History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c77.s1: § 1. Aurangzib's arrangements on leaving Islampuri.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c77.s1
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§ 1. Aurangzib's arrangements on leaving Islampuri.
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On 19th October, 1699, Aurangzib started from Islampuri on that campaign against the great Maratha strongholds which was to occupy the next six years of his life. One by one the famous hill-forts of Satara, Parli, Panhala, Vishalgarh (Khelna), Kondana (Singhgarh), Rajgarh, and Torna were captured by him, besides five places of lesser note. But it should be remembered that with the sole exception of Torna, none of these was taken by assault; all capitulated after a time and for a price; their garrisons were permitted to march out with their personal effects, and their commandants were given costly rewards for ceasing resistance. The first, namely Satara, was long and obstinately defended. And so also was the last, the Berad capital Wagingera (1705.) The capture of Wagingera forms a chapter by itself (ch. lvi.) A minute account of the siege of Satara, based on the details supplied by the daily Court-bulletins, has been published by me in the Proceedings of the Indian Historical Records Commission, 1922, and may serve as an example of Mughal sieges at the end of the 17th century. It is, therefore, unnecessary to describe here the sieges of the Maratha forts except in outline.
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During the Emperor's stay for 4½ years at Islampuri with his family, officers and main army, his camp had grown into a city. Houses of a more permanent structure had in many cases replaced the tents, and a small stone fort had been built in 1698, which sheltered the Emperor's residence. Around the whole camp an earthen wall, five miles in circuit, was now run up in fifteen days, as a protection from the Maratha light horse. [M. A. 388, 408.] We shall, following the Persian histories, henceforth designate it as the Base Camp.
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Here he left his wife Udipuri and her son Kam Bakhsh, and his daughter Zinat-un-nissa, with all the surplus baggage and unnecessary officials, and the families of his soldiers and camp-followers. The wazir Asad Khan remained in charge of them with a suitable force. Princes Azam and Bidar Bakht joined the Emperor on the way; but Bidar Bakht was soon afterwards detached to pursue Rajaram, who was making a dash for Khandesh and Berar. Zulfiqar surnamed Nusrat Jang, who was coming up from the Madras side, joined the prince near the village of Charthanah (45 m. east of Jalna), but was afterwards given a roving commission, being charged with the special duty of fighting the Maratha field armies that hovered round the siege camp or threatened the Base at Islampuri. Another division, under Ruhullah and Hamid-ud-din, was sent to ravage the country between Satara and Panhala [M. A. 408-409 ; Dil. ii. 129a.]
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§ 2. Aurangzib begins the siege of Satara.
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After marching south-westwards from Islampuri to Miraj, as if he were going to invest Panhala, the Emperor made a sharp turn to the north and reached Masur (21 miles south of Satara) on 21st November. A detachment under Tarbiyat Khan, the chief of artillery, went in advance and quickly put his guns in position for bombarding Basantgarh,* a fort 6 miles south-west of Masur. At the Emperor's approach the garrison lost heart and fled away in the night of the 24th. The imperialists entered the fort the next day and named it the "Key to Victory" (Kilid-i-Fath), as a happy omen of their success in the ensuing campaign. [M. A., 411.] Some buried treasure, weapons, and provisions were seized by the victors here.
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Marching thence, the imperialists arrived before Satara on 8th December. Aurangzib took up his quarters at the village of Karanja, a mile and a half to the north of the fort-walls. Azam's division was posted on the west, on the way to Parli, Tarbiyat Khan opposite the northern wall, and Ruhullah Khan on the south side.
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∗ Bombay Gaz. xix. 238, 11, some seven miles n.w. of Karad, which is 8 m. s. of Masur. Basantgarh is 3000 ft. above sea-level, and just south of Talbid, and 3 m. w. of the Krishna.
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The Mughal army with its followers and transport animals was concentrated in one spot, five miles round, and this encampment was walled round to keep out the Maratha raiders. A body of musketeers patrolled round it thrice daily.
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Siege operations began on 9th December, the different nobles being given different sections round the fort to entrench.
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From his position opposite the Mangalai or northern gate of the fort, Tarbiyat Khan, the Chief of the Mughal Artillery, made a covered lane, and arriving 13 yards from the gate, began to build a raised battery opposite the tower guarding the gate. The rocky soil made digging a very slow and difficult work. The garrison fired upon his men day and night without cessation with every kind of missile. The Mughals mounted a big gun, and began to reply. The marksmanship was bad on both sides, and not much loss was done by the firing.
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But the lines of investment were not complete. The enemy entered and issued from Satara almost to the end of the siege, Prince Azam being suspected of conniving at their efforts to provision and reinforce the fort.