Mir Jumla II
Mir Jumla II, or Amir Jumla, also known as Ardistānī Mir Muhammad, was a military general, wealthy diamond trader, a Vizier of Golconda sultanate, and later a prominent subahdar of Bengal under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Mir Jumla was a powerful politician that played important role in northern and Peninsular region of India during the reign of Shah Jahan to Aurangzeb, where he encountered multiple European nation companies interest in India, such as Danish East India Company, East India Company, Dutch East India Company, and Portuguese East India Company.
He commanded the vast merchant fleets enterprise which sailed throughout Surat, Thatta, Arakan, Ayuthya, Balasore, Aceh, Melaka, Johore, Bantam, Makassar, Ceylon, Bandar Abbas, Mecca, Jeddah, Basra, Aden, Masqat, Mocha and the Maldives. The most important aspect of Mir Jumla's rule in Bengal was his northeastern frontier military campaign against Koch Bihar and the Ahom kingdom.
Early life
Mir Jumla was born as Mir Mohammad Sayyid Ardistani in Safavid Iran in 1591 to a poor oil merchant of Isfahan, named Mirza Hazaru. Although his parents were extremely poor, he had the opportunity to learn letters which probably lead him to find a job as a clerk under a diamond merchant who had connections with the Golconda Sultanate, a region that was famous for its diamond mines. He may have arrived in Golconda in 1630, due to financial debts to a Sheikh ul Islam and general misgovernance in his country.One version from James Talboys Wheeler when he entered India region, Mir Jumla at first entered the service of Mughal empire as soldier, where he risen through ranks to the high post. However, due to being insulted by Dara Shikoh, designated heir of emperor Shah Jahan, he left the service.
Mir Jumla also started his own diamond business and got involved in maritime commercial endeavours which increased his wealth. At the prospect of advancing his career, He brought presents to the Qutb Shahi Sultan of Golconda and bribed his way into the Sultan's court. Mir Jumla has presented numerous tributes from his trades to the sultan, such as rarities from Europe, cabinets from China, and elephants from Ceylon. Thus he managed to rise into the position of Vizier of the sultanate.
Under the service of Golconda (1637–1655)
Service at Golconda Sultanate
As Mir Jumla raised through the ranks, sometime between February 1634 and December 1636, Mir Jumla was appointed as Sar-i-Khāil, or treasurer of the Golconda state, which he performed strictly to impose the golden Firman of the sultanate.His proficiency in service and administration were generally proved when he administered trade at the Port of Masulipatnam.
His strictness drew ire from the English company factories in Machilipatnam as they saw Mir Jumla were detrimental to the British interest. Mir Jumla continues to impose the extraction moneys from the British company officials by using the Firman mandate from the Sultanate of Golconda. This caused the Sultan to appoint Mir Jumla as chief minister, thus further causing him to become more influential in Golconda region that even the British officers and companies began to deal with Mir Jumla disregarding request from British President and council in Surat to confiscate properties belonging to Mir Jumla.
Narayan Sarkar even noted that the personal commercial enterprise of Mir Jumla has gradually became competitor of the East India Company. Mir Jumla had his own ships and organised merchant fleets in the 1640s that sailed throughout Surat, Thatta, Arakan, Ayuthya, Balasore, Aceh, Melaka, Johore, Bantam, Makassar, Ceylon, Bandar Abbas, Mecca, Jeddah, Basra, Aden, Masqat, Mocha and the Maldives. He effectively monopolized almost all trading activities to Iran.
Mir Jumla also noted for his activities to construct ships in the East Coasts of India, as recorded by British journals to have employed european sailors to build ships. On 29 January 1647, British representatives Thomas Winter and Richard Hudson at Machilipatnam wrote to Surat that Mir Jumla has sent two of his ships which, where one of them is Junk ship made by British sailors, named Darya Dawla or River of wealth,.
On 21 June 1637, He was summoned to the Qutub Shahi court, and by the 23 June, The sultan conferred the title of Sar-i-Khail on him. The furthest extent of the kingdom during was Cumbam near Kadapa district, where Mir Jumla occupied a forts in Gandikota.
In 1639, Mir Jumla was appointed as Nawab, thus increasing his importance in the eyes of the British company, as they further presented him with gifts, lending men, and traded on his behalf to keep him satisfied. The president of Bantam Presidency saw this as necessity as the rival companies from Dutch, Portuguese, and Denmark, also showering Mir Jumla with gifts to gain his favor.
