History of Aurangzib Vol 1

by Jadunath Sarkar

HISTORY OF AURANGZIB

Vol. I.

Works by Jadunath Sarkar, M.A.

1.	History of Aurangzib, based on Persian sources.	Rs.
	Vol. I. Reign of Shah Jahan, pp. 402.
	Vol. II. War of Succession, pp. 328.	31/2 each.
2.	Anecdotes of Aurangzib (English translation and notes) and Historical Essays, pp. 248	11/2
3.	Ahkam-i-Alamgiri, Persian text with an English translation (Anecdotes of Aurangzib) and notes, pp. 72 + 146	1
4.	Chaitanya's Pilgrimages and Teachings, being an English translation of his contemporary biography, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya-lila, pp. 320+	2
5.	India of Aurangzib: Statistics, Topography and Roads, with translations from the Khulasat-ut-tawarikh and the Chahar Gulshan. (Not a history), pp. 300	21/2
6.	Economics of British India, 3rd ed., pp. 300 + (In preparation)	3
7.	Essays, Social and Literary, by Ravindranath Tagore, translated into English (In preparation).

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M. C. Sarkar & Sons, 75 Harrison Road, Calcutta.
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HISTORY OF AURANGZIB

Mainly based on Persian Sources.

JADUNATH SARKAR, M.A.,

Professor, Patna College.

Vol. I.

Reign of Shah Jahan.

M. C. SARKAR & SONS,

75, Harrison Road,

CALCUTTA,

1912.

5s. net.

Rs. 3.8 as.

KUNTALINE PRESS.

Printed by Purna Chandra Dass,
61 & 62, Bowbazar Street, Calcutta.
Published by M. C. Sarkar & Sons,
75, Harrison Road, Calcutta.

CONTENTS.

Introduction.

Fullest expansion of Mughal empire under Aurangzib, xi—commencing decline, xii—rise of Marathas, Sikhs, and European trading companies, xii—administrative breakdown in Aurangzib's last years, xiv—its causes, xv—materials of his history official annals or namahs, xv—private histories written by officers, xvi—two histories by Hindus, xvii—monographs, xviii—Court bulletins, xix—contemporary letters, xix—European travellers: their value criticised, xxi—thanks for help, xxiii—spelling and dates xxvi.

Chapter I. Boyhood and Education.

Birth, 1—life during Jahangir's reign, 3—education, 4—knowledge of languages, 5—hand writing, 5—favourite studies, 7—intellectual tastes, 8—fights a furious elephant, 9—scorn of death, 11—reward, 12—first military appointment, 13.

Chapter II. The Bundela War.

Bundelkhand and its ruling clan, 14—Bir Singh Dev, 15—Jhujhar Singh subdued, 17—captures Chauragarh, 18—Mughal armies sent against him under Aurangzib, 19—capture of Urchha, 22—of Dhamuni, 23—Jhujhar pursued, 24—murdered, 25—fate of his wives and children, 27—spoils of war, 28—Urchha temple turned into mosque, 29—later Bundela resistance, 30.

Chapter III. First Viceroyalty of the Deccan.

Conquests under Akbar, 32—pause under Jahangir, 33—Shah Jahan extinguishes Ahmadnagar dynasty, 34—prepares to invade Bijapur and Golkonda, 35-Golkonda submits, 36—Bijapur territory ravaged, 37—peace with Bijapur: its terms, 38—treaty with Golkonda, 41—extent of Mughal Deccan: its four provinces, 42—capture of Udgir fort, 44—of Ausa, 46—Shahji Bhonsla submits, 46—exactions from the Gond rajahs, 49— Baglana, 50—invaded, 52—annexed, 53—Kheloji Bhonsla slain, 54.

Chapter IV. Marriage and Family—Viceroyalty of Guzerat.

Persian princes in India, 57—marry into the Mughal imperial family, 57—Aurangzib married to Dilras Banu, 58—the procession, 59—his wives: Nawab Bai, 61—Udaipuri, 64—Zainabadi, 65—how won, 66—his children: Zebunnissa, 68—others, 70—Jahanara burnt, 73—recovers, 75—Aurangzib's dismissal, 76—its cause, 77—he is reinstated, 79—Guzerat: the land and the people, 80—his strong rule, 81.

Chapter V. War in Central Asia.

Badakhshan and Balkh, 83—their peoples, 85—Uzbaks and Tartars, 86—Nazar Muhammad, king of Balkh, 89—Shah Jahan wishes to conquer Central Asia, 90—folly of the attempt, 91—Badakhshan invaded, 92—Balkh occupied, 93—arrangements for holding them, 95—Aurangzib appointed viceroy, 97—the opposed forces, 97—his march on Balkh, 99—advance to Aqcha, 101—incessant fighting 102—retreat to Balkh, 104—hardships on the way, 105—his cool courage, 106—peace negotiations, 107—Mughal army evacuates Balkh, 110—sufferings during retreat, 111—losses, 112.

Chapter VI. Governorship of Multan and Sindh.

Aurangzib sent to Multan, 114—his promotions, 115—his letters as preserved in the Adab-i-Alamgiri, 116—their historical importance, 117—lawless people of the province, 118—the Hot tribe controlled, 119—the Nohani tribe, 121—expedition into Baluchistan, 121—order maintained, 123- a new port opened, 124.

Chapter VII. First siege of Qandahar.

Qandahar district described, 126—its strategic importance 128 commercial importance, 129—past history, 130- Persians besiege Qandahar fort, 132—treachery among the garrision, 135—fort surrenders, 136—incapacity of the Indian commandant, 137—Army sent to recover the fort, 138—fort of Qandahar described, 140—Aurangzib besieges it, 143—his weakness in artillery, 145—Persians defeated by Rustam Khan, 147—retreat of Indian army, 148—losses, 149.

