Deccan Wars

Deccan Wars
Part of Mughal–Maratha Wars
Date 1680-1707 Location Modern day Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka Result Pyrrhic Mughal victory Territorial changes Bijapur Sultanate territory annexed by Mughals Golconda Sultanate territory annexed by Mughals Thanjavur Marathas became Mughal Tributary Mughals failed to annex Maratha Territory
Belligerents
Mughal Empire Supported by Kingdom of Mysore Portuguese Empire Nayaks of Trichinopoly Siddis of Janjira	Bijapur Sultanate Golconda Sultanate Maratha Empire Thanjavur Marathas
Commanders and leaders
Aurangzeb Shah Alam I (WIA) Muqqrab Khan (WIA) Ganoji Shirke (POW)(defected) Zulfiqar khan (WIA) Dalpatrao Bundela † Bidar Bhakt (WIA) Afah Shah I Bahadur Khan Himmat Khan  † Rustam Khan (POW) Nekniyat Khan  † Qasim Khan † Hussain Ali Khan (POW) Jai Singh II Ghori Khan (POW) Diler Khan (WIA) Kilich Khan † Chikka Dev Raya  Naghoji Mane Khan-i-jahan (POW) Babi Khan (POW) Nazar Ali Khan (POW) Mir Numan Bakshi † Ahmad Sayyad Khan (POW) Suja Beg (POW) Sidyat Khan (POW) Khan-i-Alam (WIA) Ali Mardan Khan (POW) Ismail Khan (POW) Kahanazad Khan † Muhammad Murad Khan  Safshikhan  Sayyid Asalat Khan  Mirza Hasan  Afrasaiyab (POW) Yachappa Nayak of Trichinopoly Padam Singh † Bhagwat Singh Dhangar † Mankoji Dhangar † Ramsingh Rathore † Harisingh Bundela † Raghunath Singh (WIA) Kabil Singh (WIA) JaitSingh † Madhoram Sisodia (WIA) Siddi Yakub (WIA)	Sikander Adilshah (POW) Qutb Shah (POW)  Sambhaji I (POW)  Rajaram I Shivaji II Shahu I (POW) Kavi Kalash (POW)  Maloji Ghorpade † Raiba Malusare † Moropant Trimbak Pingale  † Santaji Ghorpade  Dhanaji Jadhav Manaji Moré Amritrao Nimbalkar II † Shankarji Naryan Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi  Balaji Vishwanath Nemaji Scindia Tara Bai Yesubai (POW) Raja Karna Hammbirrao Mohite † Vithohji Chavan Buwaji Pawar † Yashwantrao Dalvi (WIA) Rudraji Salvi Udaji Mohite † Abaji Vishwanath † Shahaji II  Tukoji † Rao Ghorpade † Rupaji Bhosale (POW) ? Amritrao Nimbalkar I † Tukoji Angre † Sidoji Gurjar † Kanhoji Angre Dadaji Raghunath Deshpande Kondaji Farzand  Durgadas Rathore Prince Akbar
Strength
150000[1]	50000[1]
Casualties and losses
2.7 million died due to Drought,Famine and Plague in Mughal Camp[2][3]

Aurangzeb took southern campaign in 1680 after the death of Shivaji was driven by several key objectives of Neutralizing the threat from his son, Akbar, who had rebelled and sought refuge with Sambhaji, the Maratha king.Absorbing the remaining Deccan Sultanates, specifically the Adilshahi and Qutubshahi kingdoms, into the Mughal Empire,crushing the growing Maratha state, led by Sambhaji, which posed a serious challenge to Mughal authority in the region.Avenging the sacking of Burhanpur (1681) by Sambhaji, an act that had humiliated the Mughal emperor. The Deccan wars began in 1680 with annexation of Golconda and Bijapur, Execution of Maratha King Sambahji and ended with the death of Aurangzeb. It resulted in an Pyrrhic victory for Mughals as they were able to Annex Bijapur and Golconda but failed to annex and subdue Marathas tho initially as successful as executing the Maratha king.

