Page:Aurangzíb and the Decay of the Mughal Empire.djvu/155

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THE DECCAN
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head of the nobles of Málwa to reinforce the Prince, 'Abdallah submitted to the humiliating terms of the conqueror. He consented to engrave Sháh-Jahán's name on his coins, in token of vassalage, to give his daughter in marriage to Aurangzíb's eldest son, with some fortresses to her dowry, and to pay a crore of rupees, or more than a million sterling, in annual tribute to the Emperor. These terms would never have been offered had Aurangzíb had his own way. But Sháh-Jahán was growing jealous of his son's success, and dreaded the consequences of his increased power in the distant provinces of the south; while Dárá, ever envious of his brother's renown, and anxious to curb his ambitious spirit, exerted all his great influence over his aged father to excite his too-ready suspicions of his other sons. Peremptory orders arrived for Aurangzíb to retire from Golkonda, the motive of which the Prince perfectly understood, though he did not feel that the moment for resistance had yet come. But for this interference, Golkonda would have been incorporated in the Mughal Empire in 1656, instead of thirty years later, and much subsequent bloodshed and disorder would have been avoided. As it was, Aurangzíb came to terms with the King on the eve of victory, and withdrew to Aurangábád, which he had made the capital of his province, to nurse his grudge against Dárá, and to plot further schemes of conquest with Mír Jumla.

The result of their deliberations was that Mír Jumla, who now received the title of Mu'azzam Khán, went