History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c74.s3: § 3. Mughal penetration into the Eastern Karnatak, 1687.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c74.s3
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§ 3. Mughal penetration into the Eastern Karnatak, 1687.
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In the meantime Golkonda had fallen (7th Sep. 1687) and a Mughal penetration of the Karnatak plains was imminent. Even before the surrender of the Qutb Shahi king and citadel, Aurangzib had been sending out his officers to take possession of its provinces. In July Kondapilla, the second strongest fort in Telingana and the king's chief treasury and arsenal, had been gained by bribery, and several scattered parties of the Mughal army were robbing the country within three days' march of Masulipatam (Madras Diary, 29 July).
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After the conquest, Aurangzib wisely retained the former Qutb Shahi officers at their respective posts for some time. Muhammad Ibrahim (created by him Mahabat Khan), the highest Golkonda noble to desert to him, was appointed subahdar of Haidarabad and the Khan's confidant, Muhammad Ali Beg (now entitled Ali Askar Khan), was nominated faujdar (or sar-i-lashkar, in Golkonda official designation) of the Karnatak,* with Kadapa for his head-quarters and subordinate qiladars and magistrates under him, such as Fath Khan at Chinglepat, Madana Ananta Pantulu at Conjeveram and another Hindu at Punamali. These officers submissively proclaimed Aurangzib as their sovereign and planted the Mughal flag upon their forts (October 1687).*
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∗ "A farman was sent to Muhammad Ali, a Haidarabadi officer, who had been in supreme control of the Karnatak, creating him a Mughal mansabdar with the title of Askar Khan and directing him not to let the sehbandi (militia) troops of
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But the Emperor changed his mind soon afterwards. It was deemed unwise to leave the newly-conquered country in the hands of the servants of the fallen dynasty. They were now replaced by Mughal officers ;—Mahabat Khan was sent away to far-off Lahore, Ruhullah Khan getting the subahdari of Haidarabad ; Qasim Khan supplanted Ali Askar and was directed to march to the Karnatak and conduct a vigorous war against the Maratha forces there (January, 1688).†
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† A Mughal force, evidently a small advanced corps, reached the Jinji country about the middle of November 1687 (Madras Diary, 22 Nov.)
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that province disperse [on the downfall of their old master, Qutb Shah]. Ismail [Khan Maka], Yachapa Nair and other jamadars of the sehbandi and zamindars of the place, without any cause fell upon Askar Khan and plundered [him]. Then an imperial force under Mukaram Khan arrived and the lawless men dispersed on all sides." [Dilkasha, ii. 95a.] But the revolt of Ismail and Yachapa against the Mughal Government took place later, in Jan. 1690, as we learn from Z. S. and the Madras Diary.
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∗ "The governor of Punamali said, that the world turned round like a wheel, he had beaten his drums, and fired his guns, for the victory which the mighty Alamgir had gained over his old master." [Orme's Frag. 157.]
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§ 4. Indecisive struggle 1688; both sides plunder the country.
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On Kesho Trimbak's return from Mysore, he openly quarrelled with Harji and demanded the delivery of Jinji in obedience to their master's order. A civil war between the partisans of the two rivals for the viceroyalty was expected. Harji, in preparation for the worst, secured a retreat for himself in the fort of Tevenapatam (near Cuddalore). Then he sent out a detachment of his army under Gopal Pandit and Vital Pillai (Vital Pildev Garud?), to plunder and conquer on his own account the late territory of Golkonda north of the Palar river, which had recently submitted to Mughal ownership without having as yet received adequate Mughal garrisons. Marching with 2,000 horse, 5,000 foot, and great numbers of pioneers and scaling ladders, these two officers took easy possession of several forts and a hundred towns in this region. On 24th December Arcot was captured by assault and its governor with most of his infantry killed. The Marathas spread over the country plundering and torturing without regard for sex or creed. Several great Brahmans of Conjeveram with their wives and children took refuge in Madras (27th Dec. 1687—10th Jan. 1688), to save their persons and property from Maratha outrage. On 10th January, Madana Ananta, the governor of that holy city, himself fled to Madras. On the 11th the Marathas burst into Conjeveram plundering the city, killing about 500 men, destroying the houses, and putting the terror-stricken inhabitants to flight. Kesho Trimbak took to the same profitable business with his own contingent: after capturing Chitpat and Kaveripak, he established his camp at Conjeveram and plundered the country around (January 1688). (Madras Diary).
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But the Maratha occupation was short-lived. Aurangzib had been roused to the danger, and already in the middle of December he had issued urgent orders to four high generals of the late Golkonda Government—Ismail Khan Maka, Yachapa Nayak, Rustam Khan, and Muhammad Sadiq,—to hasten to the Karnatak plains and succour the Emperor's partisans there. These officers arrived at Conjeveram on 25th February 1688, with 4,000 horse and 7,000 foot. (Madras Diary; Z. S.; Orme is inaccurate; Kaep. 260.)
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The Marathas evacuated that town at their approach and retired beyond Uttramalore, plundering the towns of the cows, cattle, etc. as they went. The Mughal vanguard pursued them, and fought them at Wandiwash in a battle where both sides suffered equal loss (8th March); but on being reinforced they seized Wandiwash and made it their camp, while the Marathas encamped at Chitpat, a day's march southwards. The main armies on the two sides remained in this position for a year, merely watching each other,[*] but they daily sent out detachments and foraging parties who plundered the country indiscriminately. The hapless people, who had not yet recovered from the effects of the desolating famine of 1686,* had now to endure two sets of robbers instead of one. No regular battle was fought for many months afterwards, but skirmishes and alarms were frequent, the trade of the district was ruined, industry ceased, grain and oil-seeds became very scarce from the constant plunder and ravage, and multitudes flocked to the fortified European settlements on the coast as their only refuge.
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∗ The French agent, Mons. Germain, who left Pondicherry on 17th October 1688, reports that on his arrival at Jiuji he
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Ibrahim Khan Lodi, son of Sher Khan the late Bijapuri governor of Valikandapuram, now formed a plan for taking advantage of the disorder, wresting Cuddalore from the Marathas, and making himself its governor (March 1688.) But nothing came of it. Ramji Krishna was appointed by Harji Rajah with a large force to raid the borders of the Golkonda country, but instead of going there he robbed the
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found there a great confusion at the news of the approach of the Muhammadans. Harji, for a consideration of Rs. 11,760, allowed the French to raise walls and four high towers at Pondicherry; the actual farman was granted on 9th Jan. 1689, the month of December having been wasted by the Maratha Court. [Kaep. 261.]
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∗ When 2,000 famished beggars crowded into Madras town, many of them dying daily in the streets, till at last the English raised subscriptions and opened a relief kitchen under their chief dubash. [Madras Diary, 19 Aug. 1686.]
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country adjacent to Pondicherry, though it was loyal Maratha territory, and in this way he amassed 20,000 hun in a short time. (Dec. 1688.)
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During 1688 Aurangzib made frequent changes in the governorship of Haidarabadi Karnatak, first Yettamato Ráo Timapa (? Yachapa Nair) was retained in office; then soon afterwards (April) he was turned out and Jan Nisar Khan appointed as his successor. In October Askar Ali replaced Jan Nisar, but, pending the arrival of this new governor, Muhammad Sadiq, the deputy, continued to act for him. Askar Ali took charge in January 1689 and Muhammad Sadiq lost his employment. [Mad. Diary, 25 Oct. 1688, 1 May 1690.]