Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung
Encyclopedia
Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung was born Muhammad Ismail son of renowned nobleman of Emperor Aurangzeb
named Asad Khan and his wife Mehr-un-Nisa Begam (daughter of Asaf Khan). He was born in 1657 C.E. and held several appointments under Emperor Aurangzeb in the Mughal Empire
. He was married to the daughter of Shaista Khan
(the son of Asaf Khan).
and Bijapur
and the Marathas. He was sent by the emperor against the Maratha stronghold of Raigarh
against Raja Ram Bhonsle. But the widow of Sambhaji
, Yesubai and her minister Ramchandra Bavdekar Punt Amatya sent young Raja Ram Bhonsle to the stronghold of Pratapgarh
through Kavlya ghat from where he escaped to the fort of Jinji
in present day state of Tamil Nadu
arriving on November 1, 1689. Muhammad Ismail was given the title Itikad Khan and sent along with the naval commander Siddi Qasim Yaqut Khan
besieged Raigarh
in March
, 1689 till October 19, 1689 when Yesubai and her minister Ramchandra Bavdekar Punt Amatya surrendered on the promise that Itikad Khan swear on the Quran that he would protect her and Shahu II against any cruelty. Itikad Khan did so. But before Yesubai could surrender Raigarh, she was forestalled by the military governor, Suryaji Pisal. He had, or pretended to have claims to be Deshmukh or hereditary revenue officer of Wai
. He sent word to Itikad Khan that if he promised to get him made Deshmukh, he would throw open the gates of Raigarh. Itikad Khan gave his promise and secured the fortress 19th October, 1689. Thus with the capture of Raigarh, the heir apparent Shahu II and his mother Yesubai were also taken captives.
Itikad Khan kept his word both to Yesubai
and to Suryaji Pisal. The latter Itikad Khan took to the emperor and asked him to give Suryaji Pisal the price of his treachery. Emperor Alamgir
received him graciously, and thus he was made Deshmukh of Wai; but he lived to regret his infamy. 18 years later Shahu II
returned from Delhi
. One of his first acts was to put to death Suryaji Pisal and several of his family in revenge for the long captivity which he had himself endured.
On the capture of Raigarh all that remained of Shivaji's treasure, all the records of the Maratha government, the royal horses and elephants with their state trappings, and the golden throne made by the great king for his coronation, fell into Itikad Khan's hands. So did a mistress of Sambhaji
and his natural son Madan Singh. As a reward for this splendid success Itikad Khan was given the title of Zulfiqar Khan and ordered to reduce Panhala Fort
. Siddi Qasim Yaqut Khan
was rewarded by the grant of the Ratnagiri
districts of Anjanvel and Sindhudurg.
was Ghatge of Kagal. He surrendered to Zulfiqar Khan in April 1690. Zulfiqar Khan was now sent on the most enduring task of his and the Mughal Empire's legacy in South India, to besiege Jinji Fort
. In the first siege of the fort from 1690-1695 C.E. he along with his father Asad Khan and Prince Muhammad Kam Bakhsh failed to capture the fort. Disagreement with the young prince and the mutiny of the Mughal artillery were the reasons for the failure of the siege on top of the Maratha insurgency. Zulfiqar Khan settled the matter with an armistice and moved some troops to Madras with himself moving to Vandavasi
. There he found refuge and a new ally in the British East India Company
. Fort St. George's Governor Elihu Yale
(the founder of Yale University
in the United States
), helped in all possible ways in return obtains a kaul from Vizier Asad Khan confirming the existing grants for the factories of Madras, Masulipatnam, Madapallam, Vizagapatam, Fort St. David, Cuddalore
and Porto Novo and making new grants of Egmore
, Purasawalkam
and Tondiarpet
. But when Zulfiqar Khan requested 100,000 pagodas from the Madras Council, Nathaniel Higginson
(first Mayor of Madras) sent a present, but declined to lend the sum asked. An attack on Madras is feared by the English from Zulfiqar Khan but Emperor Aurangzeb
sends Zulfiqar Khan reinforcements and commands him to renew the siege of Jinji without further delay and not to waste time with the English.
