June 8 1658 : Emperor Shah Jahan taken as a prisoner in the Agra Fort by his sixth son Awrangzib. He died in prison after 8 years of illness.
This followed a bloody and prolonged war of succession. Crown Prince Dara Shukoh's armies were defeated first at Dharmat near Ujjain (15th April 1568) and again led by Dara himself, at Samugarh on 29th May 1658. Finally Dara who had fled to Punjab was chained, brought to delhi, dishonoured and paraded in public, and executed. Other brother Shah Shuja, who was governing Bengal, fled to barma after being defeated, and he was killed there mysteriousely. The youngest Murad, who governed Gujarat, was fooled by Awrangzib by the promise of the throne. He was intoxicated, arrested, and killed. Many others were blinded, maimed or killed.
June 5 1659 : Alomost one year down, Muhiuddin Muhammad Awrangzib finally succeeded in usurping the throne of delhi. Coronates himself on this date as "Alamgir".
When all the above was happening in North, it were these years during which young Shivaji was swiftly consolidating the strength of his nascent empire, cunningly keeping Mughals in good humour. He had a direct line of communication opened with Awrangzib from the early days when he was only a prince. (and also with the other princes)
This followed a bloody and prolonged war of succession. Crown Prince Dara Shukoh's armies were defeated first at Dharmat near Ujjain (15th April 1568) and again led by Dara himself, at Samugarh on 29th May 1658. Finally Dara who had fled to Punjab was chained, brought to delhi, dishonoured and paraded in public, and executed. Other brother Shah Shuja, who was governing Bengal, fled to barma after being defeated, and he was killed there mysteriousely. The youngest Murad, who governed Gujarat, was fooled by Awrangzib by the promise of the throne. He was intoxicated, arrested, and killed. Many others were blinded, maimed or killed.
June 5 1659 : Alomost one year down, Muhiuddin Muhammad Awrangzib finally succeeded in usurping the throne of delhi. Coronates himself on this date as "Alamgir".
When all the above was happening in North, it were these years during which young Shivaji was swiftly consolidating the strength of his nascent empire, cunningly keeping Mughals in good humour. He had a direct line of communication opened with Awrangzib from the early days when he was only a prince. (and also with the other princes)