Aurangzeb's relations with the Deccani states can be divided into three stages. The first phase lasted until 1668, when the main attempt was made to reclaim from Bijapur the territories belonging to the Ahmadnagar state that had been surrendered to it by the treaty of 1636; the second phase lasted until 1684, when the main threat in the Deccan was considered to be the Marathas, and efforts were made to pressurise Bijapur and Golconda into joining hands with the Mughals against Shivaji and then against his son, Sambhaji. The Mughals nibbled at the territories of the Deccani states while attempting to completely dominate and control them. The third phase began when Aurangzeb lost hope of gaining the cooperation of Bijapur and Golconda against the Marathas and decided that in order to destroy the Marathas, he needed to first conquer Bijapur and Golconda. In this article, we will discuss the Aurangzeb and the Deccani States (1658–87) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Aurangzeb and the Deccani States - Background

• Shah Jahan promised that the Mughals would never invade Bijapur and Golconda in the Treaty of 1636.
• He abandoned this treaty, which pledged that the Mughals would never capture Bijapur and Golconda in exchange for one-third of the territory of Ahmednagar state.
• Bijapur had to accede to the surrender of the Nizam Shah's holdings awarded in 1636, and Golconda had to pay a large compensation.
• When Aurangzeb became Emperor in 1658, he was confronted with two issues.
  • One was Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's growing power, and the other was persuading Bijapur to relinquish the 1636 treaty-acquired territory.
• Kalyani and Bidar were secured in 1657 and in 1660, negotiations were used to secure Paranda.
• Aurangzeb ordered Jai Singh to punish both Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Adil Shah because of their unwillingness to cooperate.
• Jai Singh was a well-informed politician cum stateman. He advised Aurangzeb that it would be dangerous to attack both at the same time.
• Jai Singh had proposed that the Maratha problem could not be solved without a forward policy in the Deccan, a conclusion that Aurangzeb came to 20 years later.

Aurangzeb and the Deccani States - The First Phase (1658–68)

• The conquest of the Deccan would be a long and gruelling campaign that would necessitate the presence of the Aurangzeb himself, along with a vast army.
• The Deccan used guerilla tactics, enticing Jai Singh to Bijapur while destroying the land and cutting off supplies to the Mughals.
• As he had not brought siege guns, Jai Singh discovered that he had no way of assaulting the city and that investing in the city was impossible.
• Jai Singh did not gain any new territory during the Deccani campaign. The despair of failure, as well as Aurangzeb's censures, accelerated Jai Singh's death, which occurred in 1667.
• The deception was used by the Mughals to gain Sholapur's submission in 1668.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Aurangzeb and the Deccani States - The First Phase (1658–68)

Aurangzeb and the Deccani States - The Second Phase (1668–84)

• Aurangzeb sent his first expedition to Deccan in 1658 but was unable to win, so in 1668, he sent one more expedition.
• Golconda was ruled by Madanna and Akhanna. These two brothers gained their dominance between 1668 and 1676.
• The brothers attempted to form a tripartite alliance between Golconda, Bijapur, and Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• Aurangzeb wanted all these three kingdoms and once again started the invasion.
• Mughals invaded Bijapur in 1676 and overthrew the Khawas Khan, the regent of Bijapur.
• In addition, Aurangzeb welcomed Bahadur Khan and Diler Khan. They had good relations with the Afghan group in Bijapur, so through factions in Bijapur, the kingdom can be weakened.
• Both of them also joined an expedition against Golconda, though the Mughal-Bijapur alliance was unable to defeat Golconda.
• The collapse of the Mughal-Bijapur invasion in 1677 was due to the strong leadership of Madanna and Akhanna.
• Diler Khan attempted to conquer Bijapur once again in 1679-80.
• But he failed once again due to a lack of strategy and forces to battle against the combined forces of the Deccani rulers.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Aurangzeb and the Deccani States - The Second Phase (1668–84)

Aurangzeb and the Deccani States - The Third Phase (1684–87)

• Mughals had achieved a little success till 1680.
• When Aurangzeb reached the Deccan in 1681 in search of his rebel son, Prince Akbar, he first ordered his forces to fight against Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
• Sambhaji was the son and successor of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• Aurangzeb was renewing his efforts to drive the Marathas out of Bijapur and Golconda.
• The Deccani states were unwilling to give up the Marathas, who were their main defence against the Mughals.
• Aurangzeb was worried about his failure from 1658 to 1684, so he decided to force the Mughals again.
• He invited Adil Shah and requested that he provide a vassal to the imperial army and allow the Mughal army unfettered transit through his region.
• Aurangzeb sent 5,000 to 6,000 horsemen to fight against Marathas.
• On the other hand, Adil Shah sought assistance from both Golconda and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
• He betrayed Aurangzeb and he received assistance quickly.
• The combined armies of the Deccani states, as previously proved, could not stand up against the complete strength of the Mughal army.
• But when the Mughals fought with Deccan led by emperor Aurangzeb and his prince, the siege took 18 months due to mighty Marathas.
• Following Bijapur's defeat, a campaign against Golconda was required and the Mughals conquered Golconda after fierce fighting in 1685.
• He slaughtered Madanna and Akhanna after Qutb Shah accepted Mughal terms in 1688.
• Aurangzeb had won, but he discovered that the dissolution of Bijapur and Golconda was only the beginning of his problems.
• Aurangzeb's life was about to enter its final and most terrible period.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Aurangzeb and the Deccani States - The Third Phase (1684–87)

Conclusion

The Mughals nibbled at the territories of the Deccani states while attempting to completely dominate and control them. The resumption of a policy of limited advance in the Deccan had far-reaching consequences that neither Shah Jahan nor Aurangzeb seem to have fully appreciated. It destroyed confidence in Mughal treaties and promises for all time, and made 'a union of hearts' against the Marathas impossible—a policy that Aurangzeb pursued with great perseverance for a quarter-century, but with little success.

