Siege of Jinji
Encyclopedia
Siege of Jinji, began when the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
appointed Zulfiqar Ali Khan as the Nawab of the Carnatic
and dispatched him to besiege and capture Jinji Fort
, which had been sacked and captured by Maratha
s led by Rajaram, they had also ambushed and killed about 300 Mughal
Sowar
s in the Carnatic
. The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
then ordered Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I
to protect the supply routes leading to Jinji Fort
and to support and provide reinforcements to Zulfiqar Ali Khan when needed.
The Siege of Jinji, was also the longest siege by any single Mughal Army
in recorded history, it lasted for a lingering 8 years.
itself was under the control of the Adil Shahi
s of Bijapur
since the year 1649. Until in the year 1677, Sivaji
, routed the Bijapur
forces and captured Jinji Fort
. The Fort itself was chosen as a hideout for the renegade Maratha
leader Rajaram and his allies Santaji Ghorpade
and Dhanaji Jadhav
.
Outraged by the deaths of the Mughal Sowar
s in the region the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
dispatched Zulfiqar Ali Khan to besiege and capture the massive Jinji Fort
.
But besieging Jinji Fort
was no east task, the fort itself enclosing an area of 7 sq km (2.7 sq mi), its walls were 30ft high and 66ft thick. It is elevated 800ft (240 m) high, and protected by a 80 feet (24 m) wide moat. There were three very important hills within the fort and a large pond
containing fresh water
.
s and Zamburak, Zulfiqar Ali Khan placed Swarup Singh and young Mehboob Khan (a Tamil
Muslim
nicknamed Maavuthukaran) in command of the Sepoy
s. Daud Khan was appointed Mir Atish or lead gunner of 60 cannon
placed at various locations. Fatah Muhammad
was the lead commander of the Rocket artillery
consisting of 50 men. Muslim
Mappila
and Tamil
s were recruited and good relations were established with Ali Raja Ali II
.
Zulfiqar Ali Khan then ordered the Maratha
to surrender but Rajaram refused and the bombardments began but with little success. Desperately searching for a quick victory Zulfiqar Ali Khan made all efforts to gather men, ammunition and money for a successful war with them. He even allied himself with Fort St. George's English Governor Elihu Yale
.
In the coming years Zulfiqar Ali Khan would attempt to breach the walls with limited resources he managed to protect the trade routes and make contact with Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I
on many occasions. He defended nearby land owners. And led 4 massive assaults upon the Maratha
s inside Jinji Fort
byt most of his focus was towards the vicinity of the fort and he continuously expected and correctly predicted Maratha
ambushes instead of besieging the fort itself.
Zulfiqar Ali Khan was briefly joined by Aurangzeb
's son Prince Muhammad Kam Baksh. On one occasion when the Mughal encampments around Jinji fort were surrounded by the Maratha
rebels, actually decided to defect his plans were foiled and was put to chains and imprisoned in a ditch which was covered by a tent by Zulfiqar Ali Khan, who managed to expel the roving Maratha
s with Matchlock
s. Zulfiqar Ali Khan then wrote a letter informing the Mughal Emperor of his son's betrayal, Aurangzeb
then sent his trusted vizier
Asad Khan to retrieve Prince Muhammad Kam Baksh. Asad Khan arrived with the finest weapons, carriages and thousands of reinforcements. When Prince Muhammad Kam Baksh, was brought in chains before Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor almost had him beheaded, but Aurangzeb was deterred by the pleas of his own daughter Zinat-un-nissa.
Zulfiqar Ali Khan then setup a base in Wandiwash, in the year 1697 Zulfiqar Ali Khan led 18,000 men from his camp (8000 Sowar
s and 10,000 Sepoy
s) in order to fight an assembling Maratha
force in Tanjore sent by Shivaji II and Ramchandra Pant Amatya
and possibly aided by the Madurai Nayaks, consisting of over 40,000men with the objective to relieve the siege of Jinji Fort
and continue their hostilities against the Mughal Empire
. Zulfiqar Ali Khan and his considerably smaller battalion then defeated the ill-equipped Maratha
and routed them.
Because, Zulfiqar Ali Khan did not often receive assistance and supplies from the Mughal
s he began to forage the countryside in order to recover his losses. In 1697 Rajaram offered to negotiate, but Aurangzeb
ordered Zulfiqar Ali Khan to initiate an all-out assault. Zulfiqar Ali Khan returned he made efforts to hire European gunners and then led his final fourth assault into Jinji Fort
in the year 1698. Forced into action the Mughal Army
battered the walls with cannon-fire, which eventually allowed them to scale the walls and capture the lower citadels, which were armed with cannons that bombarded the higher citadel. After heavy bombardments the Mughals captured the higher citadel. Zulfiqar Ali Khan captured four of Rajaram's wives, three sons and two daughters, while Rajaram himself fled.
