji, Aurangzib hurriedly patched up a peace with the Maharana of Udaipur (14th June, 1681), left Rajputana for the South on 8th Sep., and reached Burhanpur two months later. At this stage, Shambhuji was his only enemy, and no invasion of Bijapur or Golkonda was as yet contemplated. Indeed, Aurangzib wrote a friendly letter to Sharza Khan, the leading general of Bijapur, (13th July, 1681), pressing him to co-operate with the Mughal generals in crushing Shambhuji and recovering the Bijapur territory he had usurped: "The Emperor is going to the Deccan to punish Shambhu and wrest the Bijapuri forts from him. Don't be alarmed, but assist Khan-i-Jahan in this work." Shahar Banu, the Bijapuri princess recently married to Azam, also sent a personal appeal to Sharza (18th July), saying "Help the imperialists loyally for the good of the Bijapur State. Conquer the infidel's possessions." (B.S. 520-21, 528.)*
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But a rupture with Bijapur could not be long averted. No response came from any Adil-Shahi officer to the Emperor's appeal for co-operation with him by recovering what Shambhuji had seized of their master's territory; "they would not leave the side of Shambhu," as the Bijapur historian frankly admits. (B.S. 528.) The Emperor received repeated and clear proofs of the help that the Marathas used to get from the Bijapuri Government. Adil Shah's secret treaty with Shivaji in 1663 had been strengthened by the Maratha king's priceless services in defeating Dilir Khan's attempt on Bijapur in 1679. And in Shambhuji, both Adil Shah and his advisers knew that they had their only reliable friend in the day of need.
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So, Aurangzib decided to increase the pressure on Shambhuji by making a diversion against the Bijapuris and compelling them to concentrate their resources on the defence of their own realm. As early as January 1682, a division under Ruhullah Khan was detached to invade Bijapur territory, evidently the northern frontier of it, which had been a scene of anarchy since the accession of the
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to wage war on Shambhuji, and if they recovered the lands taken from them [by the Marathas], they were to hold them as before in fee......It is said that a great number of Mughal horse has invaded Bijapur and wished to compel the young king to add his weak forces to theirs and attack Shambhuji." [Dutch Rec. Vol. 37.]
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boy-king Sikandar and the outbreak of faction-fights at his Court. The object of this expedition was simply to ravage as much of Bijapuri territory as possible and curb Shambhuji's activity in the Parenda and Sholapur region. The detachment did not effect, nor was it intended to effect, any conquest. It was evidently too small to do anything more than raid defenceless villages and lay corn-fields waste, and it soon returned to headquarters. (M.A. 216-218.)
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On 13th May, 1682, an envoy from Bijapur waited on the Emperor at Aurangabad with a few presents, but these peace-offerings were not accepted. A month later, a much larger force was sent under Prince Azam to enter Bijapur territory. He ravaged the frontier, took the fort of Dharur (about 140 miles north of Bijapur), and tried to fight his way to the environs of the Adil-Shahi capital. The campaign languished for many months, and the Prince had not advanced further south than the Nira river when he was recalled to Court (June 1683). His force was inadequate for the purpose of conquering the vast Adil-Shahi kingdom, and this fact was recognized by the Emperor. After the rainy season, Azam was again sent to invade Bijapur (20th August), but was two months later transferred to Nasik (30th October), and these desultory attacks on Bijapur ceased for a time. (M.A. 218-219, 230, 239; B.S. 529.)