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History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c69.s2: § 2. Conquest of the provinces of Bijapur.

History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c69.s2

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§ 2. Conquest of the provinces of Bijapur.

v4.c69.s2.1

Mughal enterprise was next directed towards the east and the south of the newly-conquered States. "Part of the army was ordered against the king of Kanara" (i e., Rajah of Sunda) at the close of the year 1687. (O.C. 5642.) And on the 25th of January next Firuz Jang was sent at the head of 25,000 cavalry to conquer the district of Karnul and the fort of Adoni,* south of the Tungabhadra, where Siddi Masaud was now reigning in independence. Firuz Jang's call for surrender was rejected by the Siddi. Then the Mughals sacked the prosperous villages of this province, burnt the pettah at the foot of Adoni, and invested the fort. At last on 6th August 1688, Siddi Masaud was induced to capitulate; his fort was occupied and renamed Imtiaz-garh, the Siddi was enrolled in the Mughal peerage as a 7-hazari, his sons and relatives were highly favoured, the Court-band played joyous notes on hearing of the success, and the courtiers made their bow of congratulation at the submission of the most powerful noble of Bijapur.

v4.c69.s2.2

∗ The accumulated treasure and regalia of the Adil Shahs were believed to have been removed to Adoni by Masaud during his wazirship (M A 308) Siege of Adoni in M A 308, 315 316 Ishwardas (124 127) gives a very long account of this expedition and a descr p tion of the fort. The Emperor's letter to Masaud accepting his submission is given in A S B MS F 56 p 126 and Asafiya Library MS Insha 59 folio 48 K K ii 372 and Dil 94a (meagre)

v4.c69.s2.3

Prince Azam had been sent with 40,000 veteran cavalry against Shambhuji on 25th January, 1688. He marched into the south-western corner of the Bijapur kingdom, captured the strong fort of Belgaum after a siege, and then returned to Court (at Bijapur) to encamp for the rainy season. (M.A. 308 and 315; Ishwardas, 127 b-130 b, gives a long account of the siege, wrongly calling the fort Banglur.) In other directions, too, "innumerable forts were captured by the imperialists" (M.A. 311.)

v4.c69.s2.4

The Emperor left Haidarabad on 25th January 1688, and after making a leisurely progress by way of Bidar, the tank of Kamtan and the shrine of Kulbarga, arrived at Bijapur on 15th March. Here his attention was taken up by the necessity of giving relief to the people who had fallen into want through the ruin of the city and its environs during the late long and desolating siege, the disappearance of the Adil-Shahi Court and nobles and their charity, and probably also some of the severe diseases which always walk on the heels of war. The chief want of the citizens was the lack of drinking-water, because the aqueducts were damaged during the siege and the water suddenly dried up (probably from this cause.) Mukhlis Khan, the Mir Atish, was ordered to cut a canal for conveying the water of the Krishna to the city. (M.A. 310, 313; Dil. 203; Ishwar. 123 b, cost Rs. 35,000.)