Mughal Prince Bidar Bakht

Muhammad Bidar Bakht was a Mughal prince who lived from August 4, 1670, until June 8, 1707. In 1707, his father, Muhammad Azam Shah, was Mughal emperor for a short time. Bidar was known as the most capable Mughal ruler of his day and was known for being a brave, skilled, and effective general. He was Emperor Aurangzeb's most favourite grandchild because of his courage and excellent skills. Bidar has held senior military and administrative positions since he was 17 years old. One of his 1st actions was to storm Fort Sinsani after a furious battle and significant casualties. He led a Mughal force that defeated an invading Maratha army and chased it for ten days when he was 19 years old. Muhammad Bidar Bakht was a Mughal prince who lived from August 4, 1670, until June 8, 1707. In 1707, his father, Muhammad Azam Shah, was Mughal emperor for a short time. Bidar was known as the most capable Mughal ruler of his day and was known for being a brave, skilled, and effective general. Hence, he was Emperor Aurangzeb's favourite grandchild.

Bidar has held senior military and administrative positions since he was 17 years old. One of Bidar Bakht's first actions was to storm Fort Sinsani after a furious battle and significant casualties. He led a Mughal force that defeated an invading Maratha army and chased it for ten days when he was 19 years old. Aurangzeb lavished gifts on Azam and Jahanzeb and Prince Bidar Bakht, demonstrating his undying affection for them. His grandfather's favourite grandchild was Bidar Bakht.

On December 3 1686, Bidar Bakht married Shams-un-Nisa (puti Begum), the daughter of Qamr-ud-din (titled Mukhtar Khan), at sixteen. She was a member of the Ben-i-Mukhtar family, which was well-liked by Muslims. Shams-un-Nisa, who appeared to be arrogant and imperious, had always been the object of Bidar's attention and favour. On August 23, 1695, Shams-un-Nisa gave birth to Bidar's son, Shahzada Firuz Bakht.

In 1688, the Emperor dispatched Prince Bidar Bakht, at 17 years old, to take command of the Jat War. Bishan Singh Kachhawa, the new Raja of Amber (Jaipur), was made commandant of Muttra and eradicated the Jats. The Mughal activities were imbued with vitality thanks to Bidar Bakht. Many forts were conquered by Bidar Bakht, including Tarkand, Navalkhand, Khelna, and Sinsani. The Prince besieged Fort Sinsani, where his forces faced hardships due to a lack of supplies and water. After three hours of tenacious battle, they fired a mine, rushed the breach, and seized the fort, losing 900 soldiers against 1,500 Jat fatalities. Churaman and Fateh Singh, two Jat leaders, were able to flee. Although Imperial soldiers captured 52 Jat forts, including strongholds such as Khair, Jawar, Sonkh, and Sogar, and killed thousands of Jats, they found themselves "at sea with the Jats." In 1696, the imperial army was summoned from the province of Agra. The Jat War continued to be a failure.

In 1699, the Emperor sent Bidar Bakht urgent orders to pursue and defeat Chhatrapati Rajaram's enemy force at Surat, in the imperial territory. Bidar Bakht was 20 miles (32 kilometres) west of Miraj on his way to Panhala when he abruptly turned around, leaving his family and belongings in Miraj, and charged straight at the enemy. Bidar Bakht encountered the Marathas 20 miles (32 kilometres) beyond Paranda's fort. Rajaram came to a safe stop 8 miles (13 kilometres) to the east, sending back his generals under Dhanaji Jadhav to inspect the Prince's progress. On November 13th or 14th, the Marathas were broken and forced towards Ahmednagar after a brutal battle. On the 22nd or 23rd of November, the Prince was joined by Chin Qalich Khan at Barsi, 20 miles (32 kilometres) east of Paranda, and they resumed their chase of Ausa.

Aurangzeb appointed Bidar Viceroy of Malwa on August 3, 1704. The Prince had proven to be a capable and daring general. With his new assignment, he retained his position as ruler of Aurangabad. Regarding the tribute that arrived in Agra from the Northern provinces, he had to relocate from Malwa to Khandesh or can be the opposite as the situation necessitated. He had to put down local uprisings of the Bhils and Kolis. The previous year's Maratha invasion was to blame for these uprisings. The Bhils also created havoc on the northwestern boundary by constructing the fort Gagron. The Prince proceeded to Malwa to escort the tribute when the threat of another Nima invasion had passed. During December 1703 and January 1705, he became unwell there. He assigned his faithful subordinate, Jai Singh II of Amber, to escort the tribute and serve as his deputy in Malwa. The Emperor opposed Jai Singh's appointment, and the Prince was ordered to recall him. Khan Alam was appointed instead, and no Rajputs were appointed as provincial governors or garrison commanders. Bidar Bakht was given orders to return to Sansani, a fort near Bharatpur that the Jats had lately seized. The Prince intended to comply but could not do so due to illness and other commitments in Malwa. The Prince stayed at Malwa during the rainy season of 1705. His responsibilities were reduced in the latter months of 1705. The provinces of Khandesh and Aurangabad were taken from him and given to his father, Prince Azam, who was returning from Gujarat at the time. Bidar Bakht continued to fight the Marathas in battle. In November 1705, he travelled to Malwa to examine accusations against some of Jai Singh's aides. Bidar then travelled to Dhar to see his father, which enraged the Emperor because he had not returned to Burhanpur to hunt down the Marathas. The Prince was forced to travel to Nolai (Badnagar) to meet the Maratha warriors dispatched by Parsu Maratha to aid Gopal Singh Chandrawat in his insurrection. The Marathas had conquered Gujarat, and the Emperor had ordered Bidar Bakht to leave immediately towards Gujarat. In April of 1706, the Prince left Malwa.

Bidar was appointed governor of Gujarat upon his arrival, succeeding his father, until the new governor, Ibrahim Khan from Kashmir, died on the way. Khan-i-Alam and Najabat Khan were assigned to Malwa and Khandesh, respectively. A Maratha incursion into Gujarat in 1706 was followed by a severe defeat of the Mughal army at Ratanpur, bolstering the empire's foes. For the third time, Ajit Singh formed an army in rebellion. Durgadas escaped the Mughal camp once more and joined forces with him, igniting Thread and elsewhere. Bidar dispatched an army to hunt down Durgadas, who had escaped to the shattered Koli area south of Surat.

Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir died on March 3, 1707, in his military camp at Ahmadnagar. His father, Azam Shah, who was hailed as the new Mughal Emperor, told Prince Bidar Bakht of the monarch's death. Bidar Bakht was overcome with grief when he learned of his grandfather's death. It was said that the late Emperor's death lingered in the Prince's thoughts for a long time and that he would frequently weep as he remembered the late Emperor, whom he adored.

Bidar Bakht was killed in the Battle of Jajau on June 8, 1707, as part of the succession conflict following Emperor Aurangzeb's death. During the battle, his father, who had become Emperor after Aurangzeb's death on March 17, was also killed.