On 30 September 1687, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb successfully acquired the famous Golconda Fort, near Hyderabad, after a long siege. This marked the end of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and the annexation of the Golconda Sultanate into the Mughal Empire.
Background:
- The Golconda Sultanate, ruled by Sultan Abul Hasan Tana Shah, was one of the five Deccan Sultanates. Golconda was known for its wealth, particularly its diamond mines, including the famous Koh-i-Noor and Hope Diamond.
- Aurangzeb, aiming to consolidate Mughal control over southern India, had long sought to conquer Golconda, which had resisted Mughal expansion.
Siege of Golconda:
- Aurangzeb laid siege to the Golconda Fort in early 1687. The fort was well-fortified and known for its almost impregnable walls. Tana Shah and his forces offered strong resistance, holding out against the Mughals for several months.
- The siege dragged on, with the Mughal army failing to breach the walls through direct assaults or bombardment.
Treachery of General Panni:
- Aurangzeb’s victory was eventually secured not through military might but by treachery. One of Tana Shah’s trusted generals, Abdullah Khan Panni, betrayed him by secretly allowing Mughal forces to enter the fort.
- On 30 September 1687, Mughal forces, led by Aurangzeb’s generals, entered Golconda Fort and captured Tana Shah, who was later imprisoned for life in Daulatabad Fort. This betrayal was a crucial turning point, leading to the fall of the fort and the Sultanate.
Significance:
- The fall of Golconda marked the end of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and the annexation of one of the wealthiest kingdoms in southern India into the Mughal Empire.
- The conquest also gave Aurangzeb control over the legendary Golconda diamond mines, which added immense wealth to the Mughal treasury.
- Aurangzeb’s victory at Golconda was part of his broader Deccan campaigns, which expanded Mughal rule in southern India but also strained the empire’s resources and led to eventual decline.
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