Mughal War of Succession (1658–1659)
The Mughal War of Succession (1658–1659) was a war of succession fought between the four sons of Shah Jahan: Aurangzeb, Dara Shikoh, Murad Bakhsh, and Shah Shuja, in hopes of gaining the Mughal Throne.  Prior to the death of Shah Jahan, each of his sions held governorships during their father's reign. The emperor favoured the eldest, Dara Shikoh, However, there was  resentment among the younger three, who sought at various times to strengthen alliances between themselves and against Dara. Since there was no Mughal tradition of primogeniture, the systematic passing of rule, upon an emperor's death, to his eldest son. Instead it was customary for sons to overthrow their father and for brothers to war to the death among themselves.

Shah Shuja was victorious in the Battle of Bahadurpur, Shuja turned back to Rajmahal to make further preparations. He signed a treaty with his elder brother, Dara, which left him in control of Bengal, Orissa and a large part of Bihar, on 17 May 1658.

Aurangzeb defeated Dara twice (at Dharmat and Samugarh), caught him, executed him on a charge of heresy and ascended the throne. Shuja marched to the capital again, this time against Aurangzeb. A battle took place on 5 January 1659 at the Battle of Khajwa (Fatehpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India), where Shuja was defeated. Ultimately, Aurangzeb was victorious making him the 6th Mughal Emperor.

Background

Battle of Bahadurpur

Battle of Dharmat

Battle of Samugarh 

After his defeat at the Battle of Dharmat, Dara Shikoh began to retreat towards Samugarh, about 10 miles (16 km) east of Agra, south of the Yamuna River, Aurangzeb and his  army then flanked Dara’s fortified line along the Chambal River.

Shikoh ordered his cannons to start firing towards the army of Aurangzeb. Eventually,  Murad Baksh and his Sowars began a swift charge into the far right flank of Dara Shikoh, commanded by Chatter Sal, without the orders of Aurangzeb. It is believed that Murad Baksh was a sworn enemy of Chattar Sal. They both fought ferociously on the battlefield as the Sowars of Murad Baksh and Murad Baksh killed Ram Singh Rautela. 

When Dara Shikoh was informed about the death of Chattar Sal, Murad Baksh, the collapse of the Rajput infantry and the Deccan Sowars, he immediately pushed towards their aid alongside Khalilullah Khan. However, Due to Aurangzeb's heavy bombardment Dara Shikoh decided to join Khalilullah Khan in the Cavalry.  Dara Shikoh’s army fled to Goindwal where Guru Har Rai had deployed his army, the Akal Sena, to prevent and delay Aurangzeb’s army from pursuing Dara Shikoh. When the battle ended Dara Shikoh and Khalilullah Khan fled towards Sulaiman Shikoh and Aurangzeb was declared the new Mughal Emperor.

Battle of Khajwa

Coronation of Aurangzeb

References

Sources
 

Wars involving the Mughal Empire
Wars of succession involving the states and peoples of Asia
Conflicts in 1658
Conflicts in 1659