Akbar’s Rajput Policy: Udai Singh and the Capture of Chittor

The Rajput policy of Emperor Akbar was one of the most significant aspects of his statesmanship and a cornerstone of Mughal expansion and consolidation in India. Through a combination of diplomacy, conciliation, and limited warfare, Akbar successfully integrated most Rajput principalities into the Mughal Empire. Among the few exceptions to his diplomatic success were the rulers of Mewar, led by Rana Udai Singh and later his son Rana Pratap Singh, who resisted Mughal supremacy with exceptional courage. The siege and capture of Chittor (1567–1568) marked a decisive episode in Akbar’s campaign to subdue Rajput resistance and secure control over northern and central India.

Background of Akbar’s Rajput Policy

When Akbar ascended the Mughal throne in 1556, the Mughal Empire was still consolidating its power after decades of instability following Babur’s and Humayun’s reigns. The Rajputs, who held numerous strategic forts and territories in Rajasthan and central India, were powerful, militarily skilled, and deeply entrenched in regional politics.
Akbar realised that lasting Mughal rule in India could not be achieved by military conquest alone. He therefore adopted a policy of reconciliation and alliance with the Rajputs based on mutual respect and political accommodation. His policy had two main objectives:

1. To bring the Rajput states under Mughal sovereignty either by diplomacy or limited warfare.
2. To secure loyalty from Rajput rulers through matrimonial alliances, granting them honour, autonomy, and high positions in the Mughal administration.

Many Rajput rulers accepted Akbar’s suzerainty willingly — for example, the rulers of Amber (Raja Bharmal), Bikaner, and Jaisalmer — and served as trusted nobles in the Mughal court. However, the Sisodia rulers of Mewar refused to accept Mughal overlordship, maintaining their independence as a matter of honour and tradition.

Rana Udai Singh and Mewar’s Resistance

Rana Udai Singh II of Mewar, belonging to the Sisodia clan, succeeded his father Rana Sanga in 1540. His father had earlier fought against Babur at the Battle of Khanwa (1527) and had emerged as a symbol of Rajput pride and independence. Udai Singh inherited this legacy of resistance and was determined to preserve Mewar’s sovereignty.

• His capital, Chittor (Chittorgarh Fort), was one of the most formidable and symbolic strongholds of Rajput power in northern India.
• Mewar’s location gave it immense strategic importance, as it controlled the routes between Gujarat, Malwa, and northern India — regions vital for Mughal consolidation.

Despite Akbar’s friendly overtures, Rana Udai Singh refused to submit to Mughal authority or send a token of allegiance to the imperial court. This defiance posed a direct challenge to Akbar’s policy of unification.

Causes of the Conflict

Several factors led Akbar to undertake the campaign against Chittor:

1. Strategic Importance: Chittor was a symbol of Rajput pride and independence and occupied a critical position on the trade and communication routes linking Agra with Gujarat.
2. Political Prestige: Akbar viewed Mewar’s defiance as a political challenge. Subjugating Chittor would demonstrate the supremacy of the Mughal Empire and encourage other Rajput rulers to accept his authority.
3. Refusal of Submission: Rana Udai Singh’s continued refusal to acknowledge Mughal sovereignty and his unwillingness to send a tribute or his son to Akbar’s court provoked imperial action.
4. Expansion of the Empire: After consolidating control over northern India and Gujarat, Akbar aimed to expand his dominion to Rajasthan, making Mewar’s submission essential.

The Siege of Chittor (1567–1568)

Akbar marched against Mewar in October 1567, leading a large and well-equipped army to besiege Chittorgarh Fort. The campaign was personally directed by the emperor and became one of the most notable military operations of his reign.

1. Udai Singh’s Withdrawal: As the Mughal forces approached, Rana Udai Singh, on the advice of his nobles, withdrew from the fort to the hills of Gogunda with his family to preserve the royal lineage. He left the defence of Chittor in the hands of two brave commanders — Jaimal Rathore of Badnore and Patta Sisodia, assisted by a loyal garrison of Rajput warriors.
2. The Mughal Assault:
   • The siege lasted for about four months, during which the Mughals employed advanced siege machinery, heavy artillery, and strategic blockades.
   • Despite repeated assaults, the Rajputs displayed extraordinary courage, defending the fort with unmatched valour.
3. Heroism and Resistance: Jaimal and Patta became legendary for their fearless resistance. Contemporary chroniclers, including Abul Fazl in the Akbarnama, describe Akbar’s admiration for their bravery.
   • At one stage, Akbar himself participated in the battle, reportedly shooting Jaimal with a musket, after which the Mughal army launched a full-scale assault.
4. Fall of Chittor (February 1568): Following Jaimal’s death, the morale of the defenders declined. The fort was stormed by the Mughal army after a fierce battle. Thousands of Rajput warriors, women, and children chose Jauhar and Saka — self-immolation and mass fighting unto death — rather than surrender.

The fall of Chittor marked one of the bloodiest episodes in Mughal-Rajput conflicts. Nearly 30,000 defenders and civilians were killed, and the fort came under Mughal control.

Aftermath and Consequences

1. End of Mewar’s Independence (Temporarily): The capture of Chittor effectively brought Mewar under Mughal dominance, though Rana Udai Singh continued to resist from the hills until his death in 1572. His son Rana Pratap Singh later revived the resistance at the Battle of Haldighati (1576).
2. Integration of Rajasthan: The victory at Chittor encouraged other Rajput states, including Bikaner and Jaisalmer, to accept Akbar’s suzerainty. It consolidated Mughal power across Rajasthan.
3. Symbol of Rajput Valour: The defence of Chittor by Jaimal and Patta became legendary in Rajput history. Akbar himself ordered statues of the two heroes on elephant-back to be installed at the gates of Agra Fort, signifying his respect for their bravery.
4. Mughal Administrative Control: Following the conquest, Akbar placed Chittor under Mughal administration, strengthening imperial authority in central and western India.
5. Shift in Akbar’s Policy: The excessive bloodshed at Chittor influenced Akbar’s later approach toward Rajput states. After witnessing the futility of prolonged conflict, he increasingly favoured conciliation and diplomacy over coercion, integrating Rajput rulers into his nobility through honour and alliance.

Significance of the Capture of Chittor

The fall of Chittor holds immense political and historical significance in Mughal and Rajput history:

• It was a turning point in Akbar’s campaign for unification, marking the subjugation of one of the most formidable Rajput bastions.
• It symbolised the triumph of the Mughal Empire over regional resistance, consolidating Akbar’s reputation as a powerful and capable ruler.
• It also exemplified Rajput heroism and sacrifice, inspiring future generations of warriors and poets.
• The event paved the way for the eventual integration of Mewar into the Mughal polity during the reign of Jahangir, when Rana Amar Singh, son of Rana Pratap, accepted Mughal suzerainty.