THIMMIRI RAVEENDRA: formatting fix

2026-03-16T08:32:18Z

formatting fix

>Kazakhstan Editors 69 at 17:02, 10 December 2021

2021-12-10T17:02:44Z

New page

{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=August 2011}}
{{peacock|date=August 2011}}
}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Siege of Golconda (1687)
|partof= [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] conquests in the [[Deccan sultanates|Deccan]]
| image= Golconda Fort Hyderabad 315.jpg
| image_size = 350
|caption=Modern ruins of the [[Golconda Fort]], which was rebuilt and fortified by [[Aurangzeb]] after its conquest in the year 1687
|date=January 1687 – September 22, 1687
|place=[[Golconda]], [[India]] (then ruled by the [[Qutb Shahi dynasty]])
|result=Victory of the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]] and the overthrow and imprisonment of [[Abul Hasan Qutb Shah]]. The [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]] was also handed over famous diamonds and gained full control of the [[Kollur Mine]].
|territory=[[Mughal Empire]] annexed [[Golconda Sultanate]]
|combatant1=[[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] [[Mughal Empire]]
|combatant2=[[File:Qutbshahi Flag.svg|25px]] [[Qutb Shahi dynasty]]
|commander1=[[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]][[Aurangzeb]] Abdullah Khan Bahadur Firuz Jang [[Munnawar Khan]] [[Kilich Khan II|Kilich Khan Bahadur (Khwaja Abid Siddiqi)]]{{KIA}} [[Shaista Khan]] Ibrahim Khan Dilir Khan [[Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I|Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung S/O Khwaja Abid Siddiqi Kilich Khan Bahudur]] Khalilullah Khan
|commander2=[[File:Qutbshahi Flag.svg|25px]] [[Abul Hasan Qutb Shah]] [[Muqarrab Khan]]<ref name="google">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HHyVh29gy4QC&q=mughal+empire|title=The Mughal Empire|isbn=9780521566032|access-date=11 December 2014|last1=Richards|first1=John F.|year=1995}}</ref>(defector) Sarandaz Khan<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zp0FbTniNaYC&q=sarandaz&pg=PA41|title=War, Culture and Society in Early Modern South Asia, 1740-1849|isbn=9781136790874|access-date=11 December 2014|last1=Roy|first1=Kaushik|date=30 March 2011}}</ref>(defector)
|strength1=90,000 men - 120,000 240 [[Cannons]] 50,000 [[Cavalry]]
|strength2=35,000 men 110 [[Cannons]] 10,000 [[Cavalry]]
|casualties1=1000 killed or wounded,
|casualties2=5000 killed or wounded,
}}

The '''Siege of Golconda''' occurred in January 1687, when the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]] led his forces to besiege the [[Qutb Shahi dynasty]] at [[Golconda Fort]], home of the [[Kollur Mine]]. The siege of [[Golconda]] lasted 8 months, and on various occasions it pushed the massive [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army to its limits. The Golconda Fort was probably the most impregnable fort on the [[Indian subcontinent]].{{Citation needed|reason=Historical data needed on the relative strength of forts on the Indian subcontinent in 1687|date=October 2021}} At the end of the Siege, [[Aurangzeb]] and the Mughals entered Golconda in a decisive victory.

==Command==
After the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]] and the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army had conquered two Muslim kingdoms: [[Ahmadnagar Sultanate|Nizamshahis]] of [[Ahmednagar]] and the [[Adilshahi]]s of [[Bijapur, Karnataka|Bijapur]]; the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb assembled the most advanced [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army to date and began his siege on [[Golconda Fort]]. Aurangzeb had assigned Mir Jumla and his army of 10,000 to lead any future assault on [[Golconda Fort]].

Ghaziuddin Khan Siddiqi Firuz Jang son of Khwaja Abid Siddiqi Kilich Khan and Father of Nizam I of Hyderabad Qamaruddin Khan Siddiqi was assigned to bombard the walls of the fort using almost 100 [[Cannon]]s, including the powerful and massive ''Rahban,'' and ''Fateh Rahber'' (one of Aurangzeb's favorite cannon). Another Mughal cannon, said to be the most impressive, is known as the ''Azhdaha-Paikar'' (Python Body); it had the ability to shoot [[:wikt: cannonball|Cannon ball]]s weighing over 35 kg. This particular [[bronze]] cannon was cast in the year 1647.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zp0FbTniNaYC&q=azdaha+paikar&pg=PA41|title=War, Culture and Society in Early Modern South Asia, 1740-1849|isbn=9781136790874|access-date=11 December 2014|last1=Roy|first1=Kaushik|date=30 March 2011}}</ref>

The Mughal admiral [[Munnawar Khan]] was assigned to deliver food and weapons to the besieging Mughal army. The general Dilir Khan was assigned to command the [[Matchlock]] [[Sepoy]]s that tried to penetrate the defenses of [[Golconda Fort]]. While [[Shaista Khan]], [[Murshid Quli Khan]] and Ibrahim Khan commanded the rest of the army and its reserves around [[Golconda Fort]] and throughout all the Qutbshahi territory. The ruler of [[Golconda Fort]], [[Abul Hasan Qutb Shah]] had strong walls reinforced with granite and a very powerful [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] called the ''Pata Burj''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vasanthvisuals.com/golconda.html |title=Vasanth Visual |publisher=Vasanthvisuals.com |access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>

==Siege==
[[File:Emperor Aurangzebe at the siege of Golconda, 1687.jpeg|thumb|Aurangzeb during the siege of Golconda, 1687 (Hyderabad, India)]]
As the [[Qutbshahi]] ruler of [[Golconda]], [[Abul Hasan Qutb Shah]] refused to surrender to the Mughals, he and his servicemen fortified themselves at [[Golconda Fort]], and fiercely protected the [[Kollur Mine]], which was then the world's only [[diamond mine]] at that time. His most experienced Golconda commander Muqarrab Khan defected to the Mughals.<ref name="google"/> The Qutbshahis had constructed massive fortifications throughout successive generations on a granite hill over 400  ft high with an enormous 8  mile wall enclosing the city. The main gates of [[Golconda]] had the ability to repulse any [[War elephant]] attack, as they had iron spikes on the gates to damage the advancing Mughal elephants.