When Qasim Khan, Subedar
of Bijapur-Karnatak was bringing supplies to Vandavasi
he was intercepted by Santa Ghorpade
near Kaveripakkam
. Qasim Khan took shelter behind its walls. Zulfiqar Khan, hearing of his straits, marched to his relief and escorted him safely to Vandavasi. Santa baulked of his prey, attacked and took a number of forts with their Mughal garrisons, Zulfiqar Khan at once turned back, retook the forts and entering Thanjavur took from Shahu, Vyanko's son, a large indemnity. Returning northwards, he led out his army from Vandavasi and renewed the siege of Jinji. Unable to cope with Zulfiqar Khan's military skill and the large forces at his disposal, Santa Ghorpade entered the southern province of Bijapur
.
The second siege of Jinji Fort
began in 1695 and lasted till 1698 C.E. Santa Ghorpade while in Bijapur had defeated Qasim Khan and Himmat Khan and was tempted to try once more to relieve Jinji, but Zulfiqar Khan went out in person to meet him and severely defeated him some miles to the north of Jinji. Santa realized that with Zulfiqar Khan in sole command of the investing army, it was impossible to raise the siege. By 1697 it had become a blockade and little blood was shed save when Zulfiqar Khan's second in command, Daud Khan Panni, from time to time got drunk and senselessly assaulted the Maratha outposts. Nevertheless the blockade was a strict one and no supplies entered the beleaguered town. Raja Ram Bhonsle realized he could no longer hold out and escaped one night to Vellore
. Harji Mahadik's son took command of the garrison. But the vigor of Zulfiqar Khan's attacks soon afterwards carried the outer walls. In January
1698, Daud Khan came by chance to learn of a path through a small wood up the side of the fortress. Sober for the moment, he examined it and without informing Zulfiqar Khan, decided to storm it. He joined with him in the enterprise a Rajput chief called Rao Dalpat Bundela. The garrison thought the assault to be only one of Daud Khan Panni's drunken outbreaks and paid little heed to it, until Dalpat Rao had carried the main defenses. The garrison fled to the citadel. But the Mughal forces now entered the town on all sides and the citadel surrendered to Zulfiqar Khan. As he had previously promised to do, he handed over Raja Ram's wives and their two sons to the Shirkes, who arranged for their return to the western Deccan. So ended the great siege of Jinji in January 1698. The escape of Raja Ram from Jinji angered Emperor Alamgir
who now determined to crush the Marathas began to lay sieges of various Maratha forts from 1698 onwards. But for Zulfiqar Khan's successes and his continued resolve and determination in holding onto Eastern Deccan, Emperor Aurangzeb
gave him the added title of Nusrat Jung.
. His march was at first successful. He plundered the city and then set it on fire. Entering the Godavari valley, he plundered Paithan
, Bhid and other towns along the river banks. Fearing to penetrate further east he turned back, meaning to deposit his plunder within the walls of Sinhagarh. He had no sooner turned than he was surprised and defeated by Zulfiqar Khan. Zulfiqar Khan had in a series of skillfully fought actions worsted repeatedly Dhanaji Jadhav
and had driven the Maratha troops out of south-eastern India. He then hastened north-west and inflicted on Raja Ram's army, a severe reverse. The regent fell back with all speed, but he never shook off the Mughal pursuit. In this disastrous retreat the regent's resource and courage alone saved his army. Although half dead with fatigue, he fought for fifty miles a continuous series of rear-guard actions, and at last brought his command, reduced but not destroyed, to the welcome shelter of Sinhagarh. Unhappily, the hardships and exposure aggravated a weakness of Raja Ram's lungs contracted at Jinji, He at first seemed in good spirits at the fortunate end of his enterprise, received modestly the congratulations of Ramchandra Bavdekar and the other ministers. But after some days high fever set in with frequent hemorrhages. Raja Ram died of an unspecified illness in 1700 at fort Sinhagarh in present day Maharashtra
. Thereafter the Marathas suffered a power vacuum until the release of his nephew, Shahu II
in 1707. In the interim, Raja Ram's wife, Tara Bai
ruled the empire as regent for her young son, Shiva II. Eventually, Shahu II son of Sambhaji
succeeded Raja Ram in 1708 after a civil war.
