The conquest of the forts of Ahmadnagar and Asirgarh opened the gates to the Deccan, established the Mughals on a firm footing and cleared the way for an effective use of diplomacy and military power against the remaining states of the Deccan. Although the annexation of Khandesh, Berar and Balaghat and Mughal control over the Fort of Ahmadnagar were substantial achievements, the Mughals had yet to consolidate their position.

Akbar was conscious of the fact that there could be no lasting solution of the Deccan problem without an agreement with the Ruler of Bijapur who actually married his daughter to Prince Daniyal, the youngest son of Akbar, but the Prince died soon after.

Malik Ambar

After the fall of Ahmadnagar and the capture of its Ruler Bahadur by the Mughals, the State of Ahmadnagar would have disappeared from the scene but that was stopped by the rise of Malik Ambar. He was an Abyssinian who was in the service of Changez Khan, one of the influential_of Murtaza Nizam Shah. When the Mughals invaded Ahmadnagar, Malik Ambar at first went to Bijapur to try his luck there, but later on came back and joined the powerful Abyssinian Party which was opposed to Chand Bibi.

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After the fall of Ahmadnagar, Malik Ambar put Murtaza Nizam Shah II on the throne of Ahmadnagar and gathered around him a large band of Maratha Troopers who were skilftil in rapid movement and in plundering and cutting off the supply of enemy troops. With the help of the Marathas, Malik Ambar made it difficult for the Mughals to consolidate their position in Berar, Ahmadnagar and Balaghat. Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khana was the Mughal commander at that time in the Deccan and he inflicted a crushing defeat on Malik Ambar in 1601 in Telangana. However, an understanding was arrived at between the parties in mutual interest.

Jahangir

Jahangir adopted the policy of his father in the Deccan, but the revolt of Khusrau and the siege of Qandhar came in the way of his launching a vigorous campaign. However, when he was free to pursue schemes of conquest, he was amazed at the wonderful ability of Malik Ambar, who was determined to win back the independence and integrity of Ahmadnagar. Aided by the wild nature of the country, his abilities and activities brought him great success and the Mughals were harassed and handicapped everywhere.

Jahangir deputed Khan-i-Khana with 12,000 troops to go to the scene of operations. When the Khan-i-Khana arrived in the Deccan, he realised that the real cause of the failure of the Mughals lay in their mutual jealousies and insubordination.

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In order to set matters right, Jahangir sent Asaf Khan and Prince Parvez but that did not improve matters. Khan-i-Khana suffered reverses and was forced to sign a “disgraceful peace”. Ultimately, Malik Ambar recovered Ahmadnagar from its Mughal Commandant and that was the height of Mughal humiliation. Khan-i-Khana was called back and a grand offensive was planned.

Abdullah Khan, who was the Governor of Gujarat, was to march towards Nasik and Trimbak with an army to 14,000 and keep in touch with the armies which were to advance under Khan Jahan Lodi, Man Singh and the Amir-ul-Umara from the side of Berar and Khandesh.

They were to hem in the enemy and destroy him by a concerted attack. However, the whole plan was frustrated on account of the selfish ambition of Abdullah Khan who himself suffered on account of his wrecklessness. He was miserably harassed in his march and forced to retreat from Daultabad by the guerilla bands of Maratha light horse and his retreat was only a signal for others.

When this news reached Jahangir, he was indignant and he deputed once again Khan-i-Khana to proceed to the Deecan in 1612. This time, the Khan-i-Khana achieved better results and retrieved the prestige of the Mughals. He continued in supreme command till 1616 and he acquitted himself with credit. In spite of that, he was charged of having been corrupted by Deccan gold.

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In November 1616, Prince Khurram who was given the title of Shah Jahan, marched into the Deccan and was followed by Emperor Jahangir himself. The arrival of a formidable Mughal Army under Prince Khurram who was backed by Jahangir from Mandu, overawed Malik Ambar and he came to terms with the Mughals. He had to cede to the Mughals all the highland districts he had conquered from them. He had also to surrender Ahmadnagar and other forts.

After that, Prince Khurram left the J Deccan and reached Mandu in October 1617. Khan-i-Khana was appointed the Governor of the Mughal Territories in the Deccan comprising Khandesh, Berar and Ahmadnagar. The view of Jahangir was that his moderation would enable the Deccan States to settle down and live in peace with the Mughals. He also tried to win over Bijapur to his side.

In spite of his reverses, Malik Ambar continued to lead the Deccan resistance against the Mughals. In 1620, he broke the treaty, formed an alliance with Bijapur and Golcunda, mustered an army of 60,000 troops and conquered or captured the Mughal Districts and outposts so rapidly 1 that within three months the bulk of Ahmadnagar and Berar was in his hands. Burhanpur was besieged and captured.

The Narbada was crossed. The surrounding districts were overrun and the environs of Mandu were plundered. At this stage, Jahangir deputed Prince Khurram once again and he completely overpowered the enemy and thereby restored the lost prestige of the Mughal Army. Malik Ambar submitted near Daultabad and this time his submission partially affected the independence of Golcunda and Bijapur who were his allies.

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A treaty of peace was arranged by which “all the imperial territory seized by the Deccanees during the previous two years together with 14 Kos of the adjoining territory was to be ceded to the Mughals. Fifty lacs of rupees were to be paid as tribute, 18 by Bijapur, 12 by Ahmadnagar and 20 by Golcunda.”

From the very nature of affairs, it was not expected that peace would last long. The Mughafs were not prepared to give up their aggressive designs in the Deccan and the people of the Deccan were not prepared to give up their struggle for their independence.

By October 1623, the relations between Adil Shah and Malik Ambar got strained and each sought the help of Mahabat Khan against the other. It was not easy for Mahabat Khan to decide in favour of one or the other on account of the revolt of Prince Shah Jahan who was at that time in the Deccan. Mahabat Khan delayed his decision in favour of the king or Malik Ambar so that the danger of either of them joining Prince Shah Jahan may disappear.

When Prince Shah Jahan left the Deccan, Mahabat Khan decided to help Adil Shah of Bijapur. Malik Ambar had to put up with the humiliation. After the withdrawal of the Mughals under Mahabat Khan. Malik Ambar formed on offensive and defensive alliance with Golcunda and attacked Bijapur with all his strength.

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The Mughal Troops set to help Bijapur were defeated by Malik Ambar. Bijapur and Ahmadnagar were subjected to a severe siege. Prince Shah Jahan arrived in the Deccan and was warmly welcomed by Malik Ambar. It was arranged that Prince Shah Jahan should besiege Burhanpur while Malik Ambar managed Bijapur and Ahmadnagar. With great enthusiasm, Prince Shah Jahan started the siege but before long Mahabat Khan and Prince Parvez appeared on the scene and the tide turned against Malik Ambar and Prince Shah Jahan.

Ultimately there was reconciliation between Prince Shah Jahan and Jahangir in March 1626. The dissensions between Mahabat Khan and Noor Jahan had their reaction in the Deccan. Mahabat Khan was replaced by Khan Jahan but he was no match for Malik Ambar. He would have failed miserably but fortunately for him Malik Ambar died 10 May 1626. After his death, there was confusion and unsettlement which could have been exploited by Khan Jahan but he did not possess the requisite talent for it. He was prevailed upon by the nobles of Ahmadnagar to accept terms of peace based upon allegiance to the Mughal Emperor.

However, Khan Jahan was completely disillusioned when Hamid Khan who had risen to power in Ahmadnagar declared war on the Mughals. Khan Jahan opened a vigorous campaign but he accepted a bribe of 3 lacs of Huns from Hamid Khan and resigned the whole country of Balaghat as far as Ahmadnagar and issued instructions to his officers to give up their charge. When such was the condition, news came that Jahangir had died. It has rightly been said that the most distressing and disreputable features of the Deccan Campaigns of Jahangir were the corruption and mutual dissensions of the Mughal Officers.