Shah Jahan's Deccan Campaigns (1630–1636)

Timeline

1. 1630–1631Northern Deccan Plateau · Deccan PlateauFrom 1630 to 1631, the Deccan Plateau suffered severe drought and famine, killing millions and gravely weakening the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. Shah Jahan, newly enthroned, ordered Mahabat Khan to lead Mughal forces south into the Deccan, seizing the opportunity of his opponent's weakness to expand control and revive the unfinished Deccan conquest project left over from Jahangir's era.
2. 1632–1633Daulatabad · Deccan PlateauDaulatabad (formerly Devagiri) was a formidable fortress of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, considered impregnable. In 1632 Mughal forces laid a prolonged siege, cutting off supplies; by 1633 the garrison, out of food, was forced to surrender. This battle was a key step in the Mughal advance toward the destruction of Ahmadnagar.
3. 1636Ahmadnagar · Deccan PlateauIn 1636, Shah Jahan personally campaigned in the Deccan; the Ahmadnagar Sultanate was formally destroyed and its territory annexed into the Mughal realm. That same year, the sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda, under military deterrence, acknowledged Mughal suzerainty and signed agreements to pay regular tribute. Shah Jahan then appointed prince Aurangzeb as governor of the Deccan to consolidate the administration of the newly acquired territories.