Canberra, 30 October 2021 Aurangzeb’s death initiated the inevitable succession struggle. Shah Alam, the eldest surviving son based in Peshawar, reached Delhi first and claimed the throne after taking over the treasury. Azam Shah from Ahmednagar opposed him and started the march north, without concluding any formal agreement with the marauding Marathas. On the advice […]
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Tag Archives: Mughal
The Marathas Part 10 The Mughal – Maratha Hopscotch
October 25, 2021 
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Canberra, 25 October 2021 THE VACILLATING MUGHAL DECCAN POLICY During his long tenures as the viceroy of the Deccan during his father’s reign, and subsequently as the emperor, Aurangzeb had felt the deep-seated mistrust of the Deccan kingdoms towards the Mughals. In the two decades that he had been away from the Deccan, initially during […]
Continue readingThe Marathas Part 9 Triumph of the Marathas
October 16, 2021 0 Comments
Canberra, 16 October 2021 Sambhaji’s brutal execution and Rajaram’s hurried flight to Ginji were events that severely shocked the Maratha psyche. However, the Marathas are one of the most resilient of peoples, oriented towards action and therefore, the despondency did not linger for long. In May 1690 a combined Maratha army, commanded by many military […]
Continue readingThe Marathas Part 7 Sambhaji Bhonsle Section I: Accession and Early Rule
September 28, 2021 0 Comments
Canberra, 28 September 2021 On hearing of his father’s illness, Sambhaji hurried from Panhala to Raigarh but could not reach the fort before Shivaji’s death. He carried out the last rites and then returned to Panhala. The mourning period was followed by a short, but vicious power struggle for succession. The 23-year-old Sambhaji, as the […]
Continue readingThe Marathas Part 6 Shivaji Bhonsle Section VII: A Panegyric
September 7, 2021 1 Comment
Canberra, 7 September 2021 The account of Shivaji’s activities and achievements, described in the previous few chapters, is only a concise narrative of the main events of his life. Even such a short description proves the genius that he possessed. However, unfortunately and for some unfathomable reason, Shivaji is perhaps the most under-appreciated, misunderstood and […]
Continue readingThe Marathas Part 6 Shivaji Bhonsle Section VI: Troubled Last Days
August 30, 2021 0 Comments
Canberra, 30 August 2021 Aurangzeb devised a plan to isolate Shivaji by initially attacking and annexing Golconda, since they were allied to the Marathas. The Mughals would deal with Shivaji after he was so isolated. Bahadur Khan who had earlier accommodated a truce with Shivaji was recalled and Dilawar Khan appointed as the viceroy of […]
Continue readingThe Marathas Part 6 Shivaji Bhonsle Section IV Dealing with the Mughals 2. Towards a Maratha Kingdom
August 18, 2021 0 Comments
Canberra, 18 August 2021 From the time of his return to Bijapur, Shahji had been heavily involved in pacifying the restive nobles of the Doab on behalf of the Adil Shah. In appreciation of Shahji’s service, Ali Adil Shah had bestowed the fiefdoms of Bangalore and Tanjore on Vyankoji. Unfortunately, during the campaign Shahji died […]
Continue readingThe Marathas Part 4 Shahji Bhonsle Section II: Later Career
June 6, 2021 0 Comments
Canberra, 6 June 2021 [The later career of Shahji Bhonsle and the early development of his son Shivaji overlap in several areas and took place in parallel. This chapter only examines the aspects of Shivaji’s early activities that had a direct bearing on Shahji’s actions and the progress of his career. Shivaji’s actions will be […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 84 Aurangzeb Section VII: The Curtain Falls
February 23, 2021 0 Comments
Canberra, 23 February 2021 After the capture and execution of Shambhuji, it would have been logical for Aurangzeb to return to Delhi—the three major powers in the Deccan, the Adil and the Qutb Shahis and the Marathas, had been effectively destroyed or subdued and their territories annexed to the Empire. There was nothing more to […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 84 Aurangzeb Section VI: The Last Foray into the Deccan
February 23, 2021 0 Comments
Canberra, 23 February 2021 On 8th September 1681 Aurangzeb, 63 years old and having been on the throne for 23 years, made a hasty peace with Mewar and set out from Ajmer for the Deccan, reaching Burhanpur on 13th November 1681. This was the culmination of a sequence of events in Rajputana, most of which […]
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Sanu Kainikara 
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