In January 1687, the [[Mughal Emperor]] Aurangzeb led his grand [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army against the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] [[Qutbshahi]] ruler taking refuge in [[Golconda Fort]]. Aurangzeb had surrounded [[Golconda Fort]] and alongside about 100 [[Cannon]]s began siege operations. In order to breach the [[granite]] walls of [[Golconda Fort]], Firuz Jang was appointed to utilize the massive ''Rahban'', ''Fateh Rahber'' and the most impressive Cannon during the siege known as the ''Azhdaha-Paikar'' (python body) it had the ability to shoot Cannonballs weighing over 50 kg. In response to the Mughal bombardment [[Abul Hasan Qutb Shah]] fired from his powerful high-vicinity [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] called the ''Pata Burj'', and according to Saqi Mustad Khan bamboo rockets were also utilized day and night against Mughal encampments.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zp0FbTniNaYC&q=saqi+mustad&pg=PA41|title=War, Culture and Society in Early Modern South Asia, 1740-1849|isbn=9781136790874|access-date=11 December 2014|last1=Roy|first1=Kaushik|date=30 March 2011}}</ref>

Meanwhile, due to heavy rains the [[Manjira River|Manjera River]] over-flooded and the scarcity of food supplies became a dire complication, this led to the death of many animals and caused malnourished troops to get ill. Fearing a possible counterattack organized from the fort, Aurangzeb ordered the construction of a fortified position made of wood and mud, which would house and organize Mughal attacking parties.

The intense cannon fire from [[Golconda Fort]] against the approaching [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]] eventually caused the death of the experienced [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] commander [[Nawab Khwaja Abid Siddiqi|Kilich Khan Khwaja Abid Siddiqi]] and furthermore Aurangzeb was grieved by the death of his long time commander Gaziuddin Khan Siddiqi Bahadur Firuz Jang, who died of natural causes.

Although the [[Qutbshahi]]'s maintained impregnable efforts defending their walls, at night the [[Mughal Emperor]] Aurangzeb and his infantry of assembled and erected complex [[scaffold]]ing that allowed them to scale the high walls. Aurangzeb also ordered his men to throw ''huqqa'' ([[grenades]])<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zp0FbTniNaYC&q=huqqa&pg=PA41|title=War, Culture and Society in Early Modern South Asia, 1740-1849|isbn=9781136790874|access-date=11 December 2014|last1=Roy|first1=Kaushik|date=30 March 2011}}</ref> while scaling the fortified wall and were reinforced by [[Matchlock]]s and [[Composite bow]]s. While most of these attacks remained largely unsuccessful, they managed to demoralize the defenders of [[Golconda Fort]]. During the eight-month siege the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]]s faced many hardships like small-scale famines for weeks at a time, but whenever the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] Admiral [[Munnawar Khan]] arrived with supplies and weapons with his river fleet, [[Aurangzeb]] would intensify the siege.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sTZuAAAAMAAJ&q=cannon|title=Aurangzeb|isbn=9780706940176|access-date=11 December 2014|last1=Lal|first1=Muni|year=1988}}</ref>

Although the [[Qutbshahi]]'s maintained impregnable efforts defending their walls, the siege had become unbearable for the officials in service of the [[Qutbshahi]]'s and finally Sarandaz Khan revealed a back door that led directly [[Golconda Fort]], immediately after the Mughals stormed the fort, Sarandaz Khan opened the gates that allows the [[Aurangzeb]]'s army to enter.

The [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army led by [[Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I]], the son of the fallen [[Kilich Khan|Kilich Khan Khwaja Abid Siddiqi]] was among the first to enter the gates. He immediately charged towards the citadel of [[Abul Hasan Qutb Shah]], eventually taking him prisoner by surprise. Firuz Jang and his forces occupied [[Kollur Mine]] and the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] reserves, disarmed the defenders of the fort and paved their way for the entry of victorious [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]]. [[Golconda Fort]] was later repaired and armed with superior cannons. [[Shaista Khan]] is known to have spared the [[Qutbshahi]] servicemen, the ruler of [[Golconda]], [[Abul Hasan Qutb Shah]], however, was imprisoned in [[Daulatabad, Maharashtra|Daulatabad Fort]] by the orders of the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]].

==Aftermath==
The [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]] and his army managed to penetrate the walls by capturing a gate prompting the [[Qutbshahi]]'s of [[Golconda]] and the ruler [[Abul Hasan Qutb Shah]] to surrender peacefully and hand over the [[Nur-Ul-Ain Diamond]], [[Orlov (diamond)|Great Stone Diamond]], [[Black Orlov|Kara Diamond]], [[Darya-e-Nur]], [[The Hope Diamond]], the [[Wittelsbach Diamond]] and [[The Regent Diamond]] making the [[Mughal Emperor]] Aurangzeb the richest monarch in the world.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Mughal Empire|state=expanded}}

{{Coord missing|Telangana}}

{{Hyderabad topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Battles involving the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1687]]
[[Category:History of Telangana]]
[[Category:1687 in India]]

Siege of Golconda - Revision history

THIMMIRI RAVEENDRA: formatting fix

>Kazakhstan Editors 69 at 17:02, 10 December 2021