In
the complex political environment, Akbar dreamed of converting his kingdom into
an all-India state. Akbar was the first Mughal ruler who, like Delhi Sultanate
ruler Alauddin Khilji, dreamed of conquering the south. The era in which Akbar
was born was the era of imperialism in which no state could have any final
limit. The axis of the military system and the state system rested on the
possibility of a new territory. After North India, the southern states were
certainly new battlefields for Akbar which could expand the boundaries of his
kingdom as well as increase his fame.
Reason/purpose of
conquering the south
1.
Model of the North in the South: Abul Fazal
“Wise
and just people who understand the trend of the age have said that if this
entire world, which has become divided due to the inattention of great souls,
would have been under a just ruler of skillful and versatile ability, then
surely the dust of differences would settle down and humans would attain
happiness. Therefore, Akbar, the priest of destiny of our era, is continuously
engaged in the conquest of other countries.
2.
Racial and communal violence in the South
These
days, in the southern states, Shia, Sunni and Mahdavi people were trying to
eliminate each other. The religious fanaticism of the Muslims of South India
was ultimately causing harm to Islam. Therefore, Akbar wanted to attack South
India and bring it under his control.
3.
Imperialist Policy: Ishwari Prasad / Ashirwadi Lal Srivastava
Ishwari
Prasad - Propagator like Maurya, Gupta, Khiljis
Ashirwadi
Lal Srivastava is of the opinion that although the idea of world government is
a gift of the 20th century, Akbar had made it a part of his political idealism
in the 16th century itself, i.e. four centuries ago. World government in the
16th century meant the unification of the entire Indian subcontinent. He was
the first emperor who dreamed of bringing the whole of India under one umbrella
and strived for it throughout his life.
4.
Economic interests: Shiri Mousavi
The
Mughal rulers did not go towards the south with their own will or reluctance,
but the structure of the Mughal class was such that it was necessary to
increase the royal resources and treasury, which forced the Mughals to move
towards the south. The taxes imposed on the southern states of Khandesh,
Ahmednagar, Bijapur and Golconda and the money and precious gems collected from
treaties increased the Mughal treasury.
5.
Dealing with the Portuguese: R.P. Tripathi Vincent Smith
Vincent
Arthur Smith believed that the main reason for Akbar's connection and expansion
with the southern states was the dominance of the Portuguese on the western
seaboard and their control over the ports of Daman and Diu in Gujarat province.
According to Smith, although Akbar directly welcomed Christian priests in his
court, he indirectly wanted to expel the Portuguese from the western border of
India. The behavior of the Portuguese included deceit, hypocrisy and immorality
and they also put pressure on the local residents to convert to religion. Used
to issue letters.
4.
Hideout of Gujarat rebels
7.
Complex Socio-Economic Political Factors: Satis Chandra
After
observing the contacts and relations of Mughal Emperor Akbar with the southern
states of Khandesh, Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Golconda, Berar and Bidar, Akbar's
southern policy can be divided into four phases.
First phase: 1556-1576 AD:
Policy of neutrality
At
this time, the Mughal Emperor had not yet established complete dominance over
North India, hence he continued to follow the policy of neutrality without
paying special attention to the activities of the Sultans of the South.
During
this period, the Sultans of Khandesh and Berar not only gave refuge to Sultan
Baz Bahadur of Malwa in their kingdom against the Mughal Emperor but also
helped him and got him the kingdom of Malwa.
Apart
from this, Sultan Murtaza Nizamshah of Ahmednagar captured Berar in 1574 AD,
although Mughal Emperor Akbar had ordered Murtaza Nizamshah to leave Berar, but
Murtaza Nizamshah ignored it and included Berar in Ahmednagar.
Mughal
Emperor Akbar did not express any reaction on the above mentioned anti-Mughal
conduct of the Sultans of the South, but remained calm and neutral and
concentrated on solving his other problems in North India. Apart from this, he
left his relations with the sultans and states of the south to the future.
Second phase till 1576-1584 AD: Policy of observation
During
this period, Mughal Emperor Akbar had only formal relations with the Sultans of
South Indian states of Khandesh, Bijapur, Ahmednagar and Golconda.
Mughal
messengers went to the court of the southern Sultans from time to time and out
of courtesy the southern Sultans also sent their messengers and gifts to the
court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
Although
during this period, as an exception, a Mughal military campaign was carried out
against Khandesh in 1576 AD, but soon a treaty was established between the
Mughal Empire and Khandesh. The Mughal side benefited more from this treaty.
The
Sultan of Khandesh (Raja Ali Khan) became a lifelong friend of the Mughal
Empire.
