Why did Akbar attack Chittor ? | Marathon Series Part-1

Hi friends,


A lot of you have asked many questions pertaining to the Chittor War. Hence, I am starting a "New Series of Posts" to discuss the Battle of Chittor, which happened between the Sisodia Rajputs of Mewar/Chittorgarh and Mughal Emperor Akbar, in 1567-68.


Next Posts in this Series:

2. Preparation of Rajputs - Battle of Chittor | Part-2
 
3. Battles BEFORE the Battle of Chittor - At Kumbhalgarh, Rampur, Udaipur, Mandalgarh | Part-3
 
4. ACTUAL Struggle between Mughal & Rajput Forces - Course of War BEFORE Jauhar and Saka| Battle of Chittor Part-4 | With explained Portraits from Akbarnama

5. Mughal Record of Jauhar of Rajput Women & Saka of Rajput Warriors at 3rd Siege of Chittor(1567-68) + Mughal Victory Followed by Massacre of Rajput Civilians | Battle of Chittor Part-5 | With Portraits from Akbarnama & personal pictures of Chittor Fort

6. DETAILED Rajput Record of Jauhar, Saka & Massacre of Rajputs at 3rd Siege of Chittor(1567-68) | Description of Rajput Warriors & OLD pictures of Chittor Fort | Battle of Chittor Part-6

7. Fatehnama-i-Chittor, Comparison & Pictures of Mughal-Rajput Weapons, Assessment of Akbar and Maharana Pratap, Old Portraits of Udaipur & Path for the Future Struggle of Mughals - Mewar | LONG Detailed Concluding Assessment..Last Post on Battle of Chittor Part 7

History of Jaimal and Patta | HEROes of the 3rd Siege of Chittor


In this particular post, i am giving the "explanations" offered by court chroniclers of Akbar, for this war. I have given my explanations as well in between..



I. The explanation in Akbarnama : By Abu'l Fazl. 

Abu'l Fazl was the official biographer of Akbar. He has narrated a "STORY" to ' explain ' the Chittor War. I have taken the following lines from - "The Akbarnama of Abu'l Fazl, Vol.-2, Page-462 onwards(Beveridge, Sr-910, ASB, Calcutta,1907)"..

Following is the Text from Akbarnama-> {I have explained the text in between, and given my explanations in purple color.}

""
=> At the time when the capital was made resplendent by the lights of his justice, and when the army was not yet rested from its labours, the news came of the rebellion of the sons of Muhammad Sultan Mirza and of their scattering the dust of dissension in the province of Malwa. When they had withdrawn their heads from bearing the burden of obedience to their spiritual and temporal king, and had become vagabonds in the land of destruction, they, after long wandering with little result, had found Malwa empty and had gone there.
{
The sons of Sultan Mirza had rebelled and when they found Malwa empty, they settled here.
}


=> Now the laws of sovereignty did not admit of delay in such matters. Accordingly the Shahinshah of the universe and the sage of the time resolved to dispose of this business by his own ripe understanding, and by giving attention under the guise of inatten­tion, and care under the screen of carelessness. He in appearance overlooked the thing, and in reality applied his genius to putting down the disturbance.
{
Akbar decided to proceed cleverly. On the "pretext" of hunting he started his march. Infact this was used on most occasions. Even while marching towards Gujarat, he proceeded on the pretext of hunting.
}


=> On the day of 30 August 1567, he set out to hunt in Bari(a place), where he had often enjoyed himself in hunting deer with cheetas, in order that the loyal and devoted leaders might come without the notoriety of being sent for, while others, either their servants or not, would, seeing that there was no prohibi­tion, readily assemble in order to pay their respects.
When men should have quickly assembled, a number of them would be picked out and sent on this duty. 
{
Abu'l Fazl says that, without being called, the followers/fighters, were supposed to collect, on such a move. From here they were sent to Malwa, to quell the revolt of sons of Sultan Mirza.
}


=> With this judicious idea he set out from the capital, and, having encamped at Bari, he went on hunting towards Dholpur and Gwaliar which are in the direction of Malwa. The officers and other servants turned the face of hope towards the camp and arrived in crowds. If all the faithful servants of the court, who were associated with hunting, should be added up, they would be enough to conquer a world; if all the loyal heroes were gathered together, who could count them? and if the servants of the servant were also collected, who could estimate their numbers?
{
It is basically a display of power. By showing more number of followers, it was expected that the Chiefs who had NOT submitted to Akbar, till then,  should also submit NOW. Further, Abu'l Fazl mentions that a HUGE army was collected by Akbar in the process. Remember that, Akbar started for war, on the pretext of hunting..!!
}