Capture of Bijapur

In 1685, Aurangzeb sent his son Muhammad Azam Shah with a large army to capture Bijapur Fort, which was defended by 30,000 men under Sikandar Adil Shah. Despite initial efforts to surround the fort and position artillery, the Mughal forces faced challenges, including a deep moat, strong fortifications, and powerful Bijapur cannons like the "Malik-i-Maidan." Maratha forces led by Melgiri Pandit further disrupted Mughal supply lines. The situation worsened when a cannonball struck a gunpowder depot, killing 500 Mughal soldiers.^[4]

To relieve the siege, Aurangzeb sent reinforcements under Abdullah Khan Bahadur Firuz Jang, who successfully repelled Maratha attempts to resupply the fort. However, the siege stalemated, and in July 1686, Aurangzeb himself led a large army to Bijapur. After eight days of intense fighting, the Mughals breached the fort’s defenses, captured Sikandar Adil Shah, and took control of the city.^[5]

Capture of Golconda

In 1687, Aurangzeb laid siege to Golconda Fort, home to the Qutb Shahi ruler, Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, and the world's only diamond mine, the Kollur Mine.^[6] The fort was heavily fortified, with an 8-mile wall and iron-spiked gates to deter Mughal elephants. Despite the Mughal bombardment, including massive cannons like the Azhdaha-Paikar, the defenders, led by Abul Hasan, resisted fiercely, even using bamboo rockets.^[7] However, heavy rains, food shortages, and disease weakened the defenders.^[4]

After eight months, a traitor named Sarandaz Khan revealed a backdoor, allowing the Mughals to breach the fort. Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung was among the first to enter and capture Abul Hasan, who was later imprisoned in Daulatabad Fort. Following the siege, the Mughal forces took control of the Kollur Mine, and the fort was repaired with stronger defenses. Anup Singh, who led the final assault, was honored with the title Maharaja by Aurangzeb.^[8][9][10]

Maratha-Mughal Wars

Under Sambhaji (1680-1689)

Sambhaji, born in 1657 to Shivaji and Saibai, became the Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire after his father's death in 1680.^[11] He faced numerous challenges, notably resisting Mughal expansion led by Emperor Aurangzeb. Sambhaji's forces clashed with the Mughals across southern India, with key engagements at forts like Ramsej,^[12] Kalyan Bhiwandi,^[13] Mysore^{[14][15][16][17]}and Janjira.^{[5][18][19] [20]}In 1681, Sambhaji disrupted Aurangzeb’s supply routes by attacking Portuguese-held Goa^[21] and Burhanpur.^[6][22][11]Despite the Mughal siege of Maratha territories, the Marathas mounted fierce defenses, including repelling Mughal advances on Raigad and thwarting a pincer strategy in 1683–1685 Shah Alam's Invasion was hateled by Sambhaji even wounding Shah Alam.^[23][24]

After Aurangzeb's successful conquest of Bijapur and Golconda in 1686, the Marathas launched counterattacks, including an offensive on Bharuch, Wai here Hammbirrao Mohite lost his life^[25] which is considered a key factor for capture of Sambhaji. However, in 1689, Sambhaji was eventually captured by the Mughals, tortured, and executed. His family was imprisoned for twenty years.He was succeeded by Rajaram I^[26][27]

Under Rajaram I (1689-1700)