, "Nusratgarh" after its capture, but the condemned Maratha
leader Rajaram had somehow escaped earlier on during the siege, causing much dismay for Zulfiqar Ali Khan. However, the Mughal rule at Jinji eventually led to the establishment of the Nawab of the Carnatic
and the Sultanate of Mysore.
But according to Hindu
accounts: it was due to the efforts of Swarup Singh of Bundela, that the Mughals were successful, the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb, himself granted Swarup Singh a position of Mansabdar
of 2,500 and gave him total command and administration of Jinji Fort
in 1700 AD. But after Sawrup Singh died of old age in 1714, his newly arriving son De Singh was given command according to an official Firman
by the Mughal Emperor Jahandar Shah
. This action was considered outrageous to Muhammed Saadatullah Khan I
who personally marched to Jinji Fort
with 18,000 men and killed De Singh and declared himself the administrator of Jinji Fort
.
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
appointed Zulfiqar Ali Khan as the Nawab of the Carnatic
Nawab of the Carnatic
Nawabs of the Carnatic , ruled the Carnatic region of South India between about 1690 and 1801. They initially had their capital at Arcot,vellore city...
and dispatched him to besiege and capture Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
, which had been sacked and captured by Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s led by Rajaram, they had also ambushed and killed about 300 Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Sowar
Sowar
Sowar , meaning 'The one who rides' in Persian, was originally a rank during the Mughal period. Later during the British Raj it was the name in Anglo-Indian usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the cavalry troops of the native armies of British India and the feudal states...
s in the Carnatic
Carnatic region
The Carnatic coast is the region of South India lying between the Eastern Ghats and the Coromandel Coast, in the modern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, south eastern Karnataka and southern Andhra Pradesh....
. The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
then ordered Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I
Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I
Mir Shahâb ud-Din Siddiqi titled Farzand-i-Arjumand, Nawab Ghazi ud-din Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, Feroze Jung, Sipah Salar was the son of Kilich Khan II Khwaja Abid Siddiqi the Sadr us Sudur of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and was raised to the rank of an Amir with the initial titles of Ghazi ud-Din...
to protect the supply routes leading to Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
and to support and provide reinforcements to Zulfiqar Ali Khan when needed.
The Siege of Jinji, was also the longest siege by any single Mughal Army
Mughal Army
The Mughal Army was the army of the Mughal Empire.Mirza Najaf Khan was commander in chief of the Mughal Army from 1772 till his death in April 1782.The art of Mughal warfare brought about a complete change in the way wars were fought in the Indian...
in recorded history, it lasted for a lingering 8 years.
Background
Jinji FortGingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
itself was under the control of the Adil Shahi
Adil Shahi
The Adil Shahi or Adilshahi dynasty ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur in the Western area of the Deccan region of Southern India from 1490 to 1686. Bijapur had been a province of the Bahmani Sultanate , before its political decline in the last quarter of the 15th century and eventual break-up in 1518...
s of Bijapur
Bijapur
Bijapur can refer to:*Adil Shahi dynasty, also known as the Bijapur Sultanate *Bijapur district, Karnataka, a district in the state of Karnataka**Bijapur, Karnataka, a city in the Bijapur district of Karnataka...
since the year 1649. Until in the year 1677, Sivaji
Sivaji
The name Sivaji can be referred to:* Sivaji , an Indian film directed by S. Shankar* Sivaji , an Indian soundtrack album by A. R...
, routed the Bijapur
Bijapur
Bijapur can refer to:*Adil Shahi dynasty, also known as the Bijapur Sultanate *Bijapur district, Karnataka, a district in the state of Karnataka**Bijapur, Karnataka, a city in the Bijapur district of Karnataka...
forces and captured Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
. The Fort itself was chosen as a hideout for the renegade Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
leader Rajaram and his allies Santaji Ghorpade
Santaji Ghorpade
Santaji Mhaloji Ghorpade, popularly known as ‘Santaji’ or ‘Santaji Ghorpade’, was one of the greatest warriors and the chief General of the Maratha Empire during Chhatrapati Rajaram’s regime. His guerrilla technique of war is supposed to be the best besides that of Shivaji and Bajirao...
and Dhanaji Jadhav
Dhanaji Jadhav
Dhanaji Shambhusinha Jadhav , popularly known as Dhanaji Jadhav, was one of the great warriors of the Maratha Empire. His name became inseparable from the name of Santaji Ghorpade with whom he made terrifying campaigns against Mughal Army continuously from 1689 to 1696...
.