=> When Dholpur(a place in Rajasthan, South of Agra) had been made the camping ground, Sakat Singh, son of Rana Udai Singh, was in attendance on the victorious stirrup. His Majesty, either from pleasantry, or in order that the presump­tuous rebels of Malwa might be led by the circumstance into the slumber of negligence, said to him that though most of the land­holders and great men of India had paid their respects, yet the Rana had not as yet done so, and that therefore he proposed to march against him and punish him. His Majesty also asked what service the prince would render in this case. On one occasion he spoke at large about these matters with the prince, and the latter made hypocriti­cal proffers..

{
Here Abu'l Fazl tell us that, the son of Rana Udai Singh was present with him at Dholpur. Akbar asks him for service, as he wants to punish Rana Udai Singh, for he has NOT yet accepted Mughal rule. Sakat Singh does NOT gives any assurances to help Akbar against his father. Note that, Abu'l Fazl calls this a JEST/Pleasant Remark of Akbar..!!
}



=> At last that crooked-minded one(Sakat Singh), from want of understand­ing and from taking a jest seriously, ran away. In his folly he ran away from apparent dishonour, and fell into real dis­grace. For the ignorant fellow imagined that His Majesty was meditating the punishment of Rana under the pretence of hunting, and that he himself would get a bad name to the effect that he had gone and brought H.M. against his father. He did not know that it was all a joke, and that there was no reason why this powerful and God-restrained one should personally proceed against such a class of landholders. Nor did he perceive that, on the supposition that his notion was correct, his running away from such a good fortune was to throw himself into the lowest hell of destruction and to hurry from disrepute to misconduct.

{
 Abu'l Fazl says that it was a JEST Remark/JOKE of Akbar that he wanted to attack and punish Rana Udai Singh for NOT accepting Mughal suzerainty, BUT Sakat Singh took it to be TRUTH and left the place..Abu'l Fazl says that there was NO REASON TO ATTACK CHITTOR , and hence Sakat Singh was "MistakeN" in leaving the Mughal Camp..  
}


=> When the news of his flight reached the royal hearing, the Shahinshah's wrath was stirred up, and jest became earnest. And in truth this was proper, for, from the time of the accession, most of the leading men of India who had cocked the hat of pride and had not lowered the head of obedience before any of the Sultans, had bowed down and kissed the ground, except Rana Udai Singh, than whom there was in this country no one more foolish and arrogant.
{
This Looks like a excuse for attack on Chittor. Infact, there is NO requirement for Abu'l Fazl to give an "explanation" for attack.!!!. Initially, it was written that, there was NO reason to attack Chittor, though according to Fazl, Akbar expressed his wish to Sakat Singh to PUNISH Rana Udai Singh for NOT submitting to him, but he called it a JOKE.!!!!!. 
And now, here the same reason is given by Abu'l Fazl > "Since, except Rana Udai Singh, all those who had never come under the Sultans earlier, also submitted to Akbar, hence Akbar also wanted Rana Udai to follow those rulers, and submit to him." Rana Udai Singh is called arrogant, as he was NOT ready to accept Mughal Suzerainty.
}


=> This audacious and immoderate one, in whom the turbulence of ancestors was added to his own haughtiness, was proud of his steep mountains and strong castles and turned away the head of obedience from the sublime court. His brain was heated by the consciousness of his possessing abundant land and wealth, and numbers of devoted Rajputs, and so he left the path of auspiciousness. His Majesty's world-conquering genius decided to chastise him. About 19 September 1567, the expedition took place and he set off towards conquering the terri­tory.
{
The attack on Chittor was to humble the pride of Rana Udai Singh. This was natural, as Chittor was the major kingdom which could boast of enjoying total freedom in the entire Rajputana. It was seen as a symbol of Rajput Chivalry. The Royal House of Mewar was ranked amongst the highest in all the Rajputs. Hence, subduing the Ranas of Mewar literally meant taking control of the Rajputana spirit of resistance.. 
}
""
 

Fort of Chittor on a Hill - Aerial View

II. The explanation in Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh: By Mulla Abu'l Qa'adir Badayuni. 

Badayuni has also explained the event in his account. He has NOT narrated any "STORY" like Abu'l Fazl to ' explain ' the Chittor War. But according to him, Akbar had PRE-decided to take Chittor and marched with proper plans. I have taken the following lines from - "The Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh of Badayuni, Vol.-2, Page-102(Ranking, Haig, Lowe, Calcutta,1925)"..

