History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c69.s1: § 1. Defeat of Pam Nayak of Sagar.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c69.s1
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§ 1. Defeat of Pam Nayak of Sagar.
v4.c69.s1.1
On the surrender of Bijapur (12th Sep. 1686), Aurangzib appointed his own governor and other officers and made the Adil-Shahi kingdom a regular subah of the Mughal empire. His generals were sent to the different parts of the newly-conquered country to make a revenue settlement, maintain peace, and take charge of the forts. (M.A. 282-283). By the month of November we read of 20 fortresses having been conquered by the Mughals. (Ish. 111 a.) Early next year (1687) Ibrahimgarh or Yadagiri and Turgal were won by Firuz Jang and Qasim Khan respectively. But from February to September the Mughal forces were concentrated at the siege of Golkonda, and it was only after the fall of that fort (21st Sep. 1687) that the imperialists could renew their activity in the provinces of the old Adil-Shahi kingdom.
v4.c69.s1.2
The first campaign was directed against the Berad* clan, who ruled over "the delightful, fresh and fertile land'' (M.A. 307) situated in the fork between the Krishna and the Bhima, with their capital at Sagar. They had inflicted a crushing defeat on the Mughals under Dilir Khan only seven years ago (Feb. 1680), and their strategic position almost midway between the forts of Bijapur and Golkonda made it imperatively necessary to conquer them. Pam Nayak, the ruling Berad chieftain, commanded 12,000 cavalry and a hundred thousand infantry, mostly militiamen, but also including many hardy, accurate and steady marksmen. Sagar was reputed as an impregnable fortress in that age. His great military power made his friendship an object of eager desire to his neighbours, and he had been induced to send aid to both Bijapur and Golkonda during their late siege. The offence could not be left unpunished by Aurangzib.
v4.c69.s1.3
∗ The Beydurs of Shorapur in Meadows Taylor's Story of My Life M A is confused in spelling the name of the Berad chieftain who ruled up to 1687, as Padam, Pam and Pid, while his nephew and successor was Pidia I have called the former Pam (See Vol. V, Ch 56 §2 and 3 foot notes)
v4.c69.s1.4
The Emperor detached from Haidarabad a large army under Khanazad Khan (the son of Ruhullah Khan), with instructions to intimidate Pam Nayak into submission and bring him to the Court as a vassal. Fighting was to be avoided and the homes of the people spared, unless the mere demonstration of force failed. The terror of Mughal arms inspired by the fall of Bijapur and Golkonda within one year, did the work. Pam Nayak submitted, gave up his fort (28th November), in which now for the first time the Muslim creed was chanted and a mosque built.
v4.c69.s1.5
Pam Nayak was a huge strongly-built uncouth savage with a jet-black complexion. He was presented to the Emperor on 27th December 1687, but suddenly died after five days. His country was annexed, but his sons were provided for with mansabs. (M.A. 304-7.)