Deccan was the most important region to expand the powers of Mughals in India. Aurangzeb's interactions with the Deccani states had been divided into three stages. The first phase started in 1658 and lasted till 1668. During this time the main attempt was to reclaim the territories of the Ahmednagar state from Bijapur that had been surrendered to it by the treaty of 1636. In this article, we will discuss the Aurangzeb and the Deccani States - The First Phase (1658–68) 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.
• But he had 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.
• Golconda and Bijapur were on the verge of extinction in 1657-58.
• 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 these 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.

Conquest of Deccan

• The conquest of the Deccan would be a long and gruelling campaign that would necessitate the presence of the Emperor himself, along with a vast army.
• Aurangzeb, on the other hand, couldn't afford to go on a distant expedition as long as Shah Jahan was alive.
• 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.
• After, this first phase was over.

Conclusion

Deccan conquering was difficult for Mughals. Mughal ruler Aurangzeb wanted Deccan under his subjugation at any cost which led to Aurangzeb and the Deccani States' conflict. The First Phase was from 1658 to 1668, under which Aurangzeb tried to capture the region by any means. He faced problems in terms of the growing power of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj and persuading Bijapur to relinquish the 1636 treaty-acquired territory.

FAQs

Question: Who was Aurangzeb and what was his role in the Deccan region?

Question: What were the key events in the first phase of Aurangzeb’s campaigns in the Deccan (1658-1668)?

Question: How did Aurangzeb's policies affect the Deccan states during his first phase of rule?

Question: What was the role of Shivaji in the Deccan during Aurangzeb’s early campaigns?

Question: How successful were Aurangzeb’s campaigns in the Deccan during the first phase of his rule?

MCQs

1. Which Mughal emperor focused on expanding Mughal control over the Deccan region?

a) Akbar

b) Jahangir

c) Aurangzeb

d) Shah Jahan

2. In which year did Aurangzeb begin his campaigns in the Deccan?

a) 1648

b) 1658

c) 1668

d) 1678

3. Which Deccani Sultanate was conquered by Aurangzeb during his first phase of rule (1658-1668)?

a) Golconda

b) Vijayanagara

c) Mewar

d) Rajputana

4. Who was the leader of the Marathas during Aurangzeb’s early campaigns in the Deccan?

a) Shivaji Maharaj

b) Sambhaji

c) Rajaram

d) Shahu Maharaj

5. What was the main challenge faced by Aurangzeb in the Deccan during the first phase of his campaigns?

a) Limited military resources

b) Resistance from local rulers and the Marathas

c) Economic instability

d) Religious uprisings

GS Mains Questions and Answers

Q1: Analyze the significance of Aurangzeb’s first phase of campaigns in the Deccan (1658-1668) and its impact on the Mughal Empire.

Answer: Aurangzeb’s first phase of campaigns in the Deccan (1658-1668) played a significant role in the expansion of the Mughal Empire’s territorial boundaries but also highlighted the limits of Mughal power in the region. The initial success of Aurangzeb in conquering the Deccani Sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda marked a significant extension of Mughal influence in southern India. However, these victories came at a considerable cost, both in terms of military resources and the Empire's finances. Despite these successes, the conquest of the Deccan did not result in stable Mughal control, as the Maratha resistance, led by Shivaji Maharaj, began to intensify. Shivaji’s guerrilla tactics and his ability to rally local populations against the Mughal Empire disrupted the consolidation of Mughal power in the region. The prolonged military campaigns drained Mughal resources and shifted the empire’s focus away from other important fronts. In the long term, the first phase of Aurangzeb’s campaigns in the Deccan laid the groundwork for a prolonged and costly struggle, leading to the weakening of the Mughal Empire in the face of sustained regional resistance.

Q2: Discuss the role of Shivaji in opposing Aurangzeb's expansion in the Deccan.

