Deccan Policy of Mughals | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

Factors Influencing the Deccan Policy of the Mughals:

• The Deccan policy of the Mughals was shaped by multiple factors, including the strategic importance of the Deccan states and the administrative and economic needs of the Mughal Empire.

Early Mughal Emperors and the Deccan:

• Babur was unable to establish contact with the Deccan due to his focus on northern conflicts.
• Humayun also lacked the time to address Deccan affairs because he was occupied with issues in Gujarat,Bihar, and Bengal.

Akbar's Initiative:

• Akbar was the first Mughal emperor to actively seek to extend Mughal control over the Deccan region.

Deccan Policy of Mughals

Babur

• At the time of Babur's invasion of India, there were six Muslim states in the South: Khandesh, Berar, Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda, and Bidar. Additionally, there was one Hindu state, Vijayanagar.
• Babur considered Vijayanagar to be the most powerful state among them. He praised Krishnadeva Raya(reigned 1509-1530 CE) as the greatest ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty in Vijayanagar.
• Despite recognizing the strength of Vijayanagar, Babur did not focus on the South during his campaign.

Humayun

Humayun's Campaigns and Challenges in Khandesh and the Deccan:

• During Humayun's reign(1530-1540 CE),Muhammad Shah, the ruler of Khandesh, allied with Bahadur Shah of Gujarat against Mewar and opposed Humayun in battles at Mandsaur and Mandu.
• After conquering Gujarat,Humayun attacked Khandesh. Muhammad Shah sought forgiveness, which Humayun granted, indicating a lack of a strategic policy towards the Deccan.
• During this period, the Mughals were establishing their rule in India, facing challenges from the Afghans in Northern India. This situation kept both Babur and Humayun occupied in the North.

Under Akbar (1556 to 1605)

Akbar's Campaign in the Deccan and Southern India:

• Background: After conquering the North-Western frontier, Akbar focused on the Deccan and Southern India, where political disunity and warfare among various kingdoms created favorable conditions for invasion.
• The Vijayanagar Empire had previously kept the Muslim kingdoms of the Deccan in check. However, after the Battle of Talikota in 1565 CE, which led to Vijayanagar's downfall, the Muslim chieftains turned their efforts towards internal conflicts.
• Akbar's Ambitions:Akbar was the first Mughal emperor to plan the conquest of the Deccan. His goals included:
  • Expanding Mughal rule across the entire subcontinent.
  • Establishing Sulh-i-kul(universal peace) in the region, which was plagued by religious strife.
  • Countering the growing power of the Portuguese on the Indian coast, who were becoming a threat to the Mughal Empire and harassing Haj pilgrims.
• According to Abul Fazl, one of Akbar's objectives was to free the people of the Deccan from despotic local rulers and bring them peace and prosperity. However, modern historians often downplay this perspective.
• In 1591 CE, Akbar sent diplomatic missions to Khandesh,Ahmadnagar,Bijapur, and Golconda, asking them to accept his sovereignty. Only Khandesh complied.
• After the death of Ali Khan, the ruler of Khandesh, who fought alongside the Mughals against Ahmadnagar, Akbar shifted his focus to Ahmadnagar. In 1593 CE, the Mughals attacked Ahmadnagar, facing strong resistance from Chand Bibi, the aunt of the ruling king Muzaffar.
• Despite her efforts, Ahmadnagar continued to resist for several years before the Mughals eventually captured Berar,Ahmadnagar, and Daulatabad.
• Miran Bahadur, son of Ali Khan, succeeded his father in Khandesh but refused to acknowledge Mughal suzerainty. The Mughals then attacked Khandesh, capturing the fort of Asirgarh in 1601 CE and annexing all territories of Khandesh into the Empire.
• Miran Bahadur was imprisoned in the fort of Gwalior and given a pension. However, during Akbar's reign, no action was taken against Bijapur and Golconda.
• Akbar's conquests included Khandesh, parts of Ahmadnagar, and strongholds like Daulatabad,Ahmadnagar,Burhanpur, and Asirgarh. This not only established Mughal power in the Deccan but also set the stage for further conquests by his successors.