Outraged by the deaths of the Mughal Sowar
Sowar
Sowar , meaning 'The one who rides' in Persian, was originally a rank during the Mughal period. Later during the British Raj it was the name in Anglo-Indian usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the cavalry troops of the native armies of British India and the feudal states...
s in the region the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
dispatched Zulfiqar Ali Khan to besiege and capture the massive Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
.
But besieging Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
was no east task, the fort itself enclosing an area of 7 sq km (2.7 sq mi), its walls were 30ft high and 66ft thick. It is elevated 800ft (240 m) high, and protected by a 80 feet (24 m) wide moat. There were three very important hills within the fort and a large pond
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
containing fresh water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
.
Encirclement of Jinji Fort
Immediately after encircling the fort in the year 1690, with his Mughal SowarSowar
Sowar , meaning 'The one who rides' in Persian, was originally a rank during the Mughal period. Later during the British Raj it was the name in Anglo-Indian usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the cavalry troops of the native armies of British India and the feudal states...
s and Zamburak, Zulfiqar Ali Khan placed Swarup Singh and young Mehboob Khan (a Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
nicknamed Maavuthukaran) in command of the Sepoy
Sepoy
A sepoy was formerly the designation given to an Indian soldier in the service of a European power. In the modern Indian Army, Pakistan Army and Bangladesh Army it remains in use for the rank of private soldier.-Etymology and Historical usage:...
s. Daud Khan was appointed Mir Atish or lead gunner of 60 cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
placed at various locations. Fatah Muhammad
Fatah Muhammad
Fatah Muhammad Khan Kolari, Fatah Muhammad Khan, was born in the city of Kolar, at an early age he served as a commander of 50 men in the Rocket artillery of the army of the Nawab of Carnatic, he was the father of Hyder Ali his fifth child and the prestigious founder of the Sultanate of Mysore, who...
was the lead commander of the Rocket artillery
Rocket artillery
Rocket artillery is a type of artillery equipped with rocket launchers instead of conventional guns or mortars.Types of rocket artillery pieces include multiple rocket launchers.-History:...
consisting of 50 men. Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Mappila
Mappila
Mappila or Moplah refers to a Muslim community of Kerala, primarily in the northern region called Malabar, which arose in Malabar as a result of the pre and post Islamic Arab contacts. Significant numbers of the community are also present in the southern districts of Karnataka and western parts of...
and Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
s were recruited and good relations were established with Ali Raja Ali II
Ali Raja
The Ali Raja was the title of the Muslim raja of Cannanore from the 16th to early 19th Century. The king's palace, which he purchased from the Dutch in 1663, was named Arakkal Palace after the ruling dynasty.-Origins:...
.
Zulfiqar Ali Khan then ordered the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
to surrender but Rajaram refused and the bombardments began but with little success. Desperately searching for a quick victory Zulfiqar Ali Khan made all efforts to gather men, ammunition and money for a successful war with them. He even allied himself with Fort St. George's English Governor Elihu Yale
Elihu Yale
Elihu Yale was a Welsh merchant and philanthropist, governor of the East India Company, and a benefactor of the Collegiate School of Connecticut, which in 1718 was named Yale College in his honour.- Life :...
.
In the coming years Zulfiqar Ali Khan would attempt to breach the walls with limited resources he managed to protect the trade routes and make contact with Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I
Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung I
Mir Shahâb ud-Din Siddiqi titled Farzand-i-Arjumand, Nawab Ghazi ud-din Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, Feroze Jung, Sipah Salar was the son of Kilich Khan II Khwaja Abid Siddiqi the Sadr us Sudur of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and was raised to the rank of an Amir with the initial titles of Ghazi ud-Din...
on many occasions. He defended nearby land owners. And led 4 massive assaults upon the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s inside Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
byt most of his focus was towards the vicinity of the fort and he continuously expected and correctly predicted Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
ambushes instead of besieging the fort itself.
Zulfiqar Ali Khan was briefly joined by Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
's son Prince Muhammad Kam Baksh. On one occasion when the Mughal encampments around Jinji fort were surrounded by the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
rebels, actually decided to defect his plans were foiled and was put to chains and imprisoned in a ditch which was covered by a tent by Zulfiqar Ali Khan, who managed to expel the roving Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
s with Matchlock
Matchlock
The matchlock was the first mechanism, or "lock" invented to facilitate the firing of a hand-held firearm. This design removed the need to lower by hand a lit match into the weapon's flash pan and made it possible to have both hands free to keep a firm grip on the weapon at the moment of firing,...
s. Zulfiqar Ali Khan then wrote a letter informing the Mughal Emperor of his son's betrayal, Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
then sent his trusted vizier
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
Asad Khan to retrieve Prince Muhammad Kam Baksh. Asad Khan arrived with the finest weapons, carriages and thousands of reinforcements. When Prince Muhammad Kam Baksh, was brought in chains before Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor almost had him beheaded, but Aurangzeb was deterred by the pleas of his own daughter Zinat-un-nissa.
Zulfiqar Ali Khan then setup a base in Wandiwash, in the year 1697 Zulfiqar Ali Khan led 18,000 men from his camp (8000 Sowar
Sowar
Sowar , meaning 'The one who rides' in Persian, was originally a rank during the Mughal period. Later during the British Raj it was the name in Anglo-Indian usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the cavalry troops of the native armies of British India and the feudal states...
s and 10,000 Sepoy
Sepoy
A sepoy was formerly the designation given to an Indian soldier in the service of a European power. In the modern Indian Army, Pakistan Army and Bangladesh Army it remains in use for the rank of private soldier.-Etymology and Historical usage:...
s) in order to fight an assembling Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
force in Tanjore sent by Shivaji II and Ramchandra Pant Amatya
Ramchandra Pant Amatya
Ramchandra Neelkanth Bahutkar , also known as Ramchandra Pant Amatya, was the youngest member of the Council of Ministers to Emperor Shivaji dating from 1674 to 1680. He also served as the Imperial Regent to Chhatrapati Sambhaji, Rajaram, Shivaji II and Sambhaji II...
and possibly aided by the Madurai Nayaks, consisting of over 40,000men with the objective to relieve the siege of Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
and continue their hostilities against the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
. Zulfiqar Ali Khan and his considerably smaller battalion then defeated the ill-equipped Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
and routed them.
Because, Zulfiqar Ali Khan did not often receive assistance and supplies from the Mughal
Mughal
Mughal, a word related to the Mongols, may refer to the:* Mughal Empire of South Asia* Mughal emperors* Mughal , the central Asian tribe from which the rulers of the Mughal Empire hailed* Mughal architecture* Mughal painting* Mughlai cuisine...
s he began to forage the countryside in order to recover his losses. In 1697 Rajaram offered to negotiate, but Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
ordered Zulfiqar Ali Khan to initiate an all-out assault. Zulfiqar Ali Khan returned he made efforts to hire European gunners and then led his final fourth assault into Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
in the year 1698. Forced into action the Mughal Army
Mughal Army
The Mughal Army was the army of the Mughal Empire.Mirza Najaf Khan was commander in chief of the Mughal Army from 1772 till his death in April 1782.The art of Mughal warfare brought about a complete change in the way wars were fought in the Indian...
battered the walls with cannon-fire, which eventually allowed them to scale the walls and capture the lower citadels, which were armed with cannons that bombarded the higher citadel. After heavy bombardments the Mughals captured the higher citadel. Zulfiqar Ali Khan captured four of Rajaram's wives, three sons and two daughters, while Rajaram himself fled.
Aftermath
According to Mughal accounts Zulfiqar Ali Khan named Jinji FortGingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
, "Nusratgarh" after its capture, but the condemned Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
leader Rajaram had somehow escaped earlier on during the siege, causing much dismay for Zulfiqar Ali Khan. However, the Mughal rule at Jinji eventually led to the establishment of the Nawab of the Carnatic
Nawab of the Carnatic
Nawabs of the Carnatic , ruled the Carnatic region of South India between about 1690 and 1801. They initially had their capital at Arcot,vellore city...
and the Sultanate of Mysore.
But according to Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
accounts: it was due to the efforts of Swarup Singh of Bundela, that the Mughals were successful, the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb, himself granted Swarup Singh a position of Mansabdar
Mansabdar
Mansabdar was the generic term for the military -type grading of all imperial officials of the Mughal Empire. The mansabdars governed the empire and commanded its armies in the emperor's name...
of 2,500 and gave him total command and administration of Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
in 1700 AD. But after Sawrup Singh died of old age in 1714, his newly arriving son De Singh was given command according to an official Firman
Firman
A firman is a royal mandate or decree issued by a sovereign in certain historical Islamic states, including the Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire, State of Hyderabad, and Iran under Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. The word firman comes from the meaning "decree" or "order"...
by the Mughal Emperor Jahandar Shah
Jahandar Shah
Jahandar Shah was a Mughal Emperor who ruled India for a brief period in 1712-1713. His title was Shahanshah-i-Ghazi Abu'l Fath Muiz-ud-Din Muhammad Jahandar Shah Sahib-i-Quran Padshah-i-Jahan .-Early life:...
. This action was considered outrageous to Muhammed Saadatullah Khan I
Muhammed Saadatullah Khan I
Muhammed Saiyid was the Dewan to Daud Khan till 1710, when he was himself appointed as the Nawab of the Carnatic. Moved the capital from Gingee to Arcot....
who personally marched to Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
with 18,000 men and killed De Singh and declared himself the administrator of Jinji Fort
Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry...
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