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| ==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
| The ] Aurangzeb and his managed to penetrate the walls by capturing a gate prompting the ]'s of ] and the ruler ] to surrender peacefully and hand over the ], ], ], ], ], the ] and the ] making the ] Aurangzeb the richest monarch in the world. |
The ] Aurangzeb and his managed to penetrate the walls by capturing a gate prompting the ]'s of ] and the ruler ] to surrender peacefully and hand over the ], ], ], ], ], the ] and the ] making the ] Aurangzeb the richest monarch in the world. | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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| Siege of Golconda (1687) | |||||||||
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| Part of Mughal-Qutbshahi War (1686-1687) | |||||||||
 "The modern Reminiscent's of the Golconda Fort, it was later rebuild and fortified by Aurangzeb after its conquest in the year 1687" | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Template:Country data Mughal Empire |
Qutb Shahi dynasty | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Aurangzeb Firuz Jang Mir 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
After the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and the Mughal army had successfully conquered two Muslim kingdoms: Nizams of Ahmednagar and the Adilshahis of Bijapur; the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb then assembled the most advanced 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. 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
As the Qutbshahi ruler of Golconda, Abul Hasan Qutb Shah the refused to surrender, to the Mughal's he and his servicemen fortified themselves at Golconda Fort, and fiercely protected the Kollur Mine (then, the worlds only diamond mine). 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 famous for its diamond cutters. 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.
On January 1687, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb led his grand Mughal army against the Deccan Qutbshahi ruler taking refuge in Golconda Fort. Aurangzeb had surrounded Golconda Fort and alongside about 100 Cannons 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 Azdahar-Pikar (Dragon Body) it had the ability to shoot Cannon balls weighing over 50kg. In response to the Mughal bombardment Abul Hasan Qutb Shah fired from his powerful high-vicinity mortar called the Pata Burj.
Although the Qutbshahi's maintained impregnable efforts defending their walls, at night the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and his well organized infantry of assembled and erected complex scaffolding that allowed them to scale the high walls while these men continued their operations they were reinforced by Matchlocks and Composite bows unfortunately most of these attacks remained largely unsuccessful but managed to demoralize the defendors of Golconda Fort. During the eight month siege the Mughals faced many hardships like small scale famines for weeks at a time but whenever the Mughal Admiral Munnawar Khan arrived with suppleies and weapons with his river fleet, Aurangzeb would intensify the siege. 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 it is believed that a Hindu official (representing many local soldiers) inside Golconda Fort agreed to open the gates and allow the the Mughals to enter.
The 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, Firuz Jang and his forces occupied Kollur Mine and the 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 was not so lucky, Abul Hasan Qutb Shah was imprisoned in Daulatabad Fort by the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
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
 Mughal Empire | |||||||||
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- http://www.hoparoundindia.com/andhra-pradesh/hyderabad-attractions/golconda-fort.aspx
- http://www.vasanthvisuals.com/golconda.html