FAQs

Question 1: What was the main objective of Aurangzeb's campaigns in the Deccan?

Question 2: What were the three phases of Aurangzeb's campaigns in the Deccan?

Question 3: What strategy did Aurangzeb use to deal with the Marathas?

Question 4: Why did Aurangzeb focus on the Deccan region?

Question 5: How did Aurangzeb’s strategy in the Deccan ultimately affect the Mughal Empire?

MCQs

1. What was the primary goal of Aurangzeb's Deccan campaigns?

A) Expansion into Southeast Asia

B) Defeat the Marathas and conquer the Deccani states

C) Establish Mughal suzerainty over South India

D) Secure alliances with European powers

2. Which Maratha leader did Aurangzeb focus on during his campaigns in the Deccan?

A) Rajendra Chola

B) Shivaji Maharaj

C) Hari Singh Nalwa

D) Rana Bahadur Singh

3. What was the outcome of the Mughal-Bijapur alliance against Golconda in the second phase (1668–84)?

A) Complete victory for the Mughals

B) Complete victory for Golconda

C) Failure of the alliance to defeat Golconda

D) Golconda was annexed by the Mughals

4. Which of the following Deccan states did Aurangzeb successfully conquer by 1687?

A) Golconda

B) Bijapur

C) Both A and B

D) Mysore

5. Which of the following leaders succeeded Shivaji Maharaj?

A) Prithviraj Chauhan

B) Sambhaji Maharaj

C) Maharana Pratap

D) Raja Jai Singh

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze the strategies employed by Aurangzeb in his Deccan campaigns (1658–87) and their impact on the Maratha resistance.

Answer: Aurangzeb’s strategies in the Deccan were aimed at both political and military control of the region. Initially, he attempted to form alliances with Bijapur and Golconda against Shivaji Maharaj. His military strategies included direct warfare, as well as economic and psychological tactics to weaken the Deccan states and their alliances. The protracted campaigns led to the eventual annexation of Bijapur (1687) and Golconda, but these victories came at great cost. The Maratha resistance continued under Sambhaji Maharaj, leading to further conflicts and prolonging the Mughal struggle in the region. The prolonged Deccan campaign drained the Mughal Empire’s resources, contributing to its decline in later years. Aurangzeb’s focus on the Deccan weakened his empire’s northern frontiers, creating internal instability.

Q2: Discuss the significance of Aurangzeb’s relationship with the Deccani states in the larger context of Mughal expansion.

Answer: Aurangzeb’s relationship with the Deccani states was central to the expansion of the Mughal Empire in the south. Initially, the Mughals had strategic interests in securing territories that would shield the north from possible threats and expand the empire’s reach. The Deccan, with its rich resources and strategic location, was critical to this vision. The conquest of Bijapur and Golconda was part of a broader effort to eliminate regional powers that could challenge Mughal authority. However, his relentless campaigns against the Marathas and Deccani states came with significant military and financial costs. His inability to maintain stable governance in the Deccan also contributed to the decline of Mughal power, and the rise of local powers, such as the Marathas and Nizams of Hyderabad, later weakened Mughal control in the south.

Q3: Evaluate the role of Aurangzeb’s policies in the decline of Mughal power, with particular reference to his Deccan campaigns.

Answer: Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaigns, although initially successful in expanding Mughal territory, played a significant role in the eventual decline of the Mughal Empire. His policy of aggressive military expansion in the south, especially the prolonged campaigns against the Marathas, drained resources and exhausted the Mughal treasury. The Maratha resistance, led by Shivaji and later Sambhaji, continued to grow despite Mughal efforts to suppress it, resulting in a stalemate. The annexation of Bijapur and Golconda in 1687 did not translate into lasting stability. Instead, it left the Mughals with an overstretched empire, unable to effectively manage the diverse regions. Aurangzeb’s religious policies, which sought to impose orthodox Sunni practices, further alienated many communities, including Hindus and regional elites, leading to internal dissent. The Deccan campaigns, therefore, marked a shift from expansion to entrenchment, contributing to the weakening of Mughal authority by the early 18th century.

Previous Year Questions on Aurangzeb and the Deccani States

1. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: "What were the phases of Aurangzeb’s campaigns in the Deccan, and how did they affect the Deccani states?"

Answer: Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaigns can be divided into three phases: the first focused on reclaiming territories and defeating Bijapur; the second involved confronting the Marathas and attempting to secure alliances with Bijapur and Golconda; the third phase involved direct conquest of Bijapur and Golconda. These campaigns significantly weakened the Deccani states, but despite Mughal victories, the Maratha resistance persisted, ultimately contributing to the decline of Mughal power in the region.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: "Analyze the reasons behind Aurangzeb’s prolonged military campaigns in the Deccan and their impact on Mughal power."

Answer: Aurangzeb’s prolonged military campaigns in the Deccan were driven by the desire to eliminate the growing power of the Marathas, the independence of Bijapur and Golconda, and the need to secure the southern frontier. However, these campaigns drained the Mughal Empire’s resources, leading to military overextension. The campaigns failed to completely subdue the Marathas, and the Maratha resistance under Sambhaji Maharaj continued to challenge Mughal authority. The prolonged nature of these wars weakened the Mughal state, contributing to its eventual decline in the 18th century.