From
1576 to 1584 AD, Mughal Emperor Akbar appears to have been satisfied with
formally exchanging envoys and gifts at the diplomatic level with the Sultans
of the South.
Third phase: 1584-1591 AD: Policy of partial
intervention
In
these seven years, the Mughal Emperor followed a policy of indirect
intervention with the Sultans of South India. In fact, the Mughal emperor's
relations with the southern states of Khandesh, Ahmednagar, Bijapur and
Golconda during this period were limited to his relations with the Ahmednagar
state. The entire attention of the Mughal emperor remained on the activities of
Ahmednagar.
During
this period, on one hand, Mughal Emperor Akbar Burhan wanted to establish
Mughal control over Ahmednagar indirectly through Nizamshah. At the same time,
Burhan Nizamshah could gain power in Ahmednagar with the indirect support of
the Mughal Emperor.
But
after this he did not accept the sovereignty of Mughal Emperor Akbar and
started behaving independently. Mughal Emperor Akbar did not like this behavior
of Burhan Nizamshah.
Secondly,
Akbar had solved the problems of North India. Therefore, he reestablished his
relations with the sultanates of South India. In this phase the Mughal emperor
only indirectly interfered with the southern sultanates.
Fourth phase: 1591-1605 AD:
Policy of direct intervention
In
1591 four missions were sent to the four Deccani rulers.
Khandesh-
Faizi
The
ruler of Khandesh, Raja Ali, accepted Mughal-suzerainty, and sent his daughter
in marriage.
Ahmadnagar-
Khwaza Aminuddin
In
fact, Burhan Nizam Shah was rude: he sent no presents, and brusquely dismissed
the Mughal envoy. Because knowing that Akbar was too busy in the north-west to
take any stern action against them.
Bizapur-
Mir Muhammad Masudi
Golkunda-
Mirza Masudi
The
other missions came back with presents and letters of goodwill.
The
failure of Akbar's diplomatic offensive of 1591 postulated a more active
intervention in the Deccan.
Akbar's
search for opportune time and civil strife in Deccan
In
1595, Burhan Nizam Shah died and was succeeded by his son, Ibrahim. Ibrahim
Nizam Shah renewed the war with Bijapur over Sholapur, but he was defeated and
lost his life in the battle.
Various contenders to the throne now arose: Mian Manju, who
was the Peshwa and leader of the Deccani party, put forward his own candidate,
though he was a mere pretender, not belonging to the Nizam Shahi dynasty.
Chand
Bibi, sister of Burhan Nizam Shah, who had been married to the Adil Shahi ruler
in 1564, supported by the Habshi party favoured the claim of Bahadur, the
infant son of the late king, Ibrahim Nizam Shah.
Miyan
Manju the leader of the Deccani party, appealed to the Mughals for help. Akbar had already geared himself to invade the Deccan.
Diplomacy- Raja Ali, the ruler of Khandesh, joined
Mughals.
Campaign- The campaign was led by Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanam. Due to
internal differences among the Nizam Shahi nobles, the Mughals faced no
opposition till they reached Ahmadnagar.
Betrayal,
Regret
and Patriotism- But
on their approach, Miyan Manju felt sorry that he had invited them, and decided
to join hands with Chand Bibi to resist them. Chand Bibi also appealed to
Bijapur and Golconda for help.
War-
The arrival of a Bijapuri force of
seven thousand enabled Chand Bibi to offer a valiant defence: After a close
siege of four months, Chand Bibi was forced to an agreement.
Treaty-
1. whereby Berar was ceded to the Mughals.
2. The infant, Bahadur Nizam Shah, was acknowledged as
the ruler under her Regency.
3. Mughal
suzerainty was accepted. This was in 1596.
Cause
of Treary-
Mughals
accepted this compromise partly because of the presence of a strong Bijapur-Golconda
force at the frontier. So, neither side
was satisfied with this agreement.
Second siege of Ahmednagar
Cause
Mughal-The Mughals were keen to get Balaghat which had been a bone of contention between Gujarat and Ahmadnagar.
1. One group of Ahmadnagar opposed the handing over of
Berar to the Mughals.
2. While another group led by the Wakil and Peshwa,
Muhammad Khan, opened negotiations with the Mughals.
3. Chand Bibi sent urgent messages to the rulers of
Bijapur and Golconda to send reinforcements for her help.
4. The rulers of Bijapur and Golconda responded, because
they felt, not without reason, that Berar would give the Mughals a permanent
foothold in the Deccan which enlarged upon at any time.
War-
Hence,
a combined force of Bijapur, Golconda and Ahmadnagar, led by a Bijapur
commander, Suhail Khan, entered Berar in strength.
Result-
Defeated
In
a hard-fought battle in 1597 at Sonepat, the Mughals defeated a Deccani force
three times their number.
Left
in bad times-
The
Bijapuri and Golconda forces now withdrew, leaving Chand Bibi alone to face the
situation.
Surrender,
Compromise and Murder-
Although
Chand Bibi was in favour of observing the treaty of 1596, she could not stop
harassing attacks on the Mughals in Berar by her nobles.
This
resulted in a another Mughal siege of Ahmadnagar. In the absence of help from
any quarter, Chand Bibi decided to surrender the fort, and opened negotiations
with the Mughals, demanding grant of a mansab and a jagir in Ahmadnagar to
Bahadur as a subordinate ruler, with herself remaining his guardian.
She
was, however, accused of treachery by the faction hostile to her, and was
murdered. Thus, ended the life of one of the most romantic figures in Deccani
politics.
What
the Mughals got- The Mughals now
assaulted and captured Ahmednagar. The boy king, Bahadur, was sent to the
fortress of Gwalior.
Ahmednagar
fort and the areas adjacent to it were surrendered to the Mughals. Balaghat
including. Daultabad which had been claimed by the Mughals earlier, was also
added to the empire, and a Mughal garrison was stationed at Ahmednagar. This
was in 1600.
Khandesh
Causes
1.
In 1600, Akbar had advanced into Malwa and then into Khandesh to study the
situation on the spot. In Khandesh he learnt that the new ruler of Khandesh.
Miran Bahadur, had not shown due respect to Prince Daniyal when he had passed
through the territory on his way to Ahmadnagar.
2.
Worse, though summoned repeatedly, he did not appear before Akbar.
3.
However, the main factor in Akbar's taking action again Bahadur was his desire
to secure the fort of Asirgarh in Khandesh which was reputed to be the
strongest fort in the Deccan.
4.
He was also keen to annex Khandesh, with its capital Burhanpur which was a
point of entry into the Deccan.
5.
Khandesh, was also the hinterland of Surat and the Gujarat seaports, the route
from Agra to Surat passing through Burhanpur.
Siege of Asirgarh (February
1600–6 January 1601)
Leadership
of campaign
After
reaching the capital Burhanpur, Akbar ordered to siege the fort of Asirgarh at
the end of February 1600.
This
siege was carried out under the joint leadership of Khan-i-Azam, Asaf Khan,
Murtaza Khan and Jani Beg of Thatta. Soon Abul Fazal also joined him.
Position
of the fort
According
to Abul Fazal, "There is no other fort which has such a rich collection,
such a number of guns, so many guards and defense materials. The special thing
is that despite His Majesty not having the means to siege it, he did so”.
Akbar's
leadership
The
siege continued for months. Therefore, it is no surprise that Akbar was forced
to take the reins of this action into his own hands.
It
was in Asirgarh that Akbar received the information that Ahmednagar had been
conquered.
Deception
and Fraud
Knowing
that the fort of Asirgarh was almost invincible, Akbar resorted to bribery and
deceit to achieve his goal.
Miran
Bahadur's army leaders and messengers were bribed. And on the assurance of the
letter of resignation, he was induced to come out of the fort to talk to the
Mughal emperor.
But
Miran Bahadur was stopped in the Mughal camp and forced to sign a letter
purporting to order the besieged army to hand over fort to the Mughals.
Mukarrab
Khan, commander of the fort, who had come to the Mughal camp as a messenger,
was killed without reason.
This
was Akbar's last victory which was achieved unfairly.
Result
Khandesh
was annexed to the Mughal Empire and Miran Bahadur was imprisoned and sent to
the fort of Gwalior.
Prince
Daniyal was appointed the governor of Malwa and Gujarat and the entire Mughal
territory of Deccan (including Khandesh) was named Danadesh in his name.
Akbar
returned to Fatehpur Sikri on August 1, 1601 where he ordered the construction
of the famous Buland Darwaza to commemorate his victory over Asirgarh.
Others
After
the fall of Asirgarh, Akbar again sent envoys to the rulers of Bijapur,
Golconda and Bidar to persuade them to "make binding treaties of
obedience."
None
of the rulers agreed to do so. However, the ruler of Bijapur reluctantly agreed
to send his daughter to the haram of Prince Daniyal, the Mughal viceroy in the
Deccan.
Meanwhile,
in order to deal with the rebellion of Prince Salim, Akbar had to return to
Agra.
Akbar's
hope of befriending Bijapur, the most powerful and influential kingdom in the
Deccan, could not be realized.
Evaluation
According
to RP Tripathi, in Akbar's southern policy we do not find a personal ambitious
desire for victory but in it we get a glimpse of the enlightened policy of a
great emperor.
