History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c66.s7: § 8. Second Mughal capture of Haidarabad City, 1685.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c66.s7
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§ 8. Second Mughal capture of Haidarabad City, 1685.
v4.c66.s7.1
The king's flight to Golkonda was so precipitate that all his property was left behind. When the people learnt that the city of Haidarabad was abandoned by the Government and that the enemy were at hand, there was a mad scramble to flee to the fort. "Thousands of high-born persons, who had no time to procure conveyances or remove their property, grasped the hands of their wives and children in bewilderment and, without giving them time to dress fully, ran towards Golkonda." The confusion was aggravated by the indiscriminate looting which began immediately. "A noise and tumult arose like that of doomsday. The royal property worth 4 or 5 krores of Rupees and the belongings of the soldiers who had left their families at Haidarabad began to be plundered at once." (K.K. ii. 306.)
v4.c66.s7.2
Some citizens removed to the fort, in the course of the night, whatever they could carry away on their own persons or by means of hired porters. But most people had to stay in their own houses, dazed and helpless, as Bhimsen found them a few days afterwards. The city presented the spectacle of a sack after assault by an enemy. "Before the news of the king's flight could reach Prince Shah Alam's camp, the ruffians and robbers of the city began to loot it. . . . . . In every ward, street, and market-place, there were lakhs of Rupees worth in cash, property, China-ware of the nobles and tradesmen, and carpets of the king and the aristocracy, besides horses and elephants. These were looted in the midst of a terrible uproar. Many Hindu and Muslim wives and children were kidnapped and some of them outraged. Rich carpets, too heavy to be carried off, were slashed with the sword or dagger and the pieces removed by the robbers . . . Even the doors were taken off their hinges." (Dil. 190; K.K. ii. 306-307.)
v4.c66.s7.3
Haidarabad was then the richest and most voluptuous city in the Deccan, the seat of a gorgeous Court, the home of many fine arts and an extensive trade, and the abode of twenty thousand women of pleasure; and its accumulated wealth was almost inexhaustible.
v4.c66.s7.4
Next day Shah Alam sent a party of his soldiers to protect the citizens, but these men themselves joined in the plunder! "So many tents were taken away from the city that in the Prince's camp no old tent could be seen." Fires lighted by the ruffians blazed in the city, destroying what had escaped plunder. After two days the Prince appointed Khan-i-Jahan to police the city, and he succeeded in restoring order to some extent. But, by that time, everything portable had disappeared, and the imperial provost-marshal (kotwal) and diwan, who were sent to attach the property of Abul Hasan, could secure only a small fraction of it. At this disappointing result Aurangzib grew angry with his son and suspected him of concealing the loot for his own use, or at least of showing culpable negligence in looking after the Emperor's interests. (Ibid.)
v4.c66.s7.5
The Mughal army made this its second entry into Haidarabad about 8th October 1685. The Prince first came by way of Dhobipettah (16 miles west of Haidarabad) to the Gagan-pahari suburb, and thence, after a few days, removed to the Gosha-mahal palace and garden of Abul Hasan, close to the fort. For some days after this date, Qutb Shah continued to send agents to the Prince, helplessly appealing to him to make peace and promising "to agree to every demand" of the Mughal Government. Many more Deccani nobles now deserted to the Prince, among them being Sharif-ul-mulk, the husband of Abul Hasan's sister.
v4.c66.s7.6
At the Prince's recommendation, which reached the Court on 18th October, the Emperor consented to pardon Abul Hasan on the following conditions: (1) He must pay one krore and 20 lakhs of Rupees in settlement of all past dues, and in addition a tribute of 2 lakhs of hun every year. (2) He must dismiss Madanna and Akkanna. (3) He must give up all claim to Malkhed and Serum, which the imperialists had already occupied. (Ishwardas, 91 a; Dil. 190-191; K.K. ii. 307; M.A. 267.)
v4.c66.s7.7
While the Prince was waiting for the fulfilment of these terms, a small party sent by Aurangzib approached the city, carrying costly rewards for Shah Alam and his chief officers, in recognition of their splendid success in capturing the enemy's capital. But the Golkonda administration was now in utter disorder, and every man acted for himself without obeying the king or his agents. At Munagal, 28 miles west of Haidarabad, the deputation was attacked by Shaikh Nizam and a body of Afghan mercenaries; and its leader Mir Abdul Karim was wounded and carried off into captivity, many of his followers were slain, and all the imperial gifts as well as the property of the traders who had joined the party in a caravan for the sake of the escort, were plundered (middle of November.) Qutb Shah disavowed and apologized for this outrage, released the captive Abdul Karim, and restored as much of the lost property as he could get out of the plunderers. (M.A. 268—9, Dil. 192, K.K. ii. 315.)