s in the early days of the siege and retook it. The Berad
s retreated to the village at the foot of Talwargera and began firing their muskets from behind its mud wall. Many Rajputs fell in this daring attack. But Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung did not stop there. He sent Rao Dalpat Bundela to another mound which was taken and the Berads fled to the village of Dhedpura. On this day 21 bullets and 1 rocket hit Rao Dalpat Bundela’s elephant while the banners of Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung were full of shot holes from the Berad musket fire. But Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung held his position. A few days afterwards Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung made a strategic move and captured the wells from where the Berads used to draw their water. He attacked Talwargera on April 27 taking the village after slaughtering all the Berads. With the arrival of Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung the Berad
s were now hard pressed. The siege weapons were pushed forward to the fort, and on the day appointed for the assault, Emperor Alamgir
mounted his horse to take part therein, and took his position at a cannon-shot distance from the fort. The enemy was overpowered, and some positions were captured. Being greatly dispirited, Pedda Pidia Nayak, commander of the fort, placed two or three thousand musketeers to hold one of the gates to the last. He then directed his people to take their wives and children, their jewels, and whatever they could carry, and after setting fire to the temple and other buildings, they went out from another gate, and by some outlets which had been prepared for such an occasion, they made their way to the Maratha
army, in parties, in the dark of night. They then fled with the Marathas. The conflagration in the fort and the cessation of the firing made the Mughals aware of their flight. A party of men entered, and found only disabled and wounded persons who were unable to fly. On the 14th Muharram the Imperial forces took possession of the place after a siege of three months. The name Wagingera was changed to Fort Rahman Bakhsh. The Imperial army then retired to pass the rainy season at Deogaon
, three or four kos from the River Krishna.
A plaque embedded on the wall to the entrance of the fort reads in Persian;
- signifying the fall of the fort in 1705.
By now the elderly Emperor was exhausted and returned to Ahmednagar on January 31, 1706. The siege of Wagingera would be his last battle. He died in 1707 and was succeeded by his son Bahadur Shah I
.
after the death of his father Bahadur Shah I
overcame all his brothers and ascended the throne of Delhi
when he was appointed as Vizir-e-Azam or Prime Minister but after the defeat of Jahandar Shah
in the battle against Farrukhsiyar
he was taken up and strangled by order of the latter as a punishment for his conduct. His head with that of the late emperor Jahandar Shah
were carried on poles and their bodies hanging feet upwards across an elephant were exposed in the new emperor's train when he made his triumphant entry to the palace at Dehli This event took place in January
1713 C.E. The aged father Asad Khan of Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung , was compelled to attend the procession accompanied by the ladies of his family as spectators of their own disgrace. Asad Khan who in hopes of making peace with the new emperor had persuaded his son to visit him and had thus put him in his power. With tears in his eyes he wrote the following chronogram on his death;
.
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
named Asad Khan and his wife Mehr-un-Nisa Begam (daughter of Asaf Khan). He was born in 1657 C.E. and held several appointments under Emperor Aurangzeb in the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
. He was married to the daughter of Shaista Khan
Shaista Khan
Mirza Abu Talib, better known by his title Shaista Khan , was a Subahdar and general in the army of the Mughal Empire. A maternal uncle to Emperor Aurangzeb, he served as the Mughal governor of Bengal from 1664 to 1688, and was a key figure during the rule of his nephew, the emperor...
(the son of Asaf Khan).
Capture of Raigarh
Muhammad Ismail was with the Emperor during the 30 year long Deccan Wars with the Sultanates of GolcondaGolconda
Golconda may be:Places:* Golkonda, ruined city and fortress in India* Golconda, Illinois, town in the United States* Golconda, Nevada, former town in the United StatesOther:* Golconda...
and Bijapur
Bijapur
Bijapur can refer to:*Adil Shahi dynasty, also known as the Bijapur Sultanate *Bijapur district, Karnataka, a district in the state of Karnataka**Bijapur, Karnataka, a city in the Bijapur district of Karnataka...
and the Marathas. He was sent by the emperor against the Maratha stronghold of Raigarh
Raigarh
Raigarh is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Raigarh district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. It is the administrative headquarter of Raigarh district.-History:...
