Conquest of Berar, Ahmadnagar, and Khandesh: A Strategic Overview

Conquest of Berar, Ahmadnagar, and Khandesh: Akbar's Military Campaigns

Akbar's Suzerainty over Deccani States

Akbar claimed suzerainty over the entire country, aiming for the Deccani states to acknowledge his authority.
Previous embassies were unsuccessful as the Deccani states resisted Mughal suzerainty without military pressure.
Akbar sought recognition from the Deccani rulers, but this did not yield positive results.
The Deccani states were unwilling to accept Mughal suzerainty until military pressure was applied.

Diplomatic Offensive in the Deccan

In 1591, Akbar launched a diplomatic offensive, sending embassies to Deccani states to accept Mughal suzerainty.
Except for Khandesh, none of the states accepted this demand, as Khandesh was too exposed to resist.
Burhan Nizam Shah of Ahmadnagar was dismissive toward the Mughal envoy, while others made empty promises of friendship.
Akbar seemed poised to make a decisive move in the Deccan.

Factional Fighting in Ahmadnagar

Factional fighting erupted among Nizam Shahi nobles after Burhan Nizam Shah's death in 1595, prompting Mughal intervention.
Four candidates vied for the throne, with Bahadur, the deceased ruler's son, having the strongest claim.
Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur leaned toward supporting Bahadur's claim, while Chand Bibi backed her nephew.
Deccani leaders invited the Mughals to intervene in the struggle for control of Ahmadnagar.

Mughal Invasion of Ahmadnagar

Prince Murad and Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan led the invasion, facing minimal resistance until reaching Ahmadnagar.
Chand Bibi fortified herself in the fort with the boy king, Bahadur.
After a four-month siege, both sides agreed to cede Berar to the Mughals in exchange for recognizing Bahadur's claim and Mughal suzerainty in 1596.
The annexation of Berar alarmed the Deccani states, fearing a permanent Mughal foothold in the region.

Combined Deccani Forces Against the Mughals

Bijapur, Golconda, and Ahmadnagar formed a coalition and invaded Berar but were defeated by the Mughals in 1597.
The Bijapur and Golconda forces retreated, leaving Chand Bibi to confront the situation alone.
Despite her intent to observe the treaty, Chand Bibi could not prevent her nobles from harassing the Mughals in Berar.
Chand Bibi was accused of treachery and murdered, marking the end of her significant role in Deccani politics.

Second Siege of Ahmadnagar

Following the fall of Ahmadnagar and the capture of Bahadur Nizam Shah, the territories were integrated into the Mughal Empire in 1600.
No Nizam Shahi prince or noble remained to negotiate with the Mughals.
The Mughals were not eager to extend beyond Ahmadnagar or claim all remaining territories.
Internal disputes among Mughal commanders complicated the situation further.

Akbar's Campaign in Khandesh

To assess the situation, Akbar advanced into Malwa and then Khandesh.
He learned that the new Khandesh ruler had disrespected Prince Daniyal during his visit.
Akbar aimed to secure the Asirgarh fort, regarded as the strongest in the Deccan.
After a tight siege and an outbreak of pestilence, the ruler of Asirgarh surrendered in 1601, and Khandesh was absorbed into the Mughal Empire.

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