Answer: Shivaji Maharaj played a crucial role in opposing Aurangzeb’s expansion in the Deccan, making him one of the most formidable adversaries to the Mughal Empire. During Aurangzeb’s campaigns in the Deccan, particularly in the first phase (1658-1668), Shivaji used innovative guerrilla warfare tactics to resist the Mughal advance. He successfully captured several Mughal forts and expanded his own Maratha kingdom. Despite Aurangzeb’s military superiority, Shivaji’s ability to mobilize local populations and his knowledge of the terrain allowed him to disrupt Mughal operations effectively. In 1665, Shivaji signed the Treaty of Purandar with Aurangzeb, but he continued his resistance by escaping Mughal custody in 1666. His defiance became a symbol of regional autonomy and resistance against Mughal imperialism. Shivaji’s leadership and his challenges to Mughal authority in the Deccan significantly delayed the complete annexation of the region by Aurangzeb and contributed to the Maratha Empire’s rise as a major power in the 17th century.

Q3: How did the first phase of Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaigns influence the political landscape of southern India?

Answer: The first phase of Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaigns significantly altered the political landscape of southern India. By annexing the Sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda, Aurangzeb extended Mughal rule over much of the Deccan, consolidating his control over the region. However, the process of annexation was far from smooth. The resistance from local rulers, particularly the Marathas under Shivaji, and the complex political dynamics of the region meant that Mughal control was often unstable. While Aurangzeb’s early victories represented a triumph for the Mughal Empire, they also set the stage for a prolonged struggle with regional powers, particularly the Marathas, which would dominate southern India for the remainder of his reign. The rise of the Maratha Empire under Shivaji further complicated Mughal efforts in the region, leading to a shift in the balance of power. The political fragmentation of southern India, driven by the rise of local powers like the Marathas, ultimately weakened Mughal authority in the Deccan and laid the foundations for a more fragmented and competitive political landscape in the centuries to come.

Previous Year Questions on  The First Phase 1658 to 68

1. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: "Examine the significance of the Deccan campaigns during Aurangzeb’s reign and their impact on the Mughal Empire."

Answer: The Deccan campaigns during Aurangzeb’s reign were significant in both their immediate military outcomes and their long-term effects on the Mughal Empire. In the early phase of his reign (1658-1668), Aurangzeb sought to expand the Mughal Empire’s territory in southern India by defeating the Deccan sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda. These campaigns initially seemed successful, as Aurangzeb captured key cities and expanded Mughal influence. However, the campaigns drained Mughal resources and faced prolonged resistance from local rulers, particularly Shivaji and the Marathas, who used guerrilla tactics to disrupt Mughal control. Over time, the Deccan campaigns proved to be costly, both in terms of military expenditure and the Empire’s stability. The sustained resistance from the Marathas and the failure to consolidate Mughal rule in the region weakened the Mughal Empire, contributing to its eventual decline. The campaigns, while initially expanding Mughal territory, ultimately led to a shift in the balance of power in southern India and laid the groundwork for the rise of the Maratha Empire.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: "Analyze the role of Aurangzeb’s policies in the resistance movements in the Deccan region."

Answer: Aurangzeb’s policies in the Deccan region, particularly his aggressive military campaigns and efforts to impose Mughal authority, played a major role in the rise of resistance movements, particularly from the Marathas. His attempts to annex the Deccan sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda, as well as his imposition of Mughal religious policies, provoked significant opposition. The Marathas, led by Shivaji, emerged as the most formidable resistance force against Mughal expansion in the Deccan. Aurangzeb’s religious intolerance, including the destruction of temples and the forced conversion of Hindus, further fueled resentment and strengthened the resolve of regional rulers and local populations. The prolonged and costly campaigns in the Deccan, along with the challenges posed by the Marathas, ultimately weakened Aurangzeb’s hold over the region and marked a turning point in the Mughal Empire’s southern strategy. The policies implemented by Aurangzeb intensified local resistance and contributed to the fragmentation of the Mughal Empire in the Deccan.