How Aurangzeb's lifelong Deccan wars set the stage for Mughal Empire’s decline

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The Deccan Plateau, a vast region covering most of South India, extends over parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. This region remained a source of constant instability for Aurangzeb and the sprawling Mughal Empire. According to later historians, his prolonged military campaigns in the Deccan, particularly against the Marathas, drained the empire’s resources and ultimately weakened its foundations.

Aurangzeb’s brutal suppression of the Marathas, especially the torture and execution of the second Maratha Chhatrapati, Sambhaji, had the opposite effect of what he intended. Rather than subduing the Marathas, it further fueled their resistance, rallying them into renewed rebellions. Accounts of Sambhaji's confrontation with the Mughal ruler and his subsequent torture, execution, and the disposal of his body vary across sources, but all agree that his death was ordered by Aurangzeb.

Beyond the Marathas, Aurangzeb waged continuous wars against other Deccan kingdoms, including Golconda and Bijapur. His conquest of these states in 1686–1687 did not bring stability; instead, it stretched Mughal resources thin and led to growing unrest. The Deccan wars, combined with Aurangzeb’s rigid policies, alienated several factions, including Shia Muslims who had earlier aligned with the Mughals. The empire's finances deteriorated, soldiers went unpaid, and famine and discontent spread.

Compared to his Mughal predecessors, Aurangzeb lived a relatively austere life. A devout Muslim, he patronized Islamic calligraphy, and demand for Quran manuscripts in the naskh style peaked during his reign. Under the guidance of Syed Ali Tabrizi, he became a skilled calligrapher, personally creating Quran manuscripts. Unlike emperors like Akbar and Shah Jahan, who commissioned grand architectural projects, Aurangzeb focused on maintaining existing structures. He prioritized the repair of mosques—both Mughal and pre-Mughal—and supported the dargahs of Sufi saints such as Bakhtiyar Kaki, while also ensuring the upkeep of royal tombs.

When Aurangzeb died on March 3, 1707, at the age of 88, the Mughal Empire was already in decline. Sir Jadunath Sarkar argues that his death triggered a war of succession that further weakened Mughal power, setting the stage for the empire’s eventual downfall. His successors were unable to maintain control, and infighting among his sons further weakened the empire, leading to Maratha dominance in large parts of the Deccan and the increasing influence of European forces, particularly the British and Portuguese.