against Raja Ram Bhonsle. But the widow of Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
, Yesubai and her minister Ramchandra Bavdekar Punt Amatya sent young Raja Ram Bhonsle to the stronghold of Pratapgarh
Pratapgarh
Pratapgarh may refer to the following places in India:Cities and towns:* Pratapgarh, Rajasthan* Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh* Pratapgarh, TripuraDistricts:* Pratapgarh district * Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh...
through Kavlya ghat from where he escaped to the fort of Jinji
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
in present day state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
arriving on November 1, 1689. Muhammad Ismail was given the title Itikad Khan and sent along with the naval commander Siddi Qasim Yaqut Khan
Yakut Khan
Yakut Khan was a Siddi Naval Admiral and administrator of Janjira Fort who first served under Bijapur Sultanate and later under the Mughal Empire. His real name was Siddi Qasim Khan but was given the title of Yakut Khan by Emperor Alamgir...
besieged Raigarh
Raigarh
Raigarh is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Raigarh district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. It is the administrative headquarter of Raigarh district.-History:...
in March
March
March is in present time held to be the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is one of the seven months which are 31 days long....
, 1689 till October 19, 1689 when Yesubai and her minister Ramchandra Bavdekar Punt Amatya surrendered on the promise that Itikad Khan swear on the Quran that he would protect her and Shahu II against any cruelty. Itikad Khan did so. But before Yesubai could surrender Raigarh, she was forestalled by the military governor, Suryaji Pisal. He had, or pretended to have claims to be Deshmukh or hereditary revenue officer of Wai
Wai
Wai or WAI may refer to:*Wai, Maharashtra, a town in India*Wai, an alternative name for the Nuristani people, speakers of the Waigali language*NO WAI, a phrase that is part of the O RLY? Internet meme.*Wai, a form of Thai greeting...
. He sent word to Itikad Khan that if he promised to get him made Deshmukh, he would throw open the gates of Raigarh. Itikad Khan gave his promise and secured the fortress 19th October, 1689. Thus with the capture of Raigarh, the heir apparent Shahu II and his mother Yesubai were also taken captives.
Itikad Khan kept his word both to Yesubai
Yesubai
Yesubai was the wife of the Maratha emperor Sambhaji.Yesubai was the daughter of Pilajirao Shirke, an illustrious Maratha sardar , who was in the services of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Yesubai was by various accounts extremely beautiful, wise and prudent. She was fiercely loyal to the goals of her...
and to Suryaji Pisal. The latter Itikad Khan took to the emperor and asked him to give Suryaji Pisal the price of his treachery. Emperor Alamgir
Alamgir
Alamgir may refer to:*Alamgir I, also known as Aurangzeb, ruler of the Mughal Empire 1658–1707*Alamgir II, ruler of the Mughal Empire 1754–1759*Alamgir Hashmi, English avant-garde poet*Alamgir , a pioneer of pop music in Pakistan...
received him graciously, and thus he was made Deshmukh of Wai; but he lived to regret his infamy. 18 years later Shahu II
Shahu II
Shahu II is the present and titular Maharaja of Kolhapur.-Family:Shahu II married Her Highness Maharani Yagyaseniraje on 9 March 1970, the couple have two sons:1...
returned from Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. One of his first acts was to put to death Suryaji Pisal and several of his family in revenge for the long captivity which he had himself endured.
On the capture of Raigarh all that remained of Shivaji's treasure, all the records of the Maratha government, the royal horses and elephants with their state trappings, and the golden throne made by the great king for his coronation, fell into Itikad Khan's hands. So did a mistress of Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
and his natural son Madan Singh. As a reward for this splendid success Itikad Khan was given the title of Zulfiqar Khan and ordered to reduce Panhala Fort
Panhala fort
Panhala fort , also known as Panhalgad, Pahalla and Panalla , is located in Panhala, 20 kilometres northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is strategically located looking over a pass in the Sahyadri mountain range which was a major trade route from Bijapur in the interior of Maharashtra to...
. Siddi Qasim Yaqut Khan
Yakut Khan
Yakut Khan was a Siddi Naval Admiral and administrator of Janjira Fort who first served under Bijapur Sultanate and later under the Mughal Empire. His real name was Siddi Qasim Khan but was given the title of Yakut Khan by Emperor Alamgir...
was rewarded by the grant of the Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri
Ratnāgiri is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri district in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan.The Sahyadri mountains border Ratnagiri to the east...
districts of Anjanvel and Sindhudurg.