First Conquest of Karnatak
In April 1642 Mir Jumla advanced with an army into Karnatak. Reaching Nellore plains unopposed he captured eight forts after repulsing the defenders. In December, the Golconda army advanced occupying the fort of Nakbat. In short time Rapur fell on 3 December 1642. After a month of fighting, Kullur fell in January 1643. Mir Jumla marched to capture Dumburu or Dandalaru fort in south. Next he conquered the island of Sriharikota. Several other forts were taken by the Golconda army after defeating the allied forces. Next Mir Jumla marched northwards to capture fort of Udayagiri. Mallaiya a commander of Raya disclosed a secret passage to the invading army which led the Golconda army to conquer the major fort. In June 1643, Mir Jumla departed from Karnataka to the royal court leaving the command of Karnataka to Ghazi Ali BegSecond Conquest of Karnatak
In 1646, Mir Jumla decided to invade the Kingdom of Chandragiri. Three of the strongest forts fell to Mir Jumla. Next he conquered the forts of Udayagiri, advanced southwards along the coast, and conquering Chengleput in the process. He also laid siege to the dutch settlement at Pulicat until the Dutch offered submission to him. He further advanced and laid siege to the fort of Vellore.By April 1647, the king offered submission to him and promised to pay him tribute. In 1650, Mir Jumla conquered the nearly inaccessible Gandikota fort from Timma Nayadu with the help of European Gunners. Although there was success in conquering former lands of the Vijayanagara Empire, he was unable to conquer the fort of Gingee from the nayaks and in 1648, Gingee fell to the Adil Shahis. After conquest of Gandikota he turned northwest and captured Guti. Next moving southeast he occupied the fort of Gurrumkonda. Mir Jumla conquered Chandragiri and Tirupati as well
As a skilled financier, Mir Jumla employed Telugu Niyogi Brāhmaṇas to collect revenue, where he was able to collect 43 lakhs of Rupees from his domains which were rich in diamonds, iron, saltpetre and steel. By his enormous wealth, he was able to recruit Pathans, Rajputs, Afghans and Mughals in his campaign to Bijapur in 1652. During this year, Mir Jumla was tasked to govern Golconda the Hyderabad Karnatak kingdom nearly 40,000 square kilometers with annual revenues equivalent to four million rupees a year, while his military role also contribute greatly to his wealth. For the purpose of making 20 artillery pieces, he melted Hindu idols captured from temples with the help of his French Surgeon, Gunner and Gun founder M Claude Maille but was unable to melt the 6 Hindu idols that belonged to the temple of Gondikota.
Speaking of his victories in Karnatak Mir Jumla wrote letter to Khalifa-i-Sultan, The Wazir of the Safavid sultan Shah Abbas II he said:
By God's grace and the Padishah's luck, The Banner of Islam has been flown over the Infidel Karnatak and that of Hinduism has been brought down. The entire body of rebels and rajas have been brought under my fold. The Voice of Islam and the practices of our saints have been spread here.
In 1653, Rustam Beg a Havildar under Mir Jumla demolished the upper part of the temple at Poonamallee and erected a mosque over it.
from 1653 to 1654, in one of prince Aurangzeb letters to Shah Jahan, he cites a report of his agent Mohammad Amin where Mir Jumla is said to have maintained a force of 9000 Cavalry, and 20,000 infantry and his army were equipped with breeds of Iraqi and Arabian horse.
Career in the Mughal Imperial Court
With the governorship over the Karnataka domains, Mir Jumla exponentially transformed from a wazir of a powerless master to a position of unchecked power and wealth. Naturally many officers in the Qutub Shahi court felt jealous of him and they naturally positioned the mind of the sultan against the Wazir. So the sultan demanded a portion of loot obtained by Mir Jumla in the karnatak which Mir Jumla flatly refused as he thought that the conquest was solely his work and the sultan had no part in to take it. At some point, The Sultan of Golconda conspired with other courtiers to capture and blind Mir Jumla, which Mir Jumla immediately aware of, thus prompting him to began to look for other options of service.Prince Aurangzeb, which has passionate ambition of conquering the rich State of Golconda, was eager to opened a secret correspondence with Mir Jumla. He also sent an agent, Muhammad Mumin, and then sent a secret petition for appointment under the Emperor. At the recommendation of prince Aurangzeb, emperor Shah Jahan offered to Mir Jumla his protection. However, Mir Jumla feigned consent, and urged the Mughal Court to keep this agreement secret. As Aurangzeb assisted Mir Jumla from being captured by the Golconda sultanates, he finally accept Mughal hegemony and wrote to the prince agreeing to join the Mughal service.
Campaign & Governorship in Bengal
On his accession to the throne, Aurangzeb entrusted Mir Jumla with the task of dealing with Shah Shuja, where the rebellious prince was defeated in the Battle of Khajwa and took to flight.Mir Jumla bribed Shuja's ally, the Zamindar of Birbhum, to not block his pursuit. Thus Mir Jumla continues to pursue Shah Shuja until his force reached Tanda. From Tanda to Dhaka, where he arrived on 9 May 1660. The latter, however, had already left Dhaka, crossed the eastern border and ultimately found shelter with the king of Arakan. Later, at the battle of Giria, Mir Jumla once again leading Aurangzeb army against the Elephant artillery of Shah Shuja.
Soon after his arrival at Dhaka, Mir Jumla received the imperial farman appointing him subahdar of Bengal in recognition of his services. He was shortly rewarded with further titles and another increase of mansab. He reorganised the administration. Reversing the action of Shuja, who had transferred the capital to Rajmahal, he restored Dhaka to its former status. He then paid attention to the administration of justice, dismissing dishonest Qazis and Mir Adils. Finally Mir Jumla pacified Hijli.
Later, Mir Jumla further promoted as Diwan al-Kul, or Grand vizier. It is reported that this is due to his effort of returning Babur's diamond to the Mughal possession. He also granted the command of 6000 Mughal cavalry, residence near Agra Fort, precious stones, 200 horses, 10 elephants, as well as 500000 rupees payment in cash. As a bonus, he also granted a fiefdom in Karnataka for seven years, without obligation to pay any tribute.
Mir Jumla met and befriended the French traveller Jean-Baptiste Tavernier after his defection into Mughal side. who testify that Mir Jumla were a prominent governor of Mughal empire under Aurangzeb. Tavernier advised Mir Jumla that there is little market of diamonds in europe at that time, thus prompting Mir Jumla to command his diamond miners back for agricultural works.
For naval operations such as during Assam campaign he employs Portuguese, English, and Dutch sailors to operate his 323 warships. Furthermore, Mir Jumla also employing a British named Thomas Pratt to construct boats and making ammunition for riverine warfare Francisco Bethencourt and Catia Antunes has noted how Mir Jumla shared traits of Asian princes or potentates for his fondness for cannon weaponries, and how he is willing to employ European gunners such as crews of Ter Schelling ship.