History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c65.s5: § 6. Difficulties of the besiegers.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c65.s5
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§ 6. Difficulties of the besiegers.
v4.c65.s5.1
Allies began to flock to Adil Shah in his distress. On 10th June Siddi Masaud's contingent arrived in response to a pathetic appeal written by Sikandar on 18th April. Next, on 14th August, a Golkonda force, under Ambaji Pandit, arrived, and finally on 10th December a second army from Shambhuji under Hambir Rao.* But the last corps was sent away a few days afterwards to create a useful diversion by ravaging the Mughal dominions,—a task more congenial to the Maratha spirit and military capacity. (B.S. 536.)
v4.c65.s5.2
In the meantime the Mughal cause had been further weakened by an open rupture with Golkonda, which Aurangzib with all his efforts could not avert. Before beginning the siege of Bijapur, he had warned Qutb Shah not to help Sikandar in any way, if he cared for his own throne. (B.S. 533.) As early as July 1684, Sikandar had appealed to Abul Hasan for a defensive alliance, and four months later his envoy had returned from Golkonda after winning over the prime minister Madanna Pandit to the wise policy of making all the Deccani Powers stand side by side against the spoiler from the North. Qutb Shah’s chivalry was also touched by the distress of a brother king who was a mere lad of sixteen.
v4.c65.s5.3
∗ Jedhe S states that in July Shambhuji ordered Kavi kalash to go to the aid of Bijapur, but the minister himself stayed at Panhala and merely despatched an army under some officers to Bijapur
v4.c65.s5.4
Arrived at Sholapur, Aurangzib had sent a small force under Bahramand Khan to watch the Golkonda side, (24th May, 1685.) He soon intercepted a letter from Qutb Shah to his agents at the Mughal Court, promising to send 10,000 men to the help of Sikandar and urging Shambhu to do the same. This new situation had to be met at once, and, therefore, on 28th June Shah Alam was sent with a large army to invade Haidarabad, though the Emperor knew that “this dispersion of forces was sure to cause delay and obstruction to the enterprise against Bijapur.” Khan-i-Jahan who was holding the outpost of Indi, 30 miles n. e. of Bijapur, to guard the route of supplies for the investing army of Azam, was ordered to join Shah Alam. (M.A. 259-261.)
v4.c65.s5.5
Prince Azam had arrived close to the fort of Bijapur (29th June, 1685) and infused more vigour into the siege; but the garrison were no less active. In less than a month he had to fight three severe battles with them. On 1st July his trenches were assailed by Abdur Rauf and Sharza Khan, and several Mughal officers were wounded and slain, while an explosion* of the Prince's powder-magazine destroyed 500 foot-musketeers. (M.A. 262; B.S. 536.) Next day the Deccanis fell on the supplies coming to the siege-camp and evidently cut them off. On 25th July a Mughal foraging party was attacked with heavy loss near Mangali, 16 miles south of the city.