28G IlISTOKV OF INDIA. [Book II.
AD. 1G57. a visit to lieiigjil ; and being Ijiought in the course of his journey within a
short distance of Hyderabad, AljdaUah's capital, turned suddenly aside with a
body of troops and took i'orcible possession of it. Abdaliah, taken completely by
surprise, escaped with difficulty to the hill-fort of Golconda. Here, finding his
Subjugation position dcsperate, he was under the necessity of submitting; to the tenris v/hich
of the kings ^ ^ o
of the Doc- Aurungzebe chose to dictate. Mir Jumla, in reward for hLs treachery, was
can.
taken into Aurungzebe's confidence, and became one of the main in.struments of
his ambitious designs. The subjugation of Golconda took place in 1656. In
the same year Bejapoor was subjected to similar treatment. Alimednuggui-
had before lost even the semblance of independence, and thus the authority of
the Mogul seemed as firmly established in the Mahometan portion of the Deccan
as in any part of Hindoostan.
The conquests thus achieved gave great delight to Shah Jehan. Had he
known the use about to be made of them, his feelings would have been very
different. Aurungzebe, while professing the utmost di.sinterestedness, was
steadily pursuing his own aggrandizement, and preparing for the struggle which
was eventually to give him the throne, even before it became vacant. To this
struggle it is now necessary to attend.
shahjehan'3 Shall Jcliau, now far advanced in years, had four sons, Dara Sheko, Shuja, fciiuiiv.
Aurungzebe, and Murad. They were all of full, or rather mature age. In 1657,
the period to which we now refer, the respective ages of the first three were forty-two, forty, and thirty-eight. Dara, recognized as heir apparent, was resi- dent in the capital, where he enjoyed the full confidence of his father, and in relieving him from the cares, exercised the general powers of government. Shuja ruled as viceroy in Bengal, Aurungzebe, as has been seen, in the Deccan, and Murad in Gvijerat. They were all fired with ambition, and disposed to take advantage of the political changes which might be occasioned by their father s death, but diflfered much in temper and character. Dara was open and generous, but so impetuous and hasty as to set at nought the dictates of prudence ; and so liberal, particularly in his religious opinions, as to be obnoxious to the more orthodox Mahometans. Shuja possessed talents, but rendered them aseless by giving himself up to pleasure, and acquiring the habits of a confirmed diiinkard. Am'ungzebe was a perfect adept in dissimulation, and was equally successful in imposing on friends and foes. His principles, if he had any, never stood in the way of his interest ; and when he had an end to accomplish, he was not to be deterred by any amount of crime which might be necessary in order to insui-e success. The only thing in which he could be said to be sincere was his religion, in which he carried fanaticism to its worst extremes, and persecuted with all the zeal which distinguished the earliest propagators of Mahometanism. Murad, the youngest son, bore a considerable resemblance to Sluija in tastes and habits, but was duller in intellect, and, if possible, still grosser in his pleasures. By the mother of these sons Shah Jehan had also two daughters, wdio, within the