Siege of Jinji and Governorship of Hyderabad-Karnatak
The Maratha commandant of Panhala FortPanhala fort
Panhala fort , also known as Panhalgad, Pahalla and Panalla , is located in Panhala, 20 kilometres northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is strategically located looking over a pass in the Sahyadri mountain range which was a major trade route from Bijapur in the interior of Maharashtra to...
was Ghatge of Kagal. He surrendered to Zulfiqar Khan in April 1690. Zulfiqar Khan was now sent on the most enduring task of his and the Mughal Empire's legacy in South India, to besiege Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
. In the first siege of the fort from 1690-1695 C.E. he along with his father Asad Khan and Prince Muhammad Kam Bakhsh failed to capture the fort. Disagreement with the young prince and the mutiny of the Mughal artillery were the reasons for the failure of the siege on top of the Maratha insurgency. Zulfiqar Khan settled the matter with an armistice and moved some troops to Madras with himself moving to Vandavasi
Vandavasi
Vandavasi or Wandiwash is a city and a municipality in Tiruvanamalai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Vandavasi was the scene of a decisive battle in the 18th-century war between France and the United Kingdom for the control of South Asia. The Battle of Wandiwash was a watershed in...
. There he found refuge and a new ally in the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. Fort St. George's Governor Elihu Yale
Elihu Yale
Elihu Yale was a Welsh merchant and philanthropist, governor of the East India Company, and a benefactor of the Collegiate School of Connecticut, which in 1718 was named Yale College in his honour.- Life :...
(the founder of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), helped in all possible ways in return obtains a kaul from Vizier Asad Khan confirming the existing grants for the factories of Madras, Masulipatnam, Madapallam, Vizagapatam, Fort St. David, Cuddalore
Cuddalore
Cuddalore is a fast growing industrial city and headquarter of Cuddalore district in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India. Located south of Pondicherry on the coast of Bay of Bengal, Cuddalore has a large number of industries which employ a great deal of the city's population.Cuddalore is known...
and Porto Novo and making new grants of Egmore
Egmore
-Main places:* Chennai Egmore railway station.* Office of the commissioner of Greater Chennai Police department.* Government Museum, Chennai.* Connemara Public Library, one of the biggest libraries in India.* National Art Gallery...
, Purasawalkam
Purasawalkam
Purasawakkam , also known as Purasaiwakkam or Purasai, is a residential area and shopping district in Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is close to the Chennai Central and Egmore railway stations. Purasawalkam is considered a perfect mixture of commercial and residential hub. The name...
and Tondiarpet
Tondiarpet
Tondiarpet constitutes an important suburban region of Chennai city. The place is located in the northern outskirts and close to the nearby sea that is Bay of Bengal. Tondiarpet is one important commercial centre in the north of the city. The place shares its boundaries with other important...
. But when Zulfiqar Khan requested 100,000 pagodas from the Madras Council, Nathaniel Higginson
Nathaniel Higginson
Nathaniel Higginson was an English politician and a scion of the Higginson family of Salem, Massachusetts who served as the first Mayor of Madras and later as the President of the colony from 3 October 1692 to 7 July 1698.-Early life:Nathaniel Higginson was born at Guilford, Connecticut Colony in...
(first Mayor of Madras) sent a present, but declined to lend the sum asked. An attack on Madras is feared by the English from Zulfiqar Khan but Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
sends Zulfiqar Khan reinforcements and commands him to renew the siege of Jinji without further delay and not to waste time with the English.