Chapter VIII. Second Siege of Qandahar.

Aurangzib sent with a second army, 150—begins the siege, 152—night attack on Qaitul hill fails, 154—bad gunnery of the Indians, 157—failure to breach, 158—Persian losses, 160—siege abandoned, 161—Uzbak raid, 162—bitter correspondence between Shah Jahan and Aurangzib, 163—causes of the failure, 164—Mughal losses in money and men, 167—loss of military prestige, 168.

Chapter IX. Second Viceroyalty of the Deccan.

Aurangzib goes to the Deccan, 170—his life there, 171—religious bigotry, 173—Aurangabad city described, 174- administrative confusion in the Deccan, 176—its causes, 177—chronic deficit, 179—Aurangzib's financial difficulties, 182 no help from Shah Jahan, 185—wrangle between Emperor and viceroy, 186—Murshid Quli Khan, diwan of the Deccan, 189—his revenue system, 191—Aurangzib's protection of his officers, 195—increase of efficiency in garrison artillery, 197—causes of Aurangzib's differences with Shah Jahan, 199—Minor expeditions: Gond kingdom of Deogarh, 205—tribute exacted, 208—invasion of Jawhar, 209.

Chapter X. Invasion of Golkonda.

Golkonda: its wealth, 211—friction with the Mughal government, 212—Karnatak conquered by Deccani sultans, 214—Mir Jumla: his career and conquests, 216—jealousy of Qutb Shah, 219—Mir Jumla's intrigues, 220—with Aurangzib, 222—his family imprisoned at Haidarabad, 225—Shah Jahan orders their release, 228—Aurangzib invades Golkonda, 229—cavalry dash on Haidarabad, 231—plunder, 232—Aurangzib besieges fort of Golkonda, 233—his eagerness to annex the kingdom, 235—Shah Jahan orders peace, 237—terms of the treaty, 240—Aurangzib's quarrel with Shah Jahan about the Golkonda booty, 242—Qutb Shah still clings to Karnatak, 245—Sri Ranga Rayal, last ruler of the Vijaynagar line, hard pressed, 248—how treated by the Mughals, 249—Did Aurangzib capture Haidarabad by treachery? 252.

Chapter XI. War with Bijapur.

Bijapur kingdom: its growth under Muhammad Adil Shah, 253—relations with the Delhi government, 255—succession of Ali Adil Shah II., 259—Aurangzib seduces Bijapur officers, 261—Mughals wish to conquer Bijapur, 262—Aurangzib begins the invasion, 264—siege of Bidar, 265—carried by assault, 267—detachment under Mahabat Khan, 269-battle, 270—siege of Kaliani, 271—battle, 272-another battle, 274—Mughal detachment penetrates to Kulbarga, 276—fall of Kaliani, 277—terms of peace with Bijapur, 278—Mughal retreat, 280—Shivaji: his negotiations, 281—his raids, 282—how checked by Aurangzib, 282—Shivaji makes peace, 284—Parentage of Ali Adil Shah II., 285—Was Jan Muhammad corrupted by Aurangzib? 286.

Chapter XII. Illness of Shah Jahan.

Shah Jahan's long reign, 290—its glories, 291-happiness of the people, 292—Dara Shukoh: his influence, 294—his theological studies, 296—not a heretic from Islam, 298—his character, 299—Shah Jahan falls ill, 302—removes to Agra, 304—Dara's devoted attendance, 305—Dara nominated as successor, 306—tries to strengthen his own position, 307—armies sent against his brothers, 308—Aurangzib's doings, 311—Dara stops the sending of news from Court, 312—alarm and confusion in the provinces, 313—Shuja and Murad crown themselves, 315—and march on Agra, 317.

Chapter XIII. Murad crowns himself.

Murad Bakhsh: his character, 318—his wazir Ali Naqi, 320—is murdered on suspicion, 321—Murad sends an army against Surat, 323—siege of Surat, 324—booty at Surat, 325—Murad corresponds with Aurangzib for an alliance, 327—Murad proclaims himself Emperor, 329—chooses a stronghold to shelter his family in, 331—Murad's impatient ambition and Aurangzib's cautiousness, 332—intrigue with Persia, 333—partition of empire between Murad and Aurangzib, 335—sworn to by Aurangzib, 337—Murad starts, 338—and joins Aurangzib near Dipalpur, 339.

Chapter XIV. Aurangzib advances from the Deccan.

Aurangzib's anxiety and uncertainty, 340—his critical position in the Deccan, 341—his dilemma: to attend to Bijapur or to Delhi? 342—his policy, 344—sends Mir Jumla towards Parenda, 345—retreats from Kaliani and Bidar, 346—death of his wife Dilras Banu, 348—waits for news of Court, 349—despairs of getting the treaty concessions from Bijapur, 351—various devices tried, 352—Mir Jumla returns baffled, 354—Aurangzib's preparations for disputing the throne, 355—conflicting news from Delhi, and Aurangzib's distraction, 356—his letter to Mir Jumla in cypher, 357—a waiting policy, 358—Aurangzib summons Mir Jumla and collusively arrests him, 361—Aurangzib's dealings with Qutb Shah, 364—conciliation of Qutb Shah, 365—dealings with Bijapur, 366—large concessions now promised to Adil Shah, 367—Aurangzib's financial resources, 368n—his intrigue with nobles at Court, 369-his military preparations completed, 370—his able officers, 371—his arrangements for Mughal Deccan, 372—Aurangzib marches from Aurangabad, 374—halts at Burhanpur, 374—imprisons Shah Nawaz Khan, 375-crosses the Narmada and joins Murad, 376.

 

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