Deccan Wars

Aurangzeb took southern campaign in 1680 after the death of Shivaji was driven by several key objectives of Neutralizing the threat from his son, Akbar, who had rebelled and sought refuge with Sambhaji, the Maratha king. Absorbing the remaining Deccan Sultanates, specifically the Adilshahi and Qutubshahi kingdoms, into the Mughal Empire, weakening the growing Maratha kingdom, led by Sambhaji. The Deccan wars began in 1680 with annexation of Golconda and Bijapur, Execution of Maratha King Sambhaji and ended with the death of Aurangzeb. It resulted in a stalemate for the both sides as the Mughals were able to Annex Bijapur and Golconda but failed to annex and subdue the Marathas, who rose to power even after the Capture of Sambhaji under the leadership of many successful rulers and generals such as Rajaram I, Shahu I, Bajirao I and Madhavrao I winning battles against the Mughals and eventually placing a puppet ruler i.e Shah Alam II as the Mughal Emperor under the leadership of the Maratha general, Mahadji Shinde

## Conquest of Deccan Sultanates
### Capture of Bijapur
In 1685, Aurangzeb sent his son Muhammad Azam Shah with a large army to capture Bijapur Fort, which was defended by 30,000 men under Sikandar Adil Shah. Despite initial efforts to surround the fort and position artillery, the Mughal forces faced challenges, including a deep moat, strong fortifications, and powerful Bijapur cannons like the "Malik-i-Maidan." Maratha forces led by Melgiri Pandit further disrupted Mughal supply lines. The situation worsened when a cannonball struck a gunpowder depot, killing 500 Mughal soldiers.

To relieve the siege, Aurangzeb sent reinforcements under Abdullah Khan Bahadur Firuz Jang, who successfully repelled Maratha attempts to resupply the fort. However, the siege stalemated, and in July 1686, Aurangzeb himself led a large army to Bijapur. After eight days of intense fighting, the Mughals breached the fort’s defenses, captured Sikandar Adil Shah, and took control of the city.
### Capture of Golconda
In 1687, Aurangzeb laid siege to Golconda Fort, home to the Qutb Shahi ruler, Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, and the world's only diamond mine, the Kollur Mine. The fort was heavily fortified, with an 8-mile wall and iron-spiked gates to deter Mughal elephants. Despite the Mughal bombardment, including massive cannons like the Azhdaha-Paikar, the defenders, led by Abul Hasan, resisted fiercely, even using bamboo rockets. However, heavy rains, food shortages, and disease weakened the defenders.
## Maratha-Mughal Wars
### Under Sambhaji (1680-1689)
Sambhaji, born in 1657 to Shivaji and Saibai, became the Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire after his father's death in 1680. He faced numerous challenges, notably resisting Mughal expansion led by Emperor Aurangzeb. Sambhaji's forces clashed with the Mughals across southern India, with key engagements at forts like  Ramsej, Kalyan Bhiwandi, Mysoreand Janjira. In 1681, Sambhaji disrupted Aurangzeb’s supply routes by attacking Portuguese-held Goa and Burhanpur.

After Aurangzeb's successful conquest of Bijapur and Golconda in 1686, the Marathas launched counterattacks, including an offensive on Bharuch, Wai here Hammbirrao Mohite lost his life which is considered a key factor for capture of Sambhaji. However, in 1689, Sambhaji was eventually captured by the Mughals, tortured, and executed. His family was imprisoned for twenty years.He was succeeded by Rajaram I
### Under Rajaram I (1689-1700)
Rajaram born in 1670 to Shivaji and Soyarabai became the Chhatrapati after the death of his brother Sambhaji in 1689.Dalpatrao was killed in process.Meanwhile Sinhagd, Torana and Vishalgad was again captured by Marathas in 1705. In 1706 a battle was fought at Ratanpur in which Dhanaji Jadhav and Balaji Vishwanath defeated Mughals capturing their Commadars. Nemaji Scindia carried out successful Raids in Malwa from 1706-1707. All the commanders and even sons of Aurangzeb were waiting for his death as they were tired of this campaign.Aurangzeb himself spent 27 years in Deccan and still wasn't able to annex Maratha Land tho he successfully killed Sambhaji and captured Bijapur and Golconda Marathas still proved their supremacy over Mughals

The Mughal–Maratha Wars weakened both empires, contributing to the Mughal decline and the rise of the Marathas as a major power, while also creating space for European colonial powers to establish themselves in India.
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