Introduction
Aurangzeb's Deccan campaigns (1681–1707), initially triggered by the rebellion of his son Prince Akbar, shifted the empire's center of gravity southwards for over two decades. Often compared to Napoleon's 'Spanish Ulcer', this protracted military involvement structurally, financially, and administratively overstretched the Mughal Empire, accelerating its eventual disintegration.
Destruction of Buffer States
- Elimination of Regional Powers: By annexing Bijapur (1686) and Golconda (1687), Aurangzeb dismantled the traditional Deccani sultanates that had functioned as critical buffers.
- Direct Conflict with Marathas: The removal of these kingdoms brought the imperial army into direct, asymmetric confrontation with Maratha guerrilla tactics under Sambhaji, Rajaram, and Rani Tarabai, leading to an endless war of attrition.
The Jagirdari Crisis and Elite Factionalism
- Shortage of Productive Land (Be-jagiri): The induction of large numbers of Deccani and Maratha nobles into the imperial mansabdari system created an acute shortage of fertile paibaqi lands.
- Intensified Agrarian Exploitation: Jagirdars, unsure of long tenure, exerted heavy fiscal pressure on peasants, triggering rural destitution, agrarian distress, and peasant uprisings.
Administrative Neglect of the Northern Heartland
- Long Imperial Absence: Aurangzeb's quarter-century absence from the imperial capitals of Delhi and Agra weakened central supervision over distant provinces.
- Rise of Autonomous States: Subahdars in Bengal, Awadh, and the Deccan gradually consolidated hereditary power, while local rebellions by Jats, Satnamis, and Sikhs destabilized northern trade and revenue collection.
Fiscal Exhaustion and Military Demoralisation
- Drain on the Imperial Treasury: Prolonged military campaigns, supply logistics, and bribing Maratha fort commanders emptied the accumulated treasures of the empire.
- Erosion of Army Morale: Endless campaigning across difficult terrain demoralised imperial troops and depleted elite military formations without securing permanent pacification.
Conclusion
While Aurangzeb expanded the Mughal realm to its greatest territorial extent, the Deccan misadventure hollowed out the empire's administrative and fiscal core. This institutional exhaustion left the imperial authority vulnerable to decentralisation, regional assertions, and rapid post-1707 collapse.