Question map
When the Mughal Empire was collapsing, which of the provinces was lost in 1622 A.D., recovered in 1638 A.D. and finally lost in 1649 A.D.
Explanation
Kandahar was a strategic point of contention between the Mughal and Safavid Empires [t3]. Originally conquered by Akbar in 1595, it was lost to the Persian King Shah Abbas in 1622 during the reign of Jahangir [c1, c2]. The loss was attributed to internal Mughal instability and the refusal of Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan) to lead the campaign while plotting for the throne [t2]. In 1638, Shah Jahan successfully recovered Kandahar after the Kurdish governor, Ali Mardan Khan, defected and handed the fort over to the Mughals [c1, t1, t4]. However, the recovery was temporary; the Safavid ruler Shah Abbas II launched a campaign and recaptured the province in 1649 [t1, t4]. Despite subsequent attempts by Shah Jahan's sons, Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh, to retake the city, Kandahar was finally lost to the Mughal Empire in 1649 [t4].
Sources
- [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Deccan Sultanates > p. 209
- [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Malik Ambar > p. 208
- [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mughal%E2%80%93Safavid_war_(1649%E2%80%931653)