Mughal Conquest of the Deccan Sultanates (Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda)
Medieval History › Mughal Period · Topic 6.20
Akbar's Deccan policy began with a diplomatic offensive in 1591, a siege of Ahmadnagar that gave the Mughals Berar in 1596, the fall of Ahmadnagar in 1600 and Khandesh with Asirgarh in 1601. Malik Ambar then revived Nizam Shahi resistance. Shah Jahan ended Ahmadnagar in 1633 and in 1636 forced Bijapur and Golconda to accept Mughal suzerainty and tribute.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Mughal Period
At a Glance
- Akbar’s diplomacy 1591 embassies to all Deccani states
- Berar Ceded in 1596
- Ahmadnagar Captured in 1600
- Khandesh Asirgarh surrendered in 1601
- Settlement Treaties of 1636 with Bijapur and Golconda
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Mughal Period
Where Does It Fit?
This is the twentieth topic of the category on the Mughal period. The previous topic covered Akbar’s idea of religious harmony, and this topic describes the Mughal advance south. The next topic describes Malik Ambar’s resistance. Previous topic: Din-i-Ilahi and Akbar’s Policy of Religious Toleration (Sulh-i-Kul).
Why Did the Mughals Move into the Deccan?
In short: after consolidating north India, Akbar was drawn to a Deccan torn by faction, sect and Portuguese pressure.
| Reason | Detail |
|---|---|
| Links | The Vindhyas were not an insurmountable barrier; travel, trade and saints had always passed between north and south, and Gujarat, Malwa and Orissa were involved in southern politics |
| Politics | Frequent wars, king-making factions, and hostility between Deccanis and newcomers (afaqis or gharibs), with Habshis and Afghans forming separate groups |
| Sectarian strife | Shiism became the state creed in some states, notably Golconda; Mahdawi ideas had spread; Akbar feared spillover and put forward sulh-i-kul |
| Portuguese | They interfered with pilgrim traffic to Mecca, carried out proselytising and tried to take Surat; Akbar thought pooling Deccani resources under Mughal supervision would check them |
| Suzerainty | Akbar claimed suzerainty over the whole country and wanted the Deccani states, like the Rajputs, to accept it |
The Deccani rulers had themselves courted Maratha chiefs even before the Mughals courted the Rajputs. Ibrahim Adil Shah of Bijapur is said to have kept 30,000 Maratha bargis and used Marathi in revenue accounts.
How Did Akbar Advance?
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1576 | Mughal army invades Khandesh and the ruler submits |
| 1586 to 1598 | Akbar at Lahore for twelve years, watching the northwest |
| 1591 | Diplomatic offensive; only Khandesh accepts suzerainty; Burhan Nizam Shah is rude to the envoy |
| 1595 | Burhan dies; rival Nizam Shahi parties; Chand Bibi, his sister, defends the boy king Bahadur |
| 1596 | Prince Murad and Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan besiege Ahmadnagar for four months; Berar ceded and Mughal suzerainty recognised |
| 1597 | Mughals defeat a Deccani force three times their number |
| 1600 | Chand Bibi murdered by a hostile faction; Ahmadnagar captured; Bahadur sent to Gwaliyar; Balaghat added |
| 1601 | Akbar takes Asirgarh, reputed the strongest fort in the Deccan, after a siege and pestilence; Khandesh incorporated |
| 1601 and 1602 | Prince Daniyal makes peace with Murtaza Nizam Shah II; his marriage to Ibrahim Adil Shah’s daughter in 1602 is followed by his death from drinking |
The Mughals did not wish to seize all of Ahmadnagar, and with no Nizam Shahi noble of standing to negotiate with, the problem remained. The Mughals had yet to consolidate, as the next topic shows in Malik Ambar’s Resistance to Mughal Expansion in the Deccan.
How Did Shah Jahan Complete the Conquest?
Shah Jahan, who knew the Deccan from two expeditions as a prince, first sought to recover lost territories through Khan-i-Jahan Lodi, who failed and defected to the Nizam Shah. Shah Jahan concluded there could be no peace as long as Ahmadnagar stayed independent, a major departure from Akbar’s and Jahangir’s policy. He offered Bijapur one-third of Ahmadnagar for cooperation and sent feelers to Maratha sardars; Shahji Bhonsale joined him with a mansab of 5000 after Jadhav Rao was murdered. In 1629 large armies were sent and the siege of Parenda began, but Bijapur changed sides because the Mughals did not hand over its share, forcing the Mughals to retreat. In 1632 Fath Khan, Malik Ambar’s son, murdered the Nizam Shah, set up a puppet and read the khutba in the emperor’s name. Mahabat Khan, appointed viceroy, invested Daulatabad and forced its garrison to surrender in 1633. The Nizam Shah was imprisoned in Gwaliyar, ending the Nizam Shahi dynasty.
Shahji then raised another Nizam Shahi prince and, with Bijapuri support, held large parts of Ahmadnagar, so Shah Jahan turned to Bijapur.