Rajaram born in 1670 to Shivaji and Soyarabai became the Chhatrapati after the death of his brother Sambhaji in 1689.^[11] His reign of 11 years marked with outstanding resistance to Mughals. In 1689 Mughals laid Siege to Raigad where Rajaram escaped with his Family however Yesubai and Shahu I was taken captive.^[13][6] In the same year Santaji Ghorpade laid an daring raid onto Mughal camp looting then but was eventually pushed back.^[14] In 1690 Dhanaji and Santaji defeated Shaikh Nizam Muqqrab Khan he was wounded along with his son and was compelled to flee.^[26] In the same year Shankarji Naryan defeated Shaikh Nizam Muqqrab Khan at Sangrameshwar.^[26] Zulfiqar Khan along with his best commander laid siege to Ginjee Fort in 1690 the new captial of Marathas^[26].^[6] From year 1690-93 Zulfiqar Khan was harassed by Marathas under Rajaram, Santaji, Rudraji salvi, Manaji Moré and Dhanaji Jadhav.^[13]Mughals under Sarja Khan (Rustam Khan) attacked Satara but was defeated by Santaji and Dhanaji while Manaji Moré attacked his camp and captured him.^[25]In 1694 thef were various conflict between Marathas and Mughals. In 1694 Zulfiqar khan supported by Trichinopoly Nayaks laid an Expedition to Tanjore where he subdue Shahaji II but was defeated by Bahirji at Paramkota.^[26]In 1695 at Dodderi Santaji defeated 5 generals at once Qasim Khan was killed and others surrendered.^[13]In 1696 Santaji encountered Himmat Khan at Bastavapan the latter was defeated and killed.^[13] Differences arose between Santaji and Rajaram. Santaji was removed from position of Senapati and Dhanaji was appointed. Naghoji Mane who wanted to avenge his brother in law Amritrao Nimbalkar II who was killed by Rudraji salvi on the orders of Santaji. He attacked unarmed Santaji while he was bathing and beheaded him in 1697.^[26] While other Commadars such as Shankarji Naryan, Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi and Dhanaji recaptured important forts like Raigad, Sinhagd, Torna etc.^[26] In 1698 Zulfiqar khan was finally able to Capture Ginjee however Rajaram and his family already escaped with the help of Ganoji Shirke. In 1698-99 Rajaram led two expedition to Konkan more of a Political Expedition than Millitary.Rajaram died on 3 March 1700 on Sinhagd due to Tuberculosis. He was succeeded by Shivaji II and his wife Tarabai as his reagent.^[27][26]

Under Shivaji II (1700-1707)

Shivaji II, born in 1696 became Chhatrapati in 1700 after the death of Rajaram but as he was an infant Tara Bai as his reagent managed the State.^[13][26]In 1700 Mughals attack Satara but it was defended by Dhanaji Jadhav. Marathas under him recapture Sinhagd, Torna Vishalgad and Raidgad.^[26] In 1704 Zulfiqar khan laid siege to Torna and captured it ,Torna was the only Fort captured without Negotiations. Khelna was besieged by Bidar Bhakt, Zulfiqar Khan, Dalpatrao and Jai Singh II in 1702 it was surrendered in 1703-1704 by Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi after getting some ransom.^{[26] [28]}Dalpatrao was killed in process.Meanwhile Sinhagd, Torana and Vishalgad was again captured by Marathas in 1705. In 1706 a battle was fought at Ratanpur in which Dhanaji Jadhav and Balaji Vishwanath defeated Mughals capturing their Commadars. Nemaji Scindia carried out successful Raids in Malwa from 1706-1707. ^[13][26][29]All the commanders and even sons of Aurangzeb were waiting for his death as they were tired of this campaign.Aurangzeb himself spent 27 years in Deccan and still wasn't able to annex Maratha Land tho he successfully killed Sambhaji and captured Bijapur and Golconda Marathas still proved their supremacy over Mughals^[26]

Death of Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb made plan to retreat to Buharanpur and then leave for Delhi. In 1707 while he was retreating Dhanaji Jadhav made an suprise attack attack on him looting his baggage but he escaped with the help of Zulfiqar khan he died at Aurangabad due to fever in 1707 closing the chapter of Deccan wars. As soon as death of Aurangzeb reached Marathas they recaptured all the territories annexed by him. Thus his campaign against Marathas resulted in a complete vain as he gained nothing from it.^[26][29]

Aftermath

After the Battle of Delhi and Battle of Bhopal in 1737, the Marathas expanded into Malwa and by 1757 had reached Delhi. Meanwhile, the Mughal Empire fractured into regional kingdoms, with the Nizam of Hyderabad, Nawab of Oudh, and Nawab of Bengal asserting nominal independence. The Nizam, aiming to protect his Deccan territories and weaken Mughal influence, encouraged Maratha invasions of Malwa and northern India, using them to his advantage.^[30][31]

The Mughal–Maratha Wars weakened both empires, contributing to the Mughal decline and the rise of the Marathas as a major power, while also creating space for European colonial powers to establish themselves in India.^[32]

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