Following is the Text from Munthakhab-ut-Tawarikh-> {I have explained the text in between, and given my explanations in purple color.}

""
=>  And in this year the intention was formed of reducing the fortress of Chittor. Accordingly the Emperor took away Bayana from Ḥaji Muhammad Khan Sistani, and gave it as jagir to Asaf Khan; and Basawar and Wazirpur, Mandalgaṛh he also gave to him, on the understanding that he should proceed thither, and collect provisions and materials for the army. 
{
Here, Badayuni tells us that the intention of attacking Chittor was PRE-meditated, and he marched from Agra with the same ambition. For this process, he deputed one of his favorite generals, Asaf Khan, and handed him various jagirs, and tasked him to collect army from these provinces. He has NOT narrated any story like Abu'l Fazl to explain the attack on Chittor.
}
""




III. The explanation in Tabaqat-e-Akbari: By Nizam-ud-din Bakshi. 

Nizam has also explained the event in his account. EVEN, he has NOT narrated any "STORY" like Abu'l Fazl to ' explain ' the Chittor War. According to him,TOO, Akbar had PRE-decided to take Chittor and marched with proper plans. I have taken the following lines from - "The Tabaqat-e-Akbari of Nizam-ud-din Bakshi (excerpt from KCB,John, Vol.-5, Page-324/325, London, 1873)"..

Following is the Text from Tabaqat-e-Akbari-> {I have explained the text in between, and given my explanations in purple color.}

""
=>  Many zamindars and rajas of Hindustan had become subjects of the Imperial throne. But Rana Udai Singh, Raja of Mewar, confident in the strength of his fortresses, and the number of his men and elephants, had thrown off his allegiance. Now that the Emperor had returned to the capital, with his mind at rest in respect of Ali Kuli Khan and other rebels, he turned his attention towards the capture of Chitor. He accordingly began to make preparations for the campaign. The pargana of Bayana was taken from Haji Muhammad Khan Sistani, and given in jagir to Asaf Khan, who was ordered to proceed thither, and collect provisions and materials for the army. The Emperor followed to the town of Bari, with the avowed intention of hunting, and there killed a thousand animals in sport. Then he ordered his army to be brought up, and proceeded onwards.
{
Here, Nizam also tells us that the intention of attacking Chittor was PRE-meditated, after Akbar was free from the revolt of Ali Kuli Khan in Jaunpur area, and he marched from Agra with the same ambition. For this process, he deputed one of his favorite generals, Asaf Khan, and handed him various jagirs, and tasked him to collect army from these provinces. He has ALSO NOT narrated any story like Abu'l Fazl to explain the attack on Chittor. Further, Nizam makes it CLEAR that Akbar marched from capital announcing "hunting" as the reason.
}
""



Assessment:

Chittor was a symbol of Rajputana resistance. Without capturing Chittor, it was not possible to become undisputed master of North Hindustan. The Freedom of Chittor was a hindrance in this regard. Many smaller principalities marched behind Chittor. Hence, reducing this capital was a necessity. Moreover, the pride which rulers of Chittor took in their freedom and their ancestry was like a thorn in the flesh for Akbar. This fact has been clearly mentioned in Akbarnama and Tabaqat-e-Akbari. 

Another fact is that, Economy drives the Empire. The access to the ports of Gujarat was very easy through the territory of Chittor. Due to these reasons also, Chittor was very important for Akbar. The fortress of Chittor was strategically very important, owing to it's location on steep hill.


One reason, which is NORMALLY heard for attack on Chittor is that > The Rana of Chittor had given sanctuary to a runaway Mughal Vassal, which is not a "reason" to attack Chittor. NO-where in ANY of the texts of Akbar's court chroniclers , this reason is mentioned.  

The reason given MOST prominently in all texts from Mughal Court(as i mentioned above) was to reduce the Pride of Rana which he took in his "warriors and his ancestry". Basically, it was a WAR for One's Supremacy. The Rana wanted to remain independent BUT Akbar wanted to bring him under control. Though, Chittor was captured, but the Rana did not become a Mughal Vassal..


I am looking forward to reading your views on this topic...This series would be continued further. This post is ONLY to lay emphasis on the reasons for attack on Chittor, in response to many questions by the readers.

This post has been posted under the Rajputs and Mughals(Akbar) section of history_geek's BLOG.