What Were the Treaties of 1636?
| State | Terms |
|---|---|
| Bijapur | Recognised Mughal suzerainty, paid an indemnity of twenty lakh rupees, would not interfere in Golconda, which came under Mughal protection, and referred quarrels to the emperor; to help bring Shahji to submission; received Ahmadnagar territory worth about 20 lakh huns a year |
| Golconda | Included Shah Jahan’s name in the khutba in place of the Iranian emperor’s; tribute of four lakh huns to Bijapur was remitted and replaced by two lakh huns a year to the Mughals |
These treaties were statesmanlike and let Shah Jahan realise Akbar’s ultimate aim. Mughal suzerainty was now accepted across the country. In the next decade Bijapur and Golconda overran Karnataka from the Krishna to Tanjore and beyond, sharing spoils two-thirds to Bijapur and one-third to Golconda, and their territories more than doubled. Rapid expansion weakened them, and nobles like Shahji and Shivaji in Bijapur and Mir Jumla in Golconda carved out spheres for themselves, which came to a head in 1656 with Muhammad Adil Shah’s death and Aurangzeb’s arrival as viceroy.
As an analytical point, the conquest took four reigns because the Deccani states could always unite against the Mughals when one threatened to absorb another. The later phase is in Aurangzeb’s Deccan Policy and Conflicts with the Marathas.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Sequence Akbar to Shah Jahan in the Deccan
- Persons Chand Bibi, Malik Ambar, Shahji
- Link Background to Aurangzeb and Shivaji
What Came Next?
The next topic describes Malik Ambar’s resistance. Next topic: Malik Ambar’s Resistance to Mughal Expansion in the Deccan.
Key People and Terms
- Chand Bibi Regent of Ahmadnagar
- Berar Province ceded in 1596
- Asirgarh Fort in Khandesh
- Afaqi Newcomer in Deccani politics
- Khutba Friday sermon naming the ruler
- Huns Gold coins
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Berar ceded in 1596; Ahmadnagar captured 1600.
- Asirgarh fell in 1601.
- Ahmadnagar ended in 1633 at Daulatabad.
- Treaties of 1636 with Bijapur and Golconda.
- Golconda dropped the Iranian emperor’s name from the khutba.
Do Not Confuse With
- Chand Bibi and Bahadur The aunt who led the defence versus the boy king she protected
- Berar and Balaghat Ceded in 1596 versus added in 1600
- Fath Khan and Malik Ambar Son who submitted to Shah Jahan versus the father
Memory Hook
Embassies, Chand Bibi, Berar, Asirgarh, Daulatabad, then two treaties.
Mains Angle
Questions on the Deccan ask for causes, phases and results. These points add depth.
- Causes Faction, sect and the Portuguese
- Phases Akbar’s gains, Ambar’s revival, Shah Jahan’s settlement
- Results Suzerainty without absorption
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Trace the Mughal conquest of the Deccan states from Akbar to Shah Jahan.”
How to Answer
- Motives Why Akbar moved south.
- Akbar Ahmadnagar, Berar, Asirgarh.
- Shah Jahan End of Ahmadnagar.
- Settlement 1636 treaties.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Akbar invade the Deccan?
Akbar claimed suzerainty over the whole country, feared the Deccan's sectarian strife spilling over, and wanted to check the growing Portuguese power. The Mughal conquest of Gujarat and Malwa had already linked them to Deccan politics.
Who was Chand Bibi?
Chand Bibi was the sister of Burhan Nizam Shah and the widow of a Bijapur ruler, and she had virtually ruled Bijapur for almost ten years. She defended Ahmadnagar for the boy king Bahadur against the Mughals and was murdered in 1600.
When did Ahmadnagar fall to the Mughals?
The fort and city of Ahmadnagar were captured in 1600 after a second siege, and Bahadur Nizam Shah was sent to the fortress of Gwaliyar. The Nizam Shahi dynasty itself ended only in 1633 under Shah Jahan.
What were the treaties of 1636?
Shah Jahan made treaties with Bijapur and Golconda in 1636. Bijapur accepted Mughal suzerainty and paid twenty lakh rupees, and Golconda put Shah Jahan's name in the khutba and agreed to pay two lakh huns yearly.
What happened after the treaties of 1636?
With peace with the Mughals, Bijapur and Golconda overran Karnataka from the Krishna to Tanjore and more than doubled their territories, but internal cohesion weakened and nobles like Shahji, Shivaji and Mir Jumla carved out spheres.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Berar was ceded to the Mughals in 1596.
After the siege of Ahmadnagar.
2 Asirgarh fell to Akbar in 1601.
It was reputed the strongest fort in the Deccan.
3 Chand Bibi surrendered Ahmadnagar peacefully to the Mughals in 1600.
She was murdered by a hostile faction before the capture.
4 Golconda was required to name the Iranian emperor in the khutba.
It was told to drop his name and add Shah Jahan's.
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