| Date / Year | Battle / Campaign & Notes (Pointwise) |
|---|---|
| February 1658 | Engagement against Shuja near Banaras • Sulaiman Shikoh (Dara’s general) initially defeated Shuja. • Delayed return to Agra prevented reinforcement of Dara’s capital. • Dara’s strategic position weakened in the east. |
| 15 April 1658 | Battle of Dharmat • Aurangzeb defeated Dara Shikoh’s imperial forces and Raja Jaswant Singh. • Dara’s over-confidence and divided counsel weakened his position. • Key eastern troops under Sulaiman Shikoh were away, leaving Agra under-defended. • Victory boosted Aurangzeb’s prestige and morale of his supporters; Dara’s supporters were demoralized. |
| 29 May 1658 | Battle of Samugarh • Equal forces (~50,000–60,000) on both sides. • Dara lacked competent generals; Hada Rajputs and Saiyids of Barha could not compensate. • Aurangzeb’s battle-hardened troops were decisive. • Dara fled to Lahore, losing northern control. |
| December 1658 | Battle of Khajwa • Aurangzeb defeated Shuja near Allahabad. • Continued pressure led Shuja to flee India into Arakan. • Shuja and family later killed dishonorably by Arakanese. |
| March 1659 | Battle of Deorai • Dara Shikoh’s last major battle near Ajmer. • Betrayal by Jaswant Singh prevented Dara from securing allies. • Dara captured at Bolan Pass; executed on Aurangzeb’s orders. • Dara’s son Sulaiman Shikoh later suffered the same fate. |
| 1671 | Battle of Saraighat (Ahom War) • Mughal forces suffered a major defeat against Ahom Kingdom in Assam. • Demonstrated challenges of Mughal campaigns in difficult terrain. • Showed limits of Aurangzeb’s expansion in northeast India. |
| 1686 | Siege of Bijapur • Aurangzeb captured the city, ending the Adil Shahi dynasty. • Consolidated Mughal control over Deccan. |
| 1687 | Siege of Golconda • Captured Qutb Shahi capital after a long siege. • Strengthened Mughal dominance in southern India. |
Reference: AR History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra