Shah Jehan, who had a clear insight into the characters of his sons, was very apprehensive that on his death dis putes might arise among them : pat tial to Dara, not more, perhaps, because he was the eldest, than on account of his excellent qualities, he made him the associate of ltis throne, and commanded respect to be paid to the signet of Dara, equal to that which was paid to his own. In order, however, that this might not rouse the jealousy of his bro thers, he at the same time made Sujah governor of Bengal, Aurengzebe governor of the southern provinces, and Mo rad governor of Guzerat. But this very measure, in one respect, defeated the object which the emperor had in con templation ; for Dara being necessarily near his father, while his brothers were at a distance, they were disposed to regard their appointments as given them, not so much to place them on a footing with Dara, as to remove them from the seat of government, and consequently to deprive them of the chance of contesting the throne with him, in the event of their father's death.
As long as Shah Jehan continued in health and vigour, the authority of Data was not questioned by his brothers ; but in the year A. D. 1657, the emperor having been seiz ed with a stroke of the palsy, was obliged to give up the entire government to his driest son. As soon as the other brothers heard of their father's illness, they immediately anticipated a fatal issue, and apprehending the destruction of their power as soon as Dara should ascend the throne, they each, without communicating with the other two, re solved to march with the utmost expedition to Delhi. The intelligence of the approach of Sujah first reached the seat of government ; and as Dara did not deem it prudent to leave Delhi himself, he dispatched his son to oppose Sujah. The hostile armies met near Benares; a battle was fought, which terminated in the defeat of the invader, retrac ed his steps into Bengal for the purpose of raising new forces, But the danger with which Dara was surrounded was very little lessened by this defeat Sujah, from the position of his government, had been obliged to commence hostilities without aid front his brothers ; hut they had it in their power to unite their armies; and this they actually did ; Aurengzebe, on his march front the Decan, being joined at Brampoor by lorad, with his troops from G uze rat, While Aurengzehe possessed the government of the Decan, his ambition had nut been asleep, nor had it been unaided by those talents and habits, which were so well calculated to attain its gratification in the most unsuspi cious and certain mariner. Meer Juinla, a man of low ori gin, hut of an enterprising turn, had raised himself to great power, and acquired immense wealth at the court of the princes of Golconda ; but, in consequence of some affront which he received, he fled to Aurengzebe, bringing along with him all his treasures. To make this man his friend,
Au•engzebe was incited, not less by the consideration of his riches and forces, than of his abilities ; accordingly he received him in the most kind and flattering manner, and soon gained such an ascendancy over him, that he found no difficulty in persuading him to join in the attempt to de prive Dara of the throne of Delhi.
As the united forces of Aurengzebe, Mond, and Meer Jumla, were very numerous, Dara resolved to oppose their progress by every means in his power ; accordingly an ar my, under a general whom he could depend upon, was stationed on the banks of the Nerbudda, to contest the pas sage of that river ; but the attempt was in vain ; the army of Dara was defeated, and Dara then deemed it necessary to advance against his enemies. The brothers met near Agra ; a battle was fought ; victory seemed doubtful for a considerable time, and turned in favour of the invaders only in consequence of an apparently trilling circumstance. Dara was obliged to dismount from his elephant from dif ferent accidents; and the soldiers no longer seeing him at his station, were panic struck, and !led. Aurengzebe and Monad thus gained a decided victory.
The next objects which Aurengzebe had in view was the capture of his father and his brother Dara; to accom plish the latter, he marched without loss of time after the battle to Agra ; and that city presenting the prospect of a resistance, which he had not leisure or means to overcome, he had recourse to stratagem, and thus gained possession i of it. His father consequently fell into his power, and he him, his daughter Jehanara, and the infant daughter of Dara, in the fortress. In the mean time. Dara had fled to Delhi, and against that city Aurengzebe now directed his march. Hitherto he had succeeded in per suading his brother Morad, that it was for his sake alone he was anxious to deprive their father and brother of the throne ; and that the only reward he sought for himself was a hermitage, iri which he might spend the remainder of his life, at a distance from the cares and vanities of the world. But his real projects now became apparent, and Morad re gal ded him %vizir suspicion and alarm. As Morad was the favourite of the troops, and besides had :a great number of personal friends, Aurengzebe resolved to remove him ; and this he did, not in his accustomed dark and crafty man• ncr, but openly ; for having invited him to a sumptuous entertainment, he caused him to be seized and murdered. It does not appear that this most violent measure created any disturbance, for after its perpetration Aurengzebe im mediately marched to Delhi. He did not, however, assume the sovereignty, without the mockery of appearing to have it forced upon him, by the urgent representations and en treaties of his friends : as soon as he became emperor, he took the appellation of Alumghire, or conqueror of the world.