A comprehensive overview of the last phase of Aurangzeb's reign and its ramifications for the Marathas and Deccan.

Targeting the Marathas: Aurangzeb's Military Focus (1687-1689)

The last phase of Aurangzeb’s relentless conflict with the Marathas and Deccan states (1687–1707) was one of the most defining periods in medieval Indian history. What began as an ambitious conquest turned into a disastrous campaign that drained the Mughal Empire and paved the way for its decline.

This article explores Aurangzeb’s struggle to control the Deccan, his encounters with Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Rajaram, and how the Marathas ultimately turned the tide against the Mughals.

After Bijapur and Golconda fell (1687), Aurangzeb turned his full might toward the Marathas, seeing them as his last major challenge in the Deccan. However, he faced fierce resistance from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

• 🏹 Maratha Defiance: Sambhaji attacked Burhanpur and Aurangabad, challenging Mughal authority.
• 🤝 Shelter to Prince Akbar: He gave refuge to Aurangzeb’s rebellious son, escalating tensions.
• 🚨 Betrayal at Sangameshwar (1689): Sambhaji was captured and executed, a move that backfired on Aurangzeb.

• 🔸 The Marathas united under Rajaram and intensified their guerrilla warfare.
• 🔸 Mughal forces struggled to control the Deccan, leading to years of costly battles.
• 🔸 The Marathas became even more aggressive, striking at Mughal supply lines.

Rather than weakening the Marathas, Sambhaji’s execution became a rallying cry for resistance.

With Sambhaji gone, the Mughals expected an easy victory. Instead, his younger brother, Rajaram, took charge and shifted the war eastward.

• 🏰 Escape to Jinji (Tamil Nadu): He moved his base to Jinji, forcing the Mughals to fight on two fronts.
• ⚡ Hit-and-Run Warfare: Marathas raided Mughal territories, stretching their army thin.
• 🛡️ Recapturing Lost Forts: The Marathas regained several strongholds, frustrating Aurangzeb’s plans.

Even after the fall of Jinji in 1698, Rajaram escaped, and the Maratha resistance only grew stronger.

• 🔹 1700–1705: Aurangzeb personally led sieges against Maratha forts but faced heavy losses.
• 🔹 1703: He attempted to negotiate by offering Shahu (Sambhaji’s son) his throne, but he backed out, fearing another betrayal.
• 🔹 1706: Realizing the futility of capturing forts, Aurangzeb retreated to Aurangabad, constantly harassed by Maratha forces.

By the time of his death in 1707, the once-mighty Mughal Empire was weakened and divided, while the Marathas were rising as the dominant power in India.

Aurangzeb’s obsession with Deccan expansion became his greatest blunder. Instead of securing Mughal rule, it drained the empire’s resources, encouraged Maratha resurgence, and accelerated the fall of the Mughal dynasty.

🔹 The Marathas expanded northward, challenging Mughal rule in Delhi.

🔹 The Mughal administration weakened, leading to internal rebellions.

🔹 The vacuum left by Aurangzeb’s failures eventually allowed the British to rise in India.

• Following the fall of Bijapur and Golconda, Aurangzeb concentrated his military efforts on defeating the Marathas.
• In 1689, the capture and execution of Sambhaji galvanized Maratha resistance, leading to a resurgence under his brother Rajaram.
• Rajaram continued the fight from Jinji, spreading Maratha defiance throughout the Deccan.

Aurangzeb at His Peak: Strategic Missteps and Consolidation (1690)

• At the height of his power, Aurangzeb triumphed over his adversaries but ignored counsel to withdraw or delegate control in the Deccan.
• He imprisoned his son Shah Alam for negotiating with Deccani rulers, convinced that Maratha strength was vanquished.
• Aurangzeb's focus shifted to annexing Karnataka, ultimately stretching his resources thin.

The Siege of Jinji: A Turning Point in Maratha Resistance (1690-1698)

• Aurangzeb besieged Jinji, where Rajaram was taking refuge, refusing to enter negotiations with the Marathas.
• Jinji fell in 1698, but Rajaram escaped, reigniting Maratha resistance and leading to significant losses for the Mughals.
• Rajaram's return to Satara bolstered Maratha efforts against Mughal advances.

The Long Struggle: Mughal Demoralization and Resistance (1700-1705)

• From 1700 to 1705, Aurangzeb faced a grueling campaign of fort sieges, suffering from floods, disease, and Maratha counterattacks.
• The Mughal army's morale plummeted, leading to secret pacts between many nobles and the Marathas.

Failed Diplomacy: Aurangzeb's Negotiations with the Marathas (1703)

• In 1703, Aurangzeb proposed negotiations with the Marathas, offering to release Shahu and recognize Maratha rights in the Deccan.
• Despite the assembly of 70 Maratha leaders, Aurangzeb canceled the agreement at the last moment, fearing treachery.

Retreat and Decline: The End of Aurangzeb's Reign (1706-1707)

• By 1706, Aurangzeb acknowledged the futility of capturing every Maratha fort and began a strategic retreat to Aurangabad.
• His death in 1707 left behind a fractured empire, struggling with growing internal challenges and Maratha resilience.