When Qasim Khan, Subedar
Subedar
Subedar is a historical rank in the Indian Army, ranking below British commissioned officers and above non-commissioned officers. The rank was otherwise equivalent to a British lieutenant and was introduced in the East India Company's presidency armies, to make it easier for British officers to...
of Bijapur-Karnatak was bringing supplies to Vandavasi
Vandavasi
Vandavasi or Wandiwash is a city and a municipality in Tiruvanamalai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Vandavasi was the scene of a decisive battle in the 18th-century war between France and the United Kingdom for the control of South Asia. The Battle of Wandiwash was a watershed in...
he was intercepted by Santa Ghorpade
Santaji Ghorpade
Santaji Mhaloji Ghorpade, popularly known as ‘Santaji’ or ‘Santaji Ghorpade’, was one of the greatest warriors and the chief General of the Maratha Empire during Chhatrapati Rajaram’s regime. His guerrilla technique of war is supposed to be the best besides that of Shivaji and Bajirao...
near Kaveripakkam
Kaveripakkam
Kaveripakkam is a panchayat town in Vellore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Kaveripakkam had a population of 12,514. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Kaveripakkam has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of...
. Qasim Khan took shelter behind its walls. Zulfiqar Khan, hearing of his straits, marched to his relief and escorted him safely to Vandavasi. Santa baulked of his prey, attacked and took a number of forts with their Mughal garrisons, Zulfiqar Khan at once turned back, retook the forts and entering Thanjavur took from Shahu, Vyanko's son, a large indemnity. Returning northwards, he led out his army from Vandavasi and renewed the siege of Jinji. Unable to cope with Zulfiqar Khan's military skill and the large forces at his disposal, Santa Ghorpade entered the southern province of Bijapur
Bijapur
Bijapur can refer to:*Adil Shahi dynasty, also known as the Bijapur Sultanate *Bijapur district, Karnataka, a district in the state of Karnataka**Bijapur, Karnataka, a city in the Bijapur district of Karnataka...
.
The second siege of Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
began in 1695 and lasted till 1698 C.E. Santa Ghorpade while in Bijapur had defeated Qasim Khan and Himmat Khan and was tempted to try once more to relieve Jinji, but Zulfiqar Khan went out in person to meet him and severely defeated him some miles to the north of Jinji. Santa realized that with Zulfiqar Khan in sole command of the investing army, it was impossible to raise the siege. By 1697 it had become a blockade and little blood was shed save when Zulfiqar Khan's second in command, Daud Khan Panni, from time to time got drunk and senselessly assaulted the Maratha outposts. Nevertheless the blockade was a strict one and no supplies entered the beleaguered town. Raja Ram Bhonsle realized he could no longer hold out and escaped one night to Vellore
Vellore
Vellore It is considered one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati...
. Harji Mahadik's son took command of the garrison. But the vigor of Zulfiqar Khan's attacks soon afterwards carried the outer walls. In January
January
January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day...
1698, Daud Khan came by chance to learn of a path through a small wood up the side of the fortress. Sober for the moment, he examined it and without informing Zulfiqar Khan, decided to storm it. He joined with him in the enterprise a Rajput chief called Rao Dalpat Bundela. The garrison thought the assault to be only one of Daud Khan Panni's drunken outbreaks and paid little heed to it, until Dalpat Rao had carried the main defenses. The garrison fled to the citadel. But the Mughal forces now entered the town on all sides and the citadel surrendered to Zulfiqar Khan. As he had previously promised to do, he handed over Raja Ram's wives and their two sons to the Shirkes, who arranged for their return to the western Deccan. So ended the great siege of Jinji in January 1698. The escape of Raja Ram from Jinji angered Emperor Alamgir
Alamgir
Alamgir may refer to:*Alamgir I, also known as Aurangzeb, ruler of the Mughal Empire 1658–1707*Alamgir II, ruler of the Mughal Empire 1754–1759*Alamgir Hashmi, English avant-garde poet*Alamgir , a pioneer of pop music in Pakistan...
who now determined to crush the Marathas began to lay sieges of various Maratha forts from 1698 onwards. But for Zulfiqar Khan's successes and his continued resolve and determination in holding onto Eastern Deccan, Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
gave him the added title of Nusrat Jung.
Battle of Godavari River
Raja Ram had taken with him a large force to attack JalnaJalna
Jalna may refer to:*Jalna district, an administrative district in the state of Maharashtra in western India*Jalna , a city and a municipal council in Jalna district*Jalna , a Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency of Maharashtra...
. His march was at first successful. He plundered the city and then set it on fire. Entering the Godavari valley, he plundered Paithan
Paithan
Paithan , formerly Pratishthana, is a city and a municipal council in Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city was the capital of the Sātavāhana empire of ancient India that ruled from 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD...
