After Gondwana the commanders of Akbar won several other small kingdoms to make them the part of the Moghul empire. Against some force was applied while the diplomatic approach also worked. Several of the small rulers meekly accepted the domination of Emperor Akbar out of fear of great military might of Moghuls and to save their subjects from the plunder and rampage of the enemy forces.
Now Akbar turned his attention to Rajputana, the homeland Rajasthan of Rajputs. Regarding the Rajputs Akbar was thinking on new lines and a new plan was emerging in his mind which needed to be implemented.
Infact, in the administrative set up of Akbar, the aliens in Iranis and Turanis (Turks) held sway. That feature to a large extent he got as legacy. There ever was tension between the two camps. The court and army were also divided in those rival groups. The turks considered themselves naturally close to Akbar who had Turkish blood from the paternal side. Iranians thought they were more worthy due to their talent and their earlier contribution in raising the Moghul empire. The Moghuls carried genes of Iranian females and that was also a big factor for them to lay psychological claim on Akbar. The opposite pulls were stagnating the growth of the empire. Akbar analysed the situation and realised that the majority Hindu population of the empire could prove a balancing factor and help it take deep roots in India. Then Rajputs were the political and military leaders of Hindus and it was essential to befriend them for the stability of the Moghul empire.
Before him Akbar had the history of his forebears who inspite of being militarily powerful faced grave problems as they did not adopt the policy of friendship and cooperation towards Rajputs. The Rajputs had local advantages and qualities that could be very helpful to the Moghul empire. They were extremely brave, courageous battlers and full of the sense of morality. Betrayal was sin for them. They were loyal, honest and true to their word. He wished to have the services of such dedicated and daring people for the Moghul empire. Akbar would no more be exclusively dependent on Iranians and the Turks who considered themselves indispensable for the empire and had become arrogant.
The farsighted young emperor could see the great advantages of turning Rajput resistence into alliance and cooperation. Without the support of that powerful group the entrenchment of the Moghul empire was impossible. The alliance with them could win him trust of the entire Hindu population.
When Akbar implemented his policy of friendship the three types of Rajputs emerged who he approached.
The first type was of those who accepted the Moghul dominance without any resistance.
The second type was of those who resited and accepted Moghul dominance after getting defeated.
The third type of Rajputs always resisted and did not accept Moghul hegemony.
Several of the Rajputs who accepted the dominance of the empire even established marital alliances with the great Moghul, Akbar.
In the earlier actions Akbar had seized Nagaur, Mewat, Ajmer and Jaitaran. Later, in 1562 Akbar took an important step in marrying the daugher of the Raja of Amer. The Raja was fed up with Moghul governor Sharfuddin who was making trouble for him. When the emperor Akbar was proceeding to the holy Dargah of Khwaja of Ajmer, Raja Bharmal of Amer met him at Sanganer on January 20, 1562. He offered acceptance of Moghul dominance in return for protection from governor Sharfuddin. He even offered his daughter in alliance to Akbar. The emperor accepted all his offers and wishes. On his way the emperor Akbar married the daughter of Bharmal at Sambhar on February 6, 1562. Akbar granted high positions in the empire to Raja Bharmal, his son Kunwar Bhagwandas and grandson Man Singh.
This marriage proved very fruitful. It started a new relationship between Moghuls and Rajputs. The good will and the friendly feelings generated by marriage proved very productive for the emperor. The Amer princess gave the Moghul empire its next ruler who was better known as Emperor Jehangir.
Later, following the example of Amer Raja some other Rajas also married their daughters or sisters to Akbar and the Moghul empire forged new alliances.
Till that time Akbar didn’t face the significant opposition of Rajput rulers of Rajasthan and on a large part of Rajputana Moghul empire had spread.
Then Akbar faced the bitter opposition from Mewar. Several of the enemies of Akbar had taken refuge there and it was situated on the route to Gujarat. To conquer Gujarat it was necessary first to win Mewar.
One more incident increased the bitterness between Mewar and Moghul Delhi. In August, 1567 when the emperor was in Dhaulpur, Shakti Singh, the son of Rana Udai Singh quarreled with his sire over some matter and took shelter in the camp of Akbar. There one day, the emperor talked of attacking Mewar in a jest. Shakti Singh took it seriously and he ran to his father to alert him against the plan of Akbar. It angered Akbar and he made up his mind to conquer Mewar.
Mewar royals and Akbar had some old score to settle as well. Babar the grandfather of Akbar had not considered himself safe until he vanquished Rana Sanga alias Sangram Singh of Mewar. Sanga had fought a bitter battle against Babar. Now his son Udai Singh was ruling Mewar from Chittaur.
The impregnable fort of Chittaur was built on a hill that was 3¼ miles long and 1200 yards wide. The base of the hill was 8 miles around and it was 400-500 feet high. There was a small hill in front of Chittaur called Chittauri.
Akbar arrived at Chittaur with his full Moghul might. His army camped down in an area 10 miles around the hill base. Winning Chittaur was no joke but it was also not impossible for the might of Moghuls and a determined emperor.
Ultimately Chittaur was won by the Moghuls.
After the death of Udai Singh his son Rana Pratap carried on the battle against the Moghuls. The valour and indomitable spirit displayed by the rulers of Mewar really impressed Akbar and he admired them. The battles of Rana Pratap are listed in the following chapters.
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