History
The city was founded in 1610 A.D. by Malik Ambar, the Prime Minister of
Murtaza Nizam Shah of Ahmadnagar, on the site of a village called
Kharki. He made it his capital and the men of his army raised their
dwellings around it. Within a decade, Kharki grew into a populous and
imposing city. Malik Ambar cherished strong love and ability for
architecture. Aurangabad was Ambar's architectural achievement and
creation. However, in 1621, it was ravaged and burnt down by the
imperial troops under Jahangir. Ambar the founder of the city was
always referred to by harsh names by Emperor Jahangir. In his memoirs,
he never mentions his name without prefixing epithets like wretch,
cursed fellow, Habshi, Ambar Siyari, black Ambar, and Ambar Badakhtur.
Malik Ambar died in 1626.[1] He was succeeded by his son Fateh Khan,
who changed the name of Kharki to Fatehnagar. In the same year, the
Moghal viceroy Khan Jahan Lodi, advanced on the city, but retired to
Burhanpur on being bribed by the Nizam Shahi Commander, Hamid Khan.
With the capture of Daulatabad by the imperial troops in 1633, the
Nizam Shahi dominions, including Fatehnagar, came under the possession
of the Moghals. In 1653 when Prince Aurangzeb was appointed the viceroy
of the Deccan for the second time, he made Fatehnagar his capital and
called it Aurangabad. Aurangabad is sometimes referred to as Khujista
Bunyad by the Chroniclers of Aurangzeb's reign.
In March 1666, accompanied by a body of 1,000 select troops, Shivaji
arrived at Aurangabad on his way to Agra. Safshikan Khan, the governor
of Aurangabad, treated him with scant respect. For this act, he was
severely reprimanded by Jai Singh and made to pay a courtesy call on
Shivaji. In 1668, the city nearly became a scene of a conflict between
the imperial troops under Diler Khan, and those commanded by Prince
Muazzam, the viceroy. In 1681, after plundering Burhanpur, the Marathas
assembled in the neighbourhood of the Satara hills in order to attack
Aurangabad. The plan was, however, abandoned on hearing of the arrival
of the viceroy, Khan Jahan Bahadur. In the same year, Khan Jahan
Bahadur erected a wall around Aurangabad to protect it against surprise
attacks of the Marathas. It was done at the order of the Emperor, and
cost rupees three lakhs. Two years later, the Emperor himself arrived
at Aurangabad.
is a monument built in 1660 by Aurangzeb's son, Azam Shah, as a loving
tribute to his mother, Dilras Bano Begam.]] In 1692, he ordered a
magnificent palace to be erected near the great reservoir to the north
of the city - the ruins of which are now to be seen in the Killa Ark. A
fortified wall was thrown round the suburb of Begampura in 1696 A. D.
Shortly after the death of Aurangzeb, the city of Aurangabad slipped
from the hands of the Moghals. In 1720, Nizamul-Mulk Asif Jah, a
distinguished General of Aurangzeb with the intention of founding his
own dynasty in the Deccan, arrived at Aurangabad. He paid a visit to
Delhi in 1723, but turned in 1724 2[clarification needed], defying the
orders of Emperor Muhammad Shah. Soon after he transferred his capital
from Aurangabad to Hyderabad.
The Emperor ordered Mubariz Khan, the Subhedar of the Deccan to oppose
the Nizam. A battle was fought near Sakharkherda, subsequently called
Fatehkherda, in which Murbariz Khan was defeated and killed. Raghoji, a
young scion of the house of the Jadhavs of Sindkhed who fought on the
side of the Moghals was also killed. Incensed at the support lent by
the Jadhavs to Mubariz Khan, the Nizam despatched a posse of troops to
Deulgaon to capture the Jadhav family. But being informed of the design
the family escaped to Satara and sought asylum with Chhatrapati Shahu.
At the intervention of Shahu the Jagir was restored back to the
Jadhavs.
In 1853, Aurangabad was the scene of a conflict between the contingent
troops and a body of Arab mercenaries belonging to Mansing Rav, the
Raja of Devalgaon. The Arabs placed the Raja under restraint, and
threatened his life because their pay was in arrears. Brigadier Mayne,
commanding the station, being apprised of the situation, marched out in
the first week of October, with the 5th regiment cavalry, 6th regiment
infantry, and a battery of artillery to Jasvantpura, just outside the
Roshangate, where the Arabs had posted themselves. After a stiff
resistance, the Arabs were defeated and dispersed and the Raja was
released. In the action that was fought the Contingent lost 15 killed
and 40 were wounded. Among those killed was Lieut. Boswell, and among
those wounded Lieut. Vaughan, and Captain Parker. Both of them
succumbed to their wounds later
