Latest / Aurangzeb: The Emperor Who Expanded and Broke the Mughal Empire — Fexingo History / Aurangzeb's Hindu Generals: The Emperor Who Trusted His Enemies
Transcript
- Lucas: You know, when we think of Aurangzeb, we often picture him as this hyper-orthodox Muslim ruler who crushed Hindus. But there's a whole other side to his reign that hardly gets talked about: he relied heavily on Hindu generals to run his military campaigns. Luna: Wait — Hindu generals? In Aurangzeb's army? Lucas: Absolutely. Some of his most trusted commanders were Rajput princes from houses like Amber and Marwar. Take Raja Jai Singh I of Amber — he was one of Aurangzeb's top generals, and he led the campaign against none other than Shivaji. Luna: So the Mughal emperor sent a Hindu general to fight the Maratha Hindu king? That's fascinating. Lucas: Exactly. And Jai Singh was incredibly effective. In 1665, he besieged Shivaji at Purandar fort. After a months-long siege, Shivaji agreed to negotiate, and they signed the Treaty of Purandar. Under its terms, Shivaji surrendered 23 forts and became a Mughal vassal. Luna: So Jai Singh basically won a massive victory for Aurangzeb. How did Aurangzeb reward him? Lucas: Well, that's where it gets complicated. Aurangzeb initially showered Jai Singh with honors — he gave him the title 'Mirza Raja' and increased his rank. But later, Aurangzeb grew suspicious of Jai Singh's influence and his connections with Shivaji. After Jai Singh's death in 1667, his son Ram Singh fell out of favor and was even imprisoned for a time. Luna: So even loyal Hindu generals weren't really trusted in the long run. Lucas: Right. And it wasn't just Jai Singh. There were other Hindu commanders like Raja Jaswant Singh of Marwar, who fought for Aurangzeb against the Afghan tribes and later in the Deccan. But Aurangzeb's relationship with the Rajputs soured after he tried to impose his authority on Marwar following Jaswant Singh's death without an heir. Luna: That led to a Rajput rebellion, didn't it? Lucas: Yes, and a very costly one. The Rathore Rajputs of Marwar, under the leadership of Durgadas Rathore, fought a long guerrilla war that drained Mughal resources. And Aurangzeb also alienated the Sisodia Rajputs of Mewar. By the late 1670s, most Rajput kingdoms had turned against him. Luna: So by relying on Hindu generals but then undermining them, Aurangzeb created enemies out of his most powerful allies. Lucas: Exactly. And this wasn't just a problem with Rajputs. Even among the Marathas, Aurangzeb initially tried to co-opt them. After Shivaji's death, his son Sambhaji was captured and executed, but later Aurangzeb tried to win over Maratha nobles by giving them high ranks in the Mughal hierarchy. Luna: Did any of them stay loyal? Lucas: Some did, but many defected. The Maratha guerrilla warfare was so effective partly because Maratha commanders knew Mughal tactics from the inside. One of the most notable was Kanhoji Angre, but that's a later story. Luna: So would you say Aurangzeb's distrust of Hindu generals ultimately contributed to the empire's decline? Lucas: I think it was one factor among many. The Mughal Empire was built on the collaboration of Hindu and Muslim elites. When Aurangzeb started alienating the Hindu nobility, he weakened the very foundation of the empire. After his death, the Rajputs and Marathas became independent powers, and the Mughal state never fully recovered. Luna: But why did Aurangzeb push them away if he knew they were essential? Lucas: That's the big question. Some historians say it was his personal piety — he wanted a more Islamic state. Others argue it was political miscalculation. He thought he could replace Rajput support with other groups, like the Deccani Muslims, but that didn't work out. By the end of his reign, he was fighting wars on multiple fronts with a shrinking base of loyal allies. Luna: It sounds like a classic case of overreach. Lucas: Exactly. And it's a reminder that empires fall not just because of external enemies, but because they lose the support of the people who helped build them. The story of Aurangzeb's Hindu generals is a window into that slow unraveling. Luna: Thanks, Lucas. That really puts a different light on Aurangzeb's reign. Lucas: My pleasure. Next time, maybe we can look at how the Rajputs rebuilt their kingdoms after the Mughal decline.