Introduction

• Aurangzeb left a will partitioning the empire among his three sons, but a bitter fratricidal war ensued.
• Muazzam, the eldest son, ruled Kabul and Punjab; Mohammed Azim ruled Gujrat and Malwa; Kam Bakas ruled the Deccan.
• Upon hearing of Aurangzeb’s death, Muazzam rushed to Delhi to contest for the throne, assisted by Munim Khan.
• Azim-ush-Shan, Muazzam’s son, also contested for power, occupying Agra.
• After a struggle, Bahadur Shah emerged victorious and became the new emperor.
• Bahadur Shah was dignified, able, and followed a policy of compromise and conciliation.
• His reign saw a reversal of some of Aurangzeb’s narrow-minded policies and measures.
• He adopted a more tolerant attitude towards Hindu Chiefs and Rajas; no destruction of temples occurred.
• He attempted to strengthen control over Rajput states of Amber and Marwar by replacing Jai Singh with his brother Vijai Singh at Amber and forcing Ajit Singh of Marwar to submit.
• These attempts met resistance, and a settlement was reached with Jai Singh and Ajit Singh, but their demand for high mansabs and key officer positions were not met.
• Bahadur Shah’s policy towards the Maratha Sardars was one of half-hearted conciliation.
• He granted Sardesh Mukhi but failed to grant Chauth, leaving Shahu and Tara Bai to fight for Maratha supremacy.
• The Deccan remained in disorder as a result.
• Bahadur Shah tried to make peace with the Sikhs by granting Guru Gobind Singh a high mansab, but after his death, Banda Bahadur led a revolt.
• Despite Bahadur Shah’s military successes, the Sikhs were not completely crushed and recovered key fortresses.
• Bahadur Shah also conciliated Chatarsal, a Bundela chief, and the Jat chief Churaman in campaigns against Banda Bahadur.
• During his reign, administrative deterioration occurred, and the state finances worsened due to reckless grants of jagirs and promotions.
• The Royal treasure, once amounting to 13 crores of rupees in 1707, was depleted.
• Despite his efforts, Bahadur Shah’s death in 1712 plunged the empire into another civil war.
• A new political dynamic emerged where ambitious nobles became direct contenders for power, using royal princes as pawns.
• After Bahadur Shah’s death, Jahandar Shah, his less able son, won the throne with the support of Zulfiqar Khan, a powerful noble.