, Bhid and other towns along the river banks. Fearing to penetrate further east he turned back, meaning to deposit his plunder within the walls of Sinhagarh. He had no sooner turned than he was surprised and defeated by Zulfiqar Khan. Zulfiqar Khan had in a series of skillfully fought actions worsted repeatedly Dhanaji Jadhav
Dhanaji Jadhav
Dhanaji Shambhusinha Jadhav , popularly known as Dhanaji Jadhav, was one of the great warriors of the Maratha Empire. His name became inseparable from the name of Santaji Ghorpade with whom he made terrifying campaigns against Mughal Army continuously from 1689 to 1696...
and had driven the Maratha troops out of south-eastern India. He then hastened north-west and inflicted on Raja Ram's army, a severe reverse. The regent fell back with all speed, but he never shook off the Mughal pursuit. In this disastrous retreat the regent's resource and courage alone saved his army. Although half dead with fatigue, he fought for fifty miles a continuous series of rear-guard actions, and at last brought his command, reduced but not destroyed, to the welcome shelter of Sinhagarh. Unhappily, the hardships and exposure aggravated a weakness of Raja Ram's lungs contracted at Jinji, He at first seemed in good spirits at the fortunate end of his enterprise, received modestly the congratulations of Ramchandra Bavdekar and the other ministers. But after some days high fever set in with frequent hemorrhages. Raja Ram died of an unspecified illness in 1700 at fort Sinhagarh in present day Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. Thereafter the Marathas suffered a power vacuum until the release of his nephew, Shahu II
Shahu II
Shahu II is the present and titular Maharaja of Kolhapur.-Family:Shahu II married Her Highness Maharani Yagyaseniraje on 9 March 1970, the couple have two sons:1...
in 1707. In the interim, Raja Ram's wife, Tara Bai
Tarabai
Tarabai was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India. Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji. Tarabai was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite...
ruled the empire as regent for her young son, Shiva II. Eventually, Shahu II son of Sambhaji
Sambhaji
Sambhaji Raje Bhosle was the eldest son and successor to Emporer Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire.- Early life :...
succeeded Raja Ram in 1708 after a civil war.
Siege of Wagingera
During the final siege of Wagingera Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir sent for Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung who arrived on March 27, and next day attacked Lal Tikri hillock which was lost to the BeradRamoshi
The Ramoshi is an Indian community found largely in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, and are historically associated with great empires,important historical conflicts and agriculture...
s in the early days of the siege and retook it. The Berad
Ramoshi
The Ramoshi is an Indian community found largely in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, and are historically associated with great empires,important historical conflicts and agriculture...
s retreated to the village at the foot of Talwargera and began firing their muskets from behind its mud wall. Many Rajputs fell in this daring attack. But Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung did not stop there. He sent Rao Dalpat Bundela to another mound which was taken and the Berads fled to the village of Dhedpura. On this day 21 bullets and 1 rocket hit Rao Dalpat Bundela’s elephant while the banners of Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung were full of shot holes from the Berad musket fire. But Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung held his position. A few days afterwards Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung made a strategic move and captured the wells from where the Berads used to draw their water. He attacked Talwargera on April 27 taking the village after slaughtering all the Berads. With the arrival of Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung the Berad
Ramoshi
The Ramoshi is an Indian community found largely in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, and are historically associated with great empires,important historical conflicts and agriculture...
s were now hard pressed. The siege weapons were pushed forward to the fort, and on the day appointed for the assault, Emperor Alamgir
Alamgir
Alamgir may refer to:*Alamgir I, also known as Aurangzeb, ruler of the Mughal Empire 1658–1707*Alamgir II, ruler of the Mughal Empire 1754–1759*Alamgir Hashmi, English avant-garde poet*Alamgir , a pioneer of pop music in Pakistan...
