battle between Aurangzeb and Darashikoh

 29 May 1657

 Fatehabad, 5 miles from Agra, is the place where on this day, 29 May 1657, a battle between Aurangzeb and Darashikoh took place, in which Aurangzeb defeated a large imperial army of Dara.  He just looked like a puppet, he didn't even take out his sword from his sheath, and you took revenge for the insult from the arrogant Darashikoh, this warlord was killed by Dara with his shoes in a crowded court for a small mistake.

 While Dara's chief commanders Rustam Khan, Chhatrasal and Ram Singh Rautela were killed, Dara somehow escaped with his life, while his second brother Murad Bakhsh on Aurangzeb's side was wounded.  But on that day, history had changed, Aurangzeb had become the next emperor of India

The battle between Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh, two of the sons of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, is a significant episode in Indian history, marking a turning point in the Mughal Empire's history. This conflict primarily took place during the Mughal War of Succession (1658-1659), following Shah Jahan's illness in 1657.

**Key Battles and Events:**

1. **Battle of Samugarh (1658)**:

   - **Date**: May 29, 1658

   - **Location**: Near Agra, India

   - **Combatants**: Aurangzeb and his brother Murad Baksh against Dara Shikoh

   - **Outcome**: Aurangzeb's decisive victory. Dara Shikoh, although commanding a larger army, was unable to effectively use his resources and was outmaneuvered by Aurangzeb’s experienced and strategic military tactics.

   - **Significance**: This battle was crucial as it marked the beginning of the end for Dara Shikoh’s aspirations to the throne. Dara’s defeat forced him to flee, leading to a series of events that culminated in his capture and eventual execution.

2. **Capture and Execution of Dara Shikoh**:

   - **Capture**: After losing the Battle of Samugarh, Dara Shikoh fled towards the Punjab and later sought refuge in Sindh and Gujarat. He was eventually betrayed, captured, and handed over to Aurangzeb’s forces in 1659.

   - **Execution**: Dara was paraded in Delhi and executed on August 30, 1659, on charges of apostasy and heresy, as Aurangzeb used his orthodox Islamic credentials to justify his actions and consolidate his power.

**Consequences of the Battle**:

- **Aurangzeb's Ascension**: Aurangzeb’s victory at Samugarh and subsequent capture of Dara Shikoh allowed him to proclaim himself the Emperor of the Mughal Empire. He imprisoned his father, Shah Jahan, in the Agra Fort until his death in 1666.

- **Policy Shifts**: Aurangzeb's reign marked a shift towards more conservative and orthodox Islamic policies, contrasting with the relatively liberal and inclusive policies of his predecessors, including his brother Dara Shikoh, who was known for his interest in Hinduism and Sufism.

The conflict between Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh was more than a mere struggle for the throne; it symbolized a clash of ideologies and visions for the future of the Mughal Empire. Aurangzeb’s victory and subsequent policies significantly influenced the social and political landscape of the Indian subcontinent in the following decades.