Under Jahangir (1605 to 1627) 

Jahangir's Campaigns in Southern India:

• Jahangir, like his father Akbar, aimed to conquer all of Southern India. Akbar had only taken a part of the Nizamshahi kingdom of Ahmadnagar, leaving most under the control of local nobles.
• Jahangir sought to annex Ahmadnagar and bring the rulers of Bijapur and Golconda under his authority. However, he faced strong resistance from Malik Ambar, the Wazir of Ahmadnagar.
• Malik Ambar strengthened Ahmadnagar's economy, trained Maratha soldiers in guerrilla warfare, and fought fiercely against the Mughals. He successfully recovered the fort of Ahmadnagar and other territories early in Jahangir's reign.
• Despite sending capable generals like Khan-i-Jahan Lodhi and Abdullah Khan to the Deccan, the Mughals achieved little due to internal conflicts among their officers and Malik Ambar's effective resistance.
• In 1617 CE, Prince Khurram attacked Ahmadnagar, forcing it to sign a treaty that ceded the fort of Ahmadnagar and the territory of Balaghat to the Mughals. Khurram was awarded the title of Shah Jahan by Jahangir at this time.
• However, this was not a significant victory for the Mughals, as Ahmadnagar continued to resist their rule. In 1621 CE, another peace treaty was signed, with Ahmadnagar ceding part of its territory and paying a cash settlement of eighteen lakhs rupees.
• Bijapur and Golconda, allies of Ahmadnagar, also paid the Mughals twelve lakhs and twenty lakhs rupees, respectively.
• During Jahangir's reign, Ahmadnagar was weakened, and Bijapur and Golconda were pressured, but there was no significant expansion of the Mughal Empire, and no Deccan state was completely subdued.
• Historian Dr. R.P. Tripathi noted that the Mughal power did not advance beyond the position it held when Akbar left the Deccan.

Under Shah Jahan (1628 to 1658) 

Shah Jahan's Deccan Policy:

• Continuation of Akbar and Jahangir's approach.
• Aimed to annex or establish suzerainty over Deccan kingdoms.
• Skilled commander with a good understanding of Deccan politics.

Pressure on Ahmadnagar:

• Opportunity arose after Malik Ambar's death.
• Fateh Khan, Malik Ambar's son, was corrupt and ineffective as Wazir.
• He murdered Sultan Murtaza Nizam Shah II and placed a child, Hussain Shah, on the throne.
• Fateh Khan's unprincipled diplomacy alienated nobles and weakened Ahmadnagar.

Annexation of Ahmadnagar:

• Fateh Khan surrendered Sultan Hussain Shah to the Mughals in 1633 CE.
• Ahmadnagar was annexed to the Mughal Empire.
• End of the Ahmadnagar state, though Shahji Bhonsle continued to resist.
• Shahji eventually surrendered a rival claimant, Murtaza III, to the Mughals in 1636 CE.

Golconda Under Mughal Control:

• Following the death of Muhammad Qutb Shah in 1626 CE, his minor son Abdulla Qutb Shah succeeded the throne.
• In 1636 CE, Golconda was compelled to acknowledge Mughal suzerainty.
• Under Aurangzeb's governorship in 1652 CE, Golconda faced pressure for unpaid tribute.
• Aurangzeb intervened in Golconda's affairs, leading to the siege of Golconda Fort.
• A treaty was established, securing Mughal suzerainty over Golconda.

Bijapur Under Mughal Pressure:

• Bijapur, ruled by Muhammad Adil Shah I, was initially unprepared for Mughal attacks.
• After failed invasions, Bijapur was forced to accept Mughal suzerainty in 1636 CE.
• Adil Shah's death in 1656 CE led to a disputed succession.
• Aurangzeb besieged Bijapur but was ordered to cease by Shah Jahan.
• A treaty in 1657 CE established Mughal suzerainty and territorial gains.

Shah Jahan's Deccan Success:

• During Shah Jahan's reign, the Mughal Deccan policy was successful.
• Ahmadnagar was fully annexed, while Bijapur and Golconda accepted Mughal suzerainty.
• These states surrendered territories, forts, and agreed to pay tribute and indemnities.
• Shah Jahan's strategy of weakening these states without outright annexation prevented complications for the Mughal Empire.

Family Dynamics and Deccan Policy:

• Prince Dara Shukoh and Princess Jahan Ara preferred the survival of Bijapur and Golconda to limit Aurangzeb's power.
• Shah Jahan's illness and potential succession conflicts among his sons also influenced the decision to maintain these states.

Under Aurangzeb (1658 to 1707) 

Aurangzeb's Deccan Policy: Key Points

Phase I (until 1680):

• Led by military generals, not Aurangzeb himself.
• Focused on three main concerns:Marathas,Qutubshahis, and Adilshahis.
• Significant event:Treaty of Purandhar (1665) between Mughal commander Jai Singh I and Maratha leader Shivaji.

Phase II (from 1680 onwards):

• Aurangzeb personally led military campaigns against the Deccan states.
• The focus on the Marathas, Qutubshahis, and Adilshahis remained unchanged.
• Successful military campaigns resulted in the annexation of Adilshahis (1686) and Qutubshahis (1687).
• Maratha ruler Sambhaji was executed in 1689.

Aurangzeb's motives:

• Political, economic, and religious motives drove his policy.
• Aim to expand the Mughal Empire and eliminate the power of Bijapur and Golconda to weaken the Marathas.
• Dissatisfaction with the presence of Shia rulers and a desire to capture the wealth of the Deccan states.
• Wanted to annex these states rather than just establish suzerainty.

Early Efforts (1657-81):

• Aurangzeb focused on Northern India, leaving Deccan affairs to nobles.
• Bijapur failed to meet treaty terms, leading to attacks but no submission.
• Bijapur's internal strife after the death of Adil Shah II created an opportunity for the Mughals.

Aurangzeb's Involvement (1681-82):

• Prince Akbar's revolt prompted Aurangzeb's journey to the Deccan.
• After Bijapur's annexation in 1686, Aurangzeb targeted Golconda.

Conquest of Golconda (1687):

• Abul Hasan Qutb Shah of Golconda faced Mughal attacks.
• Aurangzeb's siege led to the capture of Golconda and the annexation of the state.

Challenges from Marathas:

• Shivaji established a strong Maratha presence and initially clashed with the Mughals.
• Aurangzeb's attempts to subdue the Marathas faced significant resistance.
• Shivaji's death in 1680 and the rise of his son Sambhaji did not end the Maratha challenge.

Final Conquest and Resistance:

• Aurangzeb conquered Maharashtra but faced ongoing Maratha resistance.
• Raja Ram and Tara Bai led the Maratha fight against the Mughals after Shivaji.
• Despite Aurangzeb's efforts, the Marathas successfully liberated their territory.

Aurangzeb's Legacy:

• Aurangzeb's Deccan policy ultimately failed due to the resilient Maratha resistance.
• His conquests did not secure lasting control over the Deccan.
• The Marathas emerged as a formidable force, challenging Mughal authority.

Conclusion

• The Deccan policy of the Mughals reached its peak during Aurangzeb's rule but proved temporary. Aurangzeb could not consolidate his gains, facing a strong Maratha resistance that ultimately led to the collapse of his Deccan strategy and the disintegration of the Mughal Empire.
• Aurangzeb's conquest of the South expanded the Mughal Empire's boundaries to an unmanageable extent, making central administration difficult. Historical evidence showed that Northern rulers consistently struggled to annex the South, a trend that repeated during Aurangzeb's reign.
• In his bid to conquer and directly govern the South, Aurangzeb neglected the North, the empire's stronghold. While he and his top officers were preoccupied with Deccan wars, the North was poorly managed by junior and less capable officers.
• The prolonged warfare in the Deccan drained the treasury and weakened Mughal control over Northern India. This failure in the Deccan, termed the "Deccan Ulcer," significantly contributed to Aurangzeb's downfall and the Mughal Empire's decline. His Deccan policy was seen as misguided and impractical.
• Aurangzeb's annexation of Bijapur and Golconda led to direct conflict with the Marathas, a key factor in the failure of his Deccan policy. Historian Jadunath Sarkar offered a different view, suggesting that the weak Deccan states could neither protect the Mughals from the Marathas nor become reliable allies, making confrontation inevitable.
• In the later Mughal period, the Deccan was lost to the empire, and the Marathas emerged as the dominant power.

Assessment

• The Mughals' policy towards the Deccan states was not driven by personal preferences or religious factors. Starting from Akbar's time, the relationship between the Mughals and the Deccan states evolved based on the socio-economic and administrative context of the Mughal Empire.
• Akbar aimed to establish Mughal authority in the Deccan and safeguard the Surat hinterland, realizing that military conquest alone would not suffice. He opted for diplomatic means to achieve these goals.
• Jahangir supported maintaining Akbar's position in the Deccan, influenced by his assessment of the region and the Empire's internal issues. The violation of the Treaty of 1600 CE by Ahmadnagar compelled Shah Jahan to adopt an aggressive stance against Ahmadnagar, with the Treaty of 1636 CE providing a temporary resolution.
• Shah Jahan's Deccan policy shifted due to the expansion of Bijapur and Golconda and the Empire's financial difficulties. Even Aurangzeb, initially advocating a forward policy in the Deccan, was forced to conquer Bijapur and Golconda in the 1680s due to the Marathas' rising power and internal crises within the Empire.
• The Mughals' Deccan policy was shaped by contemporary needs rather than personal whims. Critics who label this policy as flawed overlook the complex realities of the time. The Mughal intervention in the Deccan was driven by the need to address the Maratha rise and the distrust among Deccan states.
• The occasional failures in the Deccan were not solely due to a lack of understanding but also involved factional strife among Mughal nobles and issues of loyalty. Understanding the Mughals' Deccan policy requires a broader perspective, considering various influencing factors rather than focusing on a single element.