The Deccan and South India (Up to 1656)

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the dynamics among Deccan states post-Bahmani kingdom.
2. Examine the role of the Marathas in Deccan politics.
3. Analyze the Mughal conquest attempts in the Deccan.
4. Evaluate the cultural contributions of Deccan states.

The Deccan region witnessed significant political turmoil following the breakup of the Bahmani kingdom, with Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, and Golconda emerging as powerful states. These states united to defeat Vijayanagara at the Battle of Bannihatti in 1565. Post-victory, the Deccani states resumed old rivalries. Ahmadnagar and Bijapur both laid claim to Sholapur, a fertile region, while Ahmadnagar aimed to annex Berar. Despite wars and marriage alliances, the issue remained unresolved. Ahmadnagar also sought dominance over Bidar. The Nizam Shahis, descendants of the Bahmani rulers, claimed a superior position in the Deccan, contested by Bijapur and the rulers of Gujarat, who had ambitions in the Konkan region and Berar.

1. The Mughal conquest of Gujarat in 1572 altered the political landscape, threatening to extend Mughal control into the Deccan.
2. Ahmadnagar capitalized on this by annexing Berar while Bijapur expanded southward at the expense of Vijayanagara.
3. The Deccani states exhibited expansionist tendencies, particularly as Vijayanagara fragmented into small nayakhoods.

The growing influence of the Marathas became a notable feature in Deccan affairs. Historically, Maratha troops served as auxiliaries in the Bahmani kingdom. Deccani Brahmans managed local revenue, and powerful Maratha families like the More, Nimbalkar, and Ghatge held significant zamindar positions. Unlike the Rajputs, these Maratha leaders lacked independent territories or clan-based support. As military adventurers, their loyalty often shifted with circumstances. Despite this, the Marathas were integral to the Deccan’s landed aristocracy, similar to the Rajputs in North India.

Mughal Advance Towards The Deccan

The consolidation of the Mughal empire in North India made a Mughal advance towards the Deccan inevitable. Although the Vindhyas geographically separated North and South India, they were not insurmountable. Akbar spent twelve years in Lahore (1586-1598), focusing on the northwestern front, while affairs in the Deccan deteriorated.

1. The Deccan became a cauldron of political strife, with frequent wars among states.
2. The death of rulers often led to factional fights, with Deccanis and newcomers (afaqis or gharibs) vying for power.
3. Various factions, including the Habshis (Abyssinians or Africans) and Afghans, had limited contact with the region’s local culture.

The assimilation of the Marathas into Deccan politics stalled, and the rulers commanded little loyalty. Akbar grew concerned about the increasing influence of the Portuguese, who interfered with pilgrim traffic to Mecca and engaged in proselytizing activities. Akbar perceived that the Deccan states needed coordination under Mughal supervision to curb the Portuguese threat.

Conquest of Berar, Ahmadnagar, and Khandesh

Akbar sought suzerainty over the entire country, including the Deccan states. In 1591, he launched a diplomatic offensive, sending embassies to the Deccan states to invite them to accept Mughal suzerainty. Only Khandesh, due to its proximity to Mughal territory, complied. Burhan Nizam Shah of Ahmadnagar was particularly hostile, while others offered mere promises of friendship. The Mughal invasion began in 1595 when factional strife erupted among the Nizam Shahi nobles after Burhan’s death.

1. Prince Murad and Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan led the Mughal forces in a close siege of Ahmadnagar.
2. After a four-month siege, a truce was reached: Berar was ceded to the Mughals, and Bahadur was recognized as the rightful ruler.
3. Mughal suzerainty was acknowledged, but Ahmadnagar’s resistance alarmed other Deccan states, leading to a combined invasion of Berar by Bijapur, Golconda, and Ahmadnagar in 1597.

Important Note: The diplomatic offensive launched by Akbar marked a crucial moment in the Mughal expansion strategy, highlighting the empire’s determination to assert its dominance over the entire subcontinent.

Rise of Malik Ambar and Frustration of Mughal Attempt at Consolidation

The fall of Ahmadnagar and the capture of Bahadur Nizam Shah could have led to the state’s disintegration if not for the rise of Malik Ambar, an Abyssinian born in Ethiopia. Malik Ambar supported a Nizam Shahi prince, setting him up as Murtaza Nizam Shah II, with himself as Peshwa. He employed Maratha troopers skilled in guerrilla warfare, making it difficult for the Mughals to consolidate their hold over Berar, Ahmadnagar, and Balaghat.

1. In 1601, Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan dealt a significant defeat to Ambar, but the latter regrouped after Akbar’s death.
2. Ambar’s resurgence in 1610 led to the loss of all Mughal gains in the Deccan.
3. Despite several victories, Ambar’s arrogance eventually alienated his allies, leading to defeats and the eventual restoration of Mughal territories.

Malik Ambar’s rise emphasized the Marathas’ importance in Deccan politics, providing them with the confidence to later assert independence.

Extinction of Ahmadnagar, and Acceptance of Mughal Suzerainty by Bijapur and Golconda

Shah Jahan ascended the throne in 1628, determined to reclaim territories lost to the Nizam Shahi ruler. He believed peace in the Deccan was impossible while Ahmadnagar remained independent. Shah Jahan deployed large armies in 1629, gradually bringing most of Ahmadnagar under Mughal control.

1. Fath Khan, son of Malik Ambar, initially tried to negotiate with Shah Jahan but eventually betrayed the Nizam Shah, leading to Ahmadnagar’s downfall.
2. Shahji found another Nizam Shahi prince and continued resistance, but Shah Jahan’s combined military pressure forced Bijapur to recognize Mughal suzerainty in 1636.
3. The treaties with Bijapur and Golconda in 1636 marked a diplomatic victory for the Mughals, achieving Akbar’s objective of establishing Mughal suzerainty across the subcontinent.

Cultural Contribution of The Deccan States

The Deccan states made significant cultural contributions. Ali Adil Shah (d. 1580) engaged in discussions with saints and invited Catholic missionaries to his court. His successor, Ibrahim Adil Shah II (1580–1627), was a patron of music and composed the Kitab-i-Nauras, earning the title Jagat Guru for his broad-mindedness.

1. Golconda became an intellectual hub under Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, who was a patron of literature and architecture. He wrote in Dakhini Urdu, Persian, and Telugu, introducing a secular note in poetry.
2. The growth of Urdu in its Dakhini form was a notable development during this period, with writers drawing on Hindi and Telugu for themes and vocabulary.
3. Architecturally, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built the Char Minar, while the rulers of Bijapur excelled with structures like the Ibrahim Rauza and the Gol Gumbaz.

Painting also thrived, reaching its peak under Ibrahim Adil Shah. The Deccan states, overcoming sectarian violence, maintained communal harmony and contributed richly to music, literature, architecture, and painting.

MCQ:
What was the primary reason for Shah Jahan’s shift in policy towards Ahmadnagar?

• A) Expansion of Mughal territories beyond the Deccan
• B) Establishment of Mughal suzerainty across the subcontinent
• C) To gain control over the commercial routes in the Deccan
• D) To maintain peace and stability in the region

Answer: B) Establishment of Mughal suzerainty across the subcontinent

influence | Used as military assets |