Explore Akbar's administrative reforms during the Mughal era, focusing on his innovative land revenue systems like zabti and dahsala.
Learn how these reforms shaped governance and economic policies in medieval India.
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.
×
Rebellions and Further Expansion of the Mughal Empire
The new system of administration introduced by Akbar, as described above, implied tightening of the administrative machinery, greater control over the nobles, and more attention to the interests of the people.
It was, therefore, not to the liking of many nobles. Sentiments of regional independence were still strong, particularly in areas such as Gujarat, Bengal, and Bihar, all of which had a long tradition of forming separate kingdoms.
In Rajasthan, Rana Pratap’s struggle for freedom was continuing apace.
In this situation, Akbar had to deal with a series of rebellions.
Gujarat remained in a state of unrest for two years due to a bid for freedom by a representative of the old ruling dynasty.
The most serious rebellion during the period was in Bengal and Bihar which extended to Jaunpur. The main cause of the rebellion was the strict enforcement of the dagh system or branding of the horses of the jagirdars, and strict accounting of their income.
The discontent was fanned by some religious divines who were unhappy at Akbar’s liberal views, and at his policy of resuming the large revenue-free grants of land which had been obtained by them, sometimes illegally.
Akbar’s half-brother, Mirza Hakim, the ruler of Kabul, also abetted the rebellion and held out the hope of invading the Punjab at a suitable time in order to help.
A large number of Afghans in the eastern parts were sullen at the loss of the Afghan power and were ever ready to join a rebellion.
The rebellion kept the empire distracted for almost two years (1580-81), and Akbar was faced with a very difficult and delicate situation.
Due to the mishandling of the situation by local officials, Bengal and almost the whole of Bihar passed into the hands of the rebels who proclaimed Mirza Hakim as their ruler.
They even got a religious divine to issue a fatwa, calling on the faithful to take the field against Akbar.
Akbar did not lose his nerve. He despatched a force under Todar Mal against Bihar and Bengal, and another under Raja Man Singh to check the expected attack by Mirza Hakim.
Todar Mal proceeded with great vigour and tact, and brought the situation in the east under control before Mirza Hakim’s invasion took place.
Mirza Hakim advanced on Lahore with 15,000 horses, but could not take the city due to the stout defence by Raja Man Singh and Bhagwant Das.
His hopes that large number of nobles in the Punjab would rebel and join him were also belied.
Meanwhile, Akbar marched on Lahore with a well-disciplined force of 50,000 horses. Mirza Hakim had no option but to beat a hasty retreat.
Akbar crowned his success by marching to Kabul (1581). Since Mirza Hakim refused to accept Akbar’s suzerainty, or to come to pay personal allegiance to him, and the Indian nobles and soldiers were becoming restive, Akbar handed over Kabul to his sister, before returning to India. The handing over of a kingdom to a woman was symbolic of Akbar’s broad-mindedness and liberalism.
Akbar’s triumph over his opponents was not only a personal success, but also showed that the new system was beginning to strike roots.
Akbar was now free to think of the further expansion of his empire.
Akbar was drawn to the Deccan in which he had long been interested. But before he could do anything, the situation in the northwest claimed his attention again.
Abdullah Khan Uzbek, the hereditary enemy of the Mughals, had been gradually gathering strength in Central Asia.
In 1584, he overran Badakhshan which had been ruled by the Timurids. Kabul appeared to be next on the list.
Both Mirza Hakim and the Timurid princes ousted from Badakhshan now appealed to Akbar for help. But before he could act, Mirza Hakim died due to excessive drinking, leaving Kabul in a state of disturbance.
Akbar now ordered Man Singh to march to Kabul, and himself moved to Attock on the river Indus.
In order to block all roads to the Uzbeks, he sent expeditions against Kashmir (1586), and against Baluchistan.
The whole of Kashmir, including Ladakh and Baltistan (called Tibet Khurd and Tibet Buzurg), came under Mughal domination, and a daughter of the chief of Baltistan was married to young Salim.
Expeditions were also sent to clear the Khyber Pass which had been blocked by rebellious tribesmen.
In an expedition against them, Raja Birbal, the favourite of Akbar, lost his life. But the Afghan tribesmen were gradually forced to submit.
The consolidation of the northwest, and fixing a scientific frontier of the empire were two of the major contributions of Akbar.
His conquest of Sindh (1590) also opened the trade down the river Indus for Punjab.
Akbar stayed at Lahore till 1598 when the death of Abdullah Uzbek finally removed the threat from the side of the Uzbeks.
After settling the affairs of the northwest, Akbar turned his attention towards the affairs of eastern and western India and the Deccan.
Orissa, which was at the time under the domination of Afghan chiefs, was conquered by Raja Man Singh who was the Mughal governor of Bengal.
Man Singh also conquered Cooch-Bihar and parts of east Bengal, including Dacca.
Mirza Aziz Koka, the foster-brother of Akbar, conquered Kathiawar in the west.
Khan-i-Khanan Munim Khan was deputed to the Deccan along with prince Murad.
The developments in the Deccan would be dealt with in a separate chapter.
Suffice it to say here that by the turn of the century, Mughal control had been extended up to Ahmadnagar, bringing the Mughals into direct contact with the Marathas for the first time.
Thus, the political integration of north India had been achieved by the turn of the century, and the Mughals had started the penetration of the Deccan.
But what was even more important, the cultural and emotional integration of the people within this vast empire had developed apace.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you agree to our use of cookies. Please review our
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Use for more information.
