Other Conquests of Akbar

The reign of Emperor Akbar (1556–1605), the third ruler of the Mughal dynasty, marked the most dynamic phase of territorial expansion and political consolidation in medieval Indian history. While Akbar’s early victories at Panipat (1556) and the capture of Delhi and Agra secured his throne, his later military campaigns expanded the Mughal Empire across northern, western, and central India, and laid the foundation for a unified subcontinent under Mughal administration. Beyond his major wars with Gujarat, Bengal, and the Rajputs, Akbar undertook numerous other conquests that extended imperial authority from the Himalayas to the Deccan Plateau.

Consolidation after the Second Battle of Panipat

Following the victory over Hemu at the Second Battle of Panipat (1556), Akbar, guided by his regent Bairam Khan, consolidated Mughal control over the Delhi–Agra region. By defeating Adil Shah’s Afghan forces and subduing regional chieftains, Akbar re-established the Mughal Empire’s authority in north India. After assuming full power in 1560, he began a series of ambitious campaigns to bring the entire subcontinent under central control.

Campaigns in Northern and Central India

Akbar’s first independent campaigns focused on strengthening Mughal hold over the Doab and Malwa regions.

• Conquest of Malwa (1561): The kingdom of Malwa, ruled by Baz Bahadur, was conquered by Mughal forces under Adham Khan and Pir Muhammad Khan. Though Baz Bahadur briefly regained control with local support, he was later defeated and accepted Mughal service, demonstrating Akbar’s policy of conciliation toward defeated rulers.
• Conquest of Gondwana (1564): The semi-independent kingdom of Gondwana in central India, ruled by Rani Durgavati, was annexed after her heroic resistance. The queen died fighting near Jabalpur, and the region was incorporated into the Mughal Empire.
• Campaigns against the Afghans (1560s–1570s): Akbar undertook expeditions against Afghan chiefs who continued to challenge Mughal authority in eastern and central India. Rebellions in Jaunpur, Bihar, and Bengal were systematically suppressed, breaking the remaining power of the Afghan nobility in northern India.

Western Campaigns: Gujarat and Beyond

Akbar’s western campaigns were motivated by both strategic and commercial considerations.

• Conquest of Gujarat (1572–1573): Gujarat, with its prosperous ports like Surat, was crucial for overseas trade. Akbar personally led the campaign, capturing Ahmadabad, Surat, and Broach. After a swift and decisive campaign, he was able to annex Gujarat within months.
  • The victory was commemorated by the construction of the Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri.
  • Gujarat became one of the wealthiest provinces of the Mughal Empire, securing maritime trade routes and connecting the empire with the Arabian Sea.
• Annexation of Sindh (1591): Sindh, under the local Tarkhan rulers, was subdued to secure the empire’s north-western frontiers and ensure access to the Indus River trade routes.

Eastern Campaigns: Bengal and Orissa

• Conquest of Bengal (1574–1576): Bengal was then under the Karrani dynasty, an Afghan power centred at Gaur. Akbar’s general Munim Khan and later Khan Jahan Quli Beg led the Mughal forces to victory.
  • After the defeat and death of Daud Khan Karrani at Tukaroi (1575), Bengal and Bihar were annexed.
  • This brought the rich deltaic regions of the Ganges under Mughal administration.
• Annexation of Orissa (1592): Orissa, previously under Afghan control, was conquered under the governorship of Man Singh of Amber. The region was integrated with Bengal, completing Mughal dominance over eastern India.

North-Western Campaigns and Frontier Policy

Akbar extended his empire to the frontiers of modern-day Afghanistan and Baluchistan, following a strategic policy of frontier consolidation.

• Kashmir (1586): The kingdom of Kashmir, ruled by Yusuf Shah Chak, was annexed after he submitted to Akbar’s general, Mirza Yusuf Khan. The conquest secured control over the northern Himalayan routes.
• Baluchistan (1590): Akbar’s forces subdued the tribal chiefs of Baluchistan to control strategic trade routes between India and Persia.
• Sindh and the North-West Frontier (1591–1595): Akbar sent diplomatic missions and military expeditions to subdue the regions of Thatta, Makran, and Kandahar, strengthening Mughal influence along the frontier with Persia. Kandahar, though briefly held, later became a contested zone between the Mughals and the Safavids.

Rajput Campaigns and Integration

Akbar’s relations with the Rajput states were a mix of warfare and diplomacy. His campaigns aimed to bring Rajputana under Mughal sovereignty while offering defeated rulers honourable positions in imperial service.

• Mewar (Siege of Chittor, 1568): The fort of Chittor, ruled by Rana Udai Singh, was besieged and captured after fierce resistance. Thousands of Rajputs perished, but Akbar’s victory made Mewar a symbol of Mughal supremacy.
• Ranthambore (1569): Captured soon after Chittor, strengthening control over central Rajasthan.
• Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Jaipur: The rulers of these states accepted Akbar’s suzerainty through matrimonial and diplomatic alliances.
• Later Resistance in Mewar: Rana Pratap Singh, son of Udai Singh, continued resistance and fought the Battle of Haldighati (1576), where despite bravery, the Rajputs were defeated by Mughal forces led by Man Singh.

Through a combination of conquest and alliance, Akbar integrated almost all of Rajputana into the Mughal Empire, earning the loyalty of its warrior aristocracy.

Deccan Campaigns

Akbar’s Deccan policy aimed to extend Mughal authority into peninsular India and to control the trade routes linking northern and southern India.

• Initial Expeditions (1591–1595): Akbar sent envoys to the Deccan Sultanates of Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, and Golconda, demanding recognition of his supremacy. Ahmadnagar’s refusal led to war.
• Annexation of Ahmadnagar (1600): The Mughal army under Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khana and Prince Daniyal captured Ahmadnagar. The regent Chand Bