An exploration of the political developments during Aurangzeb's reign that led to the disintegration of the Mughal Empire in Northeast and East India.
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Northeast and East India
Ahom Power in Assam Valley
The Ahoms conflicted with the rulers of Kamata (Kamrup) and Afghan rulers of Bengal.
The kingdom of Kamata declined by the end of the fifteenth century and was replaced by the kingdom of Kuch (Cooch Bihar).
Internal disputes led to the division of the kingdom in the early seventeenth century and the entry of the Mughals in Assam.
In 1612, the Mughals occupied the western Assam valley up to the Bar Nadi with Kuch armies' help, making the Kuch ruler a Mughal vassal.
A treaty in 1638 fixed the Bar Nadi as the boundary between the Mughals and the Ahoms, bringing Guwahati under Mughal control.
War during Aurangzeb's Reign
The Ahom rulers attempted to expel the Mughals from Guwahati and neighboring areas.
Mir Jumla, the governor of Bengal, aimed to bring Cooch Bihar and entire Assam under Mughal rule.
He assaulted Cooch Bihar and annexed it to the Mughal empire, then invaded the Ahom kingdom.
Occupied the Ahom capital Garhgaon and held it for six months, forcing the Ahom king into a humiliating treaty in 1663.
Mir Jumla died soon after the victory, and the Ahoms renewed the contest in 1667, recovering ceded areas and occupying Guwahati.
The Mughals finally gave up Guwahati and fixed a boundary west of it.
Impact of the Assam Conflict
The conflict demonstrated the limits of Mughal power in far-flung areas.
Showed the skill and determination of the Ahoms using guerrilla warfare.
The Mughal invasion and subsequent warfare undermined the strength of the Ahom monarchy, leading to its decline and disintegration.
Successes Elsewhere
Shaista Khan succeeded Mir Jumla as the governor of Bengal and modified Mir Jumla's forward policy.
He patched up an agreement with the ruler of Cooch Bihar.
Addressed the problem in south Bengal, where the Arakanese pirates had been terrorizing the area up to Dacca.
Built a navy to counter the Arakanese pirates, capturing the island of Sondip and routing the Arakan navy near Chittagong.
Captured Chittagong in early 1666, opening the seas to free commerce.
Rapid growth of Bengal’s foreign trade and expansion of cultivation in east Bengal.
Rebellion of the Pathans in Orissa was put down, reopening Balasore to commerce.
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