mounted his horse to take part therein, and took his position at a cannon-shot distance from the fort. The enemy was overpowered, and some positions were captured. Being greatly dispirited, Pedda Pidia Nayak, commander of the fort, placed two or three thousand musketeers to hold one of the gates to the last. He then directed his people to take their wives and children, their jewels, and whatever they could carry, and after setting fire to the temple and other buildings, they went out from another gate, and by some outlets which had been prepared for such an occasion, they made their way to the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
army, in parties, in the dark of night. They then fled with the Marathas. The conflagration in the fort and the cessation of the firing made the Mughals aware of their flight. A party of men entered, and found only disabled and wounded persons who were unable to fly. On the 14th Muharram the Imperial forces took possession of the place after a siege of three months. The name Wagingera was changed to Fort Rahman Bakhsh. The Imperial army then retired to pass the rainy season at Deogaon
Deogaon
Deogaon is a small village on the Kusei River in the Kendujhar District of Orissa, India. It lies at a distance of 10 km. from Anandapur, 90 km. from the district headquarters 'Kendujhar' and 170 km. from Bhubaneswar, the state capital....
, three or four kos from the River Krishna.
A plaque embedded on the wall to the entrance of the fort reads in Persian;
- signifying the fall of the fort in 1705.
By now the elderly Emperor was exhausted and returned to Ahmednagar on January 31, 1706. The siege of Wagingera would be his last battle. He died in 1707 and was succeeded by his son Bahadur Shah I
Bahadur Shah I
Bahadur Shah was a Mughal Emperor, who ruled India from 1707 to 1712. His original name was Qutb ud-Din Muhammad Mu'azzam later titled as Shah Alam by his father. He took the throne name Bahadur Shah in 1707. His name Bahādur means "brave" & "hero" in Turko-Mongol languages...
.
Amir-ul-Umara of Mughal Empire & Governorship of Deccan
Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung was made Amir-ul-Umara or Noble of Nobles under the new regime along with the Subahdari of the government of Deccan and in Karnatak was placed his second in command Daud Khan Panni.Prime Minister of Mughal Empire & Execution
It was Zulfiqar Khan's aid and intrigues that Jahandar ShahJahandar Shah
Jahandar Shah was a Mughal Emperor who ruled India for a brief period in 1712-1713. His title was Shahanshah-i-Ghazi Abu'l Fath Muiz-ud-Din Muhammad Jahandar Shah Sahib-i-Quran Padshah-i-Jahan .-Early life:...
after the death of his father Bahadur Shah I
Bahadur Shah I
Bahadur Shah was a Mughal Emperor, who ruled India from 1707 to 1712. His original name was Qutb ud-Din Muhammad Mu'azzam later titled as Shah Alam by his father. He took the throne name Bahadur Shah in 1707. His name Bahādur means "brave" & "hero" in Turko-Mongol languages...
overcame all his brothers and ascended the throne of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
when he was appointed as Vizir-e-Azam or Prime Minister but after the defeat of Jahandar Shah
Jahandar Shah
Jahandar Shah was a Mughal Emperor who ruled India for a brief period in 1712-1713. His title was Shahanshah-i-Ghazi Abu'l Fath Muiz-ud-Din Muhammad Jahandar Shah Sahib-i-Quran Padshah-i-Jahan .-Early life:...
in the battle against Farrukhsiyar
Farrukhsiyar
Abu'l Muzaffar Muin ud-din Muhammad Shah Farrukh-siyar Alim Akbar Sani Wala Shan Padshah-i-bahr-u-bar [Shahid-i-Mazlum] was the Mughal emperor between 1713 and 1719. Noted as a handsome but weak ruler, easily swayed by his advisers, Farukhsiyar lacked the ability and character to rule independently...
he was taken up and strangled by order of the latter as a punishment for his conduct. His head with that of the late emperor Jahandar Shah
Jahandar Shah
Jahandar Shah was a Mughal Emperor who ruled India for a brief period in 1712-1713. His title was Shahanshah-i-Ghazi Abu'l Fath Muiz-ud-Din Muhammad Jahandar Shah Sahib-i-Quran Padshah-i-Jahan .-Early life:...
were carried on poles and their bodies hanging feet upwards across an elephant were exposed in the new emperor's train when he made his triumphant entry to the palace at Dehli This event took place in January
January
January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day...
1713 C.E. The aged father Asad Khan of Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung , was compelled to attend the procession accompanied by the ladies of his family as spectators of their own disgrace. Asad Khan who in hopes of making peace with the new emperor had persuaded his son to visit him and had thus put him in his power. With tears in his eyes he wrote the following chronogram on his death;
.