Explore Akbar's military campaigns that brought Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Bengal under Mughal rule. Learn about the sieges of Chittor and Ranthambhor, conquests in Ahmedabad, and the Bengal campaign, shaping the early expansion of the Mughal Empire in India.

Conquest of Rajasthan: Rajput Resistance and Mughal Dominance

During the next ten years, Akbar brought the major part of Rajasthan under his control and also conquered Gujarat and Bengal.

• A major step in his campaign against the Rajput states was the siege of Chittor. This redoubtable fortress, which had faced a number of sieges in its history, was considered a key to central Rajasthan. It commanded the shortest route from Agra to Gujarat and was a symbol of the Rajput spirit of resistance.
• Chittor fell (1568) after a gallant siege of six months. At the advice of his nobles, Rana Udai Singh had retired to the hills, leaving the famous warriors, Jaimal and Patta, in charge of the fort. Many peasants from the surrounding area had also taken shelter within the fort, and actively aided the defenders.
• When the Mughals stormed the fort, these peasants and many of the Rajput warriors amounting to 30,000 were massacred—the first and the last time Akbar indulged in such a carnage. The Rajput warriors died after extracting as much vengeance as possible.
• In honour of the gallant Jaimal and Patta, Akbar ordered that two stone statues of these warriors, seated on elephants, be erected outside the chief gate of the fort at Agra.
• The fall of Chittor was followed by the conquest of Ranthambhor, reputed to be the most powerful fortress in Rajasthan. Jodhpur had been conquered earlier. As a result of these victories, most of the Rajput rajas, including those of Bikaner and Jaisalmer, submitted to Akbar. Only Mewar continued to resist.

Conquest of Gujarat: Strategic Importance and Mughal Assertion

Gujarat had been in a sorry state of affairs since the death of Bahadur Shah.

• The fertility of its soil, its highly developed crafts, and its importance as the centre of the import-export trade with the outside world had made it a prize worth fighting for.
• Akbar also laid claim to it because Humayun had ruled over it for some time. An additional reason was that the Mirzas who had failed in their rebellion near Delhi had taken shelter in Gujarat.
• Akbar was not prepared for such a rich province to become a rival centre of power. In 1572, Akbar advanced on Ahmedabad via Ajmer. Ahmedabad surrendered without a fight.
• Akbar then turned his attention to the Mirzas who held Broach, Baroda, and Surat. At Cambay, Akbar saw the sea for the first time and rode on it in a boat.
• A group of Portuguese merchants also came and met him for the first time. The Portuguese dominated the Indian seas by this time and had ambition of establishing an empire in India. Akbar’s conquest of Gujarat frustrated these designs.
• While Akbar’s armies were besieging Surat, Akbar crossed the river Mahi and assaulted the Mirzas with a small body of 200 men which included Man Singh and Bhagwant Das of Amber.
• For some time, Akbar's life was in danger. But the impetuosity of his charge routed the Mirzas. Thus, Gujarat came under Mughal control.
• However, as soon as Akbar had turned his back, rebellions broke out all over Gujarat. Hearing the news, Akbar marched out of Agra and traversed across Rajasthan in nine days by means of camels, horses, and carts. On the eleventh day, he reached Ahmedabad.
• In this journey, which normally took six weeks, only 3000 soldiers were able to keep up with Akbar. With these, he defeated an enemy force of 20,000 (1573).

Bengal Campaign: Consolidating Mughal Power in the East

• Akbar turned his attention to Bengal where the Afghans had continued to dominate. They had also overrun Orissa and killed its ruler.
• However, in order not to give offence to the Mughals, the Afghan ruler had not formally declared himself king but read the khutba in Akbar’s name.
• Internal fights among the Afghans, and the declaration of independence by the new ruler, Daud Khan, gave Akbar the excuse he was seeking.
• Akbar advanced with a strong flotilla of boats accompanying him. The Afghan king was believed to possess a large army consisting of 40,000 well-mounted cavalry, an infantry of about 150,000, several thousand guns and elephants, and a strong flotilla of war boats.
• If Akbar had not been as careful, and the Afghans had a better leader, the contest between Humayun and Sher Shah might well have been repeated.
• Akbar first captured Patna, thus securing Mughal communications in Bihar. He then returned to Agra, leaving Khan-i-Khanan Munaim Khan, an experienced officer, in charge of the campaign.
• The Mughal armies invaded Bengal and, after hard campaigning, Daud Khan was forced to sue for peace. He rose in rebellion soon afterwards. Though the Mughal position in Bengal and Bihar was still weak, the Mughal armies were better organised and led.
• In a stiff battle in Bihar in 1576, Daud Khan was defeated and executed on the spot. Thus ended the last Afghan kingdom in northern India, bringing to an end the first phase of Akbar's expansion of the empire.