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| |date=January 1687 - September 1687 | |date=January 1687 - September 1687 | ||
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| Siege of Golconda (1687) | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Template:Country data Mughal Empire |
Qutb Shahi dynasty | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Aurangzeb Firuz Jang Amir Jumla Munnawar Khan Murshid Quli Khan Shaista Khan Ibrahim Khan Dilir Khan |
Abul Hasan Qutb Shah | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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80,000 men ~ 120,000 45,000 Cavalry 95 Cannons |
35,000 men 10,000 Cavalry | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 1000 killed or wounded, | 5000 killed or wounded, | ||||||||
In January 1687, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb led his forces to besiege the Qutb Shahi dynasty at Golconda Fort (also known as the Diamond Capitol of its time) and was home to the Kollur Mine. The ruler of Golconda was the well entrenched Abul Hasan Qutb Shah. Aurangzeb and the Mughal army had successfully conquered two Muslim kingdoms: Nizams of Ahmednagar and the Adilshahis of Bijapur. It was only a matter of time that the Mughal army arrived at Golconda Fort. The siege of Golconda lasted 8 months and on various occasions it had pushed the massive Mughal army to its limits, in fact the Golconda Fort was probably the most impregnable fort in South Asia. Aurangzeb and the Mughals entered Golconda through a decisive victory but through the secret treachery of a Hindu military official in the army of the Qutb Shahi dynasty.
Command
The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb had assembled the most advanced Mughal army to date during his siege of Golconda Fort. Aurangzeb had assigned Mir Jumla and his army of 10,000 to lead any future assault on Golconda Fort. Firuz Jang was assigned to bombard the walls of the fort using almost a 100 Cannons including the very powerful and massive Rahban and Fateh Rahber (one of Aurangzeb's most favorite cannon). Another Mughal cannon is said to be the most impressive its is known as the Azdahar-Pikar (Dragon Body) it had the ability to shoot Cannon balls weighing over 50kg. The respectable Mughal admiral Munnawar Khan was assigned to deliver food and weapon supplies to the besieging Mughal army. The general Dilir Khan was assigned to command the Matchlock Sepoys 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 defending ruler of Golconda Fort, Abul Hasan Qutb Shah had strong walls reinforced with granite and a very powerful mortar called the Pata Burj.
Siege
Only one remaining ruler Abul Hasan Qutb Shah the Qutbshahi ruler of Golconda refused to surrender, he and his servicemen fortified themselves at Golconda, and fiercely protected the Kollur Mine (then, the worlds only diamond mine). In the year 1687 the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb led his grand Mughal army against the Deccan Qutbshahi fortress of Golconda the only diamond producing city in the world at that time. The Qutbshahi's had constructed massive fortifications throughout successive generations on a granite hill over 400ft high with an enormous 8mile wall enclosing the city. The main gates of Golconda had the ability to repulse any War elephant attack. In fact of the 18 most famous diamonds in the world 13 came from the Golconda Kollur Mine ruled by the then Qutbshahi dynasty the city was also home to the most famous diamond cutters. For the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb the conquest of Qutbshahi ruled Golconda was crucial to the legitimacy of his reign throughout the realm. Although the Qutbshahi's maintained impregnable efforts defending their walls, at night the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and his infantry usually assembled and erected complex scaffolding that allowed them to scale the high walls. During the eight month siege the Mughals faced many hardships and finally the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Although the Qutbshahi's maintained impregnable efforts defending their walls, at night the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb when the siege had become unbearable for the Qutbshahi's a Hindu official (representing many local soldiers) inside Golconda Fort agreed to open the gates and allow the the Mughals to enter.
When Aurangzeb and his Mughal army led by Mir Jumla entered the gates the immediately charged towards the citadel of Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, eventually taking him prisoner by surprise, the rest of his servicemen were spared and the fort was rebuilt and armed with superior cannons.
Aftermath
The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and his 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, Great Stone Diamond, Kara Diamond, Darya-e-Nur, The Hope Diamond, the Wittelsbach Diamond and the The Regent Diamond making the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb the richest monarch in the world.
References
- http://www.hoparoundindia.com/andhra-pradesh/hyderabad-attractions/golconda-fort.aspx
- http://www.vasanthvisuals.com/golconda.html
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyyZw7_MZAM&feature=related