Akbar was a very ambitious ruler.
Moghul empire was expanding day by day. But still there were prize states that yet were not part of the empire. He worked out a plan and got down to implement it with farsightedness and patience. It paid dividends.
By 1564 the empire of Akbar had spread upto Kabul in north, in east upto parts of Bihar, in south upto Narmada after Jaunpur, Malwa and Gwalior.
But Akbar was an overambitious ruler. He wanted his flag flutter over the entire land of Hindustan. To realise his dream he inspired his associates, chieftains and the commanders.
Rani Durgavati
In his expansion plan the first target was Gondwana. And Gondwana was under the rule of Rani Durgawati.
She was the daughter of the Chandel king of Mahoba and was married to the king of Garha-Kantaka. The rulers of that place were of Gond tribal origin. Their kingdom constituted of entire northern region of today’s large state of Madhya Pradesh. Unfortunately Rani Durgawati had been widowed only a few years into her marriage. She had a son who was yet a child. His name was Veer Narain. Rani Durgawati had been ruling the state for the past 15 years. The legends of the bravery and the farsightedness of Rani Durgawati still told and retold by the folk.
Moghul army attacked her kingdom. Bravely she fought. But how long could she hold against the large Moghul force? During the battle she received two arrow hits in sensitive parts of her body. She fell and knew her end was near. She didn’t want to fall in the enemy hands as she had heard horrible tales of the dishonour of women who were captured alive by the fanatical Moghul chieftains. She took her own life by plunging her dagger into her chest. With her death her army disintegrated. Her son Veer Narain carried on the battle from another fort where he had been taken to in injured state in the earlier part of the fight. He held on for two months. But eventually the Moghuls won. In this way the Gond kingdom of Garha-Kantaka Gondwana fell to the Moghuls and the path of Akbar for the southern push was cleared.
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