Muqarrab Khan

Muqarrab Khan of Golconda (titled Khan-Zaman Fath Jang) was the most experienced commander in Golconda, during the reign of Abul Hasan Qutb Shah. Muqarrab Khan is known to have been an ally of Afzal Khan and defended Golconda's southern realms against Maratha raids.

Muqarrab Khan was a political rival of Abul Hasan Qutb Shah's viziers Madanna and Akkanna.

After Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, escaped from his administrative duties by retreating into the Golconda Fort along with 1000 women who were known for their mastery in music and song. Muqarrab Khan had become the de facto ruler of Golconda.

Before, Aurangzeb and his forces initiated the Siege of Golconda, Muqarrab Khan the most experienced commander in Golconda, defected to the Mughals. Muqarrab Khan and his forces proved their fighting experience and worth against the Maratha when he led a contingent that eventually hunted-down Sambhaji at Sangameshwar and brought him to Aurangzeb.

Sambhaji and his men were captured by Muqarrab Khan and his Mughal contingent of 25,000. When Sambhaji was presented before the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, he the emperor knelt in prayer and thanksgiving to Allah. Sambhaji dared Aurangzeb in open court and faltly refused to convert to Islam. Dennis Kincaid writes "He (Sambhaji) was ordered by the Emperor to embrace Islam. He refused and was made to run the gauntlet of the whole Imperial army. Tattered and bleeding he was brought before the Emperor and repeated his refusal. His tongue was torn and again the question was put. He called for writing material and wrote 'Not even if the emperor bribed me with his daughter!' So then he was put to death by torture" (The Grand Rebel, p.317). His leadership of nine years had been quite inspiring for the Maratha spirit of resistance. But his death by torture at the hands of the fanatic Mogul emperor set the Maratha hearts on fire. A panel of Qadi's of the Mughal Empire indicted and sentenced Sambhaji to death.

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