Latest / Aurangzeb: The Emperor Who Expanded and Broke the Mughal Empire — Fexingo History / Aurangzeb's Elephant Corps: War Beasts of the Mughal Empire
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about Aurangzeb's wars — the Marathas, the Deccan sultanates, the Sikhs. But there's one weapon he relied on heavily that we haven't really touched: war elephants. Luna: War elephants? I mean, we've mentioned them in passing, but I didn't realize they were such a big deal for Aurangzeb specifically. Lucas: Oh, they were enormous — literally and figuratively. The Mughals had a dedicated elephant corps called the Pilkhana, which was one of the most organized institutions of its kind in the world. At its peak under Aurangzeb, the imperial stables held thousands of elephants. Lucas: These weren't just beasts of burden; they were mobile fortresses on the battlefield. A trained war elephant could carry a howdah — that's the armored carriage on its back — with several soldiers, often armed with muskets or even small cannons. In siege warfare, they'd ram city gates. Luna: Wait, how did they even get that many elephants? They're not exactly native to most of the Mughal heartland, are they? Lucas: Great question. The Mughals got them primarily from two regions: the forests of Bengal and Assam in the east, and from Kerala and Mysore in the south. There were dedicated elephant hunters called 'Gajendra' — a term that also means 'lord of elephants' in Sanskrit — who would capture wild elephants, usually by driving herds into stockades. Lucas: Aurangzeb's conquest of the Deccan opened up new sources. The maasir i alamgiri, the court chronicle, records that after the fall of Golconda in 1687, the Mughals captured over a hundred elephants from the Qutb Shahi stables alone. That was a huge boost to his forces. Luna: So what made Aurangzeb's use of elephants different from, say, his father Shah Jahan's? Lucas: Aurangzeb used them more systematically, especially in the long Deccan campaign where mobility and siegecraft were critical. He had to move armies across rugged terrain, and elephants were essential for carrying heavy artillery and supplies. They were also psychological weapons — the sight of a massive elephant charging could break enemy infantry. Lucas: There's a famous elephant named 'Lal Kunwar' — that means 'Red Treasure' — which was supposedly used by Aurangzeb in several battles. According to some accounts, this elephant was so fierce that it had to be chained at night to prevent it from attacking its own handlers. But the chronicles are a bit fuzzy on specific elephants. Luna: That sounds terrifying. But also expensive. How did the empire afford to feed thousands of elephants? Lucas: It was enormously costly. An adult elephant can eat around 200 kilograms of fodder per day — mostly grass, sugarcane, and leaves. The Pilkhana had a massive budget for this. Aurangzeb's farmans — imperial decrees — often allocated specific villages to supply fodder for the stables. It was a whole logistics operation. Lucas: But there were also hidden costs. Elephants required specialized trainers called mahouts, usually from regions with a long tradition of elephant handling, like Bengal or Assam. These mahouts lived with the elephants and formed strong bonds. Losing a mahout in battle could render an elephant uncontrollable. Luna: And what happened when an elephant was wounded or killed? Did they have vets? Lucas: Yes, the Mughals had a system of veterinary care. The fatawa e alamgiri, the legal code compiled under Aurangzeb, includes sections on the treatment of animals, and there were dedicated physicians for the stables. But in practice, battlefield wounds were often fatal. A wounded elephant could go berserk and trample its own side. Luna: So it sounds like a double-edged sword. How effective were elephants against the Marathas, who were known for guerrilla tactics? Lucas: That's the key. Against the Marathas, who fought in small, fast-moving bands, elephants were actually a liability. The Marathas would avoid pitched battles and strike at supply lines. A slow-moving elephant train was a prime target. Aurangzeb's reliance on heavy forces, including elephants, may have actually hampered his campaign in the Deccan. Lucas: But in sieges, elephants were still invaluable. They could push battering rams, carry scaling ladders, and provide elevated platforms for archers. Aurangzeb's sieges of Bijapur and Golconda both involved massive elephant corps. Luna: I've heard that the Mughals also used elephants for executions. Is that true? Lucas: Yes, it was a common method of execution in South Asia. The elephant would be trained to crush the condemned person with its feet or wrap its trunk around them. Aurangzeb's chroniclers record that he sometimes ordered elephants to trample rebels. It was a dramatic display of power, but it also served as a deterrent. Lucas: But I think the most interesting aspect is how the elephant corps reflected the broader Mughal state. The Pilkhana was a microcosm of the empire's administrative complexity. It had its own hierarchy, from the 'mir i pilkhana' — the head of the elephant stables — down to the lowly grass-cutters. Luna: So did Aurangzeb personally take an interest in the elephants? Lucas: He did. The maasir i alamgiri mentions that he often inspected the stables and gave orders about specific elephants. He even had a favorite elephant named 'Hathi' — literally 'elephant' — which was said to be exceptionally intelligent. It's a small humanizing detail about a ruler who's often seen as austere. Lucas: But by the late 17th century, the role of elephants was starting to change. The increasing use of artillery meant that elephants were more vulnerable. A cannonball could kill an elephant instantly, and their panicked reactions could cause chaos. Still, they remained a symbol of royal prestige. Luna: It's amazing how much there is to learn about something you think you already know about. Elephants in war — it's not just 'ancient' stuff; it's a whole system. Lucas: Exactly. And you know, this is exactly the kind of deep dive that makes this show possible. If you've been stepping into history with us episode by episode, and you've gotten something out of these conversations, a couple of dollars a month is genuinely what keeps these going — buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo, if you've gotten something out of them. Luna: Yeah, it's true. The research that goes into even a single episode is immense, and listener support really does make a difference. Lucas: So, back to the elephants. One thing I wanted to mention is the environmental impact. The demand for elephants led to deforestation in some regions, as forests were cleared to capture herds and to grow fodder. It's a reminder that empire-building had ecological consequences too. Luna: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. So the elephant corps wasn't just a military unit; it was a force of environmental change. Lucas: Exactly. And after Aurangzeb's death, the Pilkhana declined. Later Mughal emperors couldn't maintain the same scale. The British, when they took over, used elephants too, but more for logistics than combat. The age of the war elephant was essentially over by the 18th century. Luna: Well, I'll never look at an elephant the same way again. Thanks for this — I had no idea how central they were to the Mughal war machine. Lucas: Glad you enjoyed it. Next time, we'll look at another overlooked aspect of Aurangzeb's reign — something that might surprise you even more.