History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c82.s1.1

v5.c82.s1.1

The endless wars in which Aurangzib became involved in 1679 and which were to continue till his death, began very soon to react on the political condition of Northern India. The Emperor left Delhi in 1679 for Rajputana, and thence proceeded to the Deccan two years later. For the remainder of his reign all his sons and highest generals were assembled there. In unvarying succession Northern India continued to be annually drained of its public money and youthful recruits in order to fill the ever-gaping void caused by the Deccan wars. Reports of occasional disasters to the imperial arms, of Prince Akbar's rebellion, Shambhuji's daring raids, and the hopeless entanglement of the Emperor with Bijapur, Golkonda and the Maratha people, reached the bazars and hamlets of Northern India with the usual exaggerations. Years passed away, and yet the Emperor did not return to his capital, nor did any of the princes. The rich old provinces of the empire north of the Narmada were left in charge of second-rate nobles with insufficient troops.