Muqarrab Khan

Summary

Muqarrab Khan of Golconda, also known as Khan Zaman Fath Jang Dakhini, was an Indian Deccani Muslim,[1] who was the most experienced commander of Qutb Shahi Dynasty, during the reign of Abul Hasan Qutb Shah.[2] He is known for betraying Abul Hasan Qutb Shah during Siege of Golconda. He arrested Maratha Emperor Sambhaji at Sangameshwar.

Muqarrab Khan
Khan Zaman Fath Jang Dakhini
Muqarrab Khan arrested Maratha Emperor Sambhaji at Sangameshwar
Reign1675 - 1689

Shaikh Nizam Dakhini alias Muqarrab Khan was a political rival of Abul Hasan Qutb Shah's viziers Madanna and Akkanna.[3][4][5] After defeat of Abul Hasan Qutb Shah by Mughals, He able to escaped from battle field by retreating into the Golconda Fort. After the Mughals captured Golconda Fort Muqarrab Khan had become the de facto ruler of Golconda.

Mughal service edit

Defection to the Mughal Empire edit

Before Aurangzeb and his forces initiated the Siege of Golconda, Muqarrab Khan, the most experienced commander in Golconda, defected to the Mughals. Muqarrab Khan and his forces proved their fighting experience and worth against the Marathas when he led a contingent that eventually captured Sambhaji, the king of the Marathas at Sangameshwar and brought him to Aurangzeb.

Capture of Sambhaji edit

Sambhaji Maharaj and his men were captured by Muqarrab Khan and his Mughal contingent of 25,000 soldiers. Sambhaji Maharaj was presented before the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Sambhaji dared Aurangzeb in open court and flatly refused to surrender the Maratha kingdom. A panel of Qadis of the Mughal Empire indicted and sentenced Sambhaji to death. He was then brutally tortured and eventually put to death. His death was a huge loss for the Marathas as without a capable leader, they eventually lost most of their territories to the Mughals and were forced to resort to guerilla warfare to resist against the Mughal Army.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Athar Ali (1968). The Mughal Nobility Under Aurangzeb. p. 217.
  2. ^ William Crooke (2017). A New Account of East India and Persia. Being Nine Years' Travels, 1672-1681, by John Fryer: Volumes I-III. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317187424. Shaikh Nizam (Khanzaman Dakhini) is well known; but he did not leave the Hyderabad and enter the Mogul service until 1687
  3. ^ Index to Punjab Notes and Queries, V. I-III. Asiatic Society of Bengal, Horace Arthur Rose. p. 541. The son of Kahn Zaman, Sheikh Nizam, Dakhin; he was killed in battle on the side of Mubariz Khan
  4. ^ (India), Maharashtra (1972). Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Nanded. p. XVI.
  5. ^ Lal, M. (1988). Aurangzeb. Vikas Pub. House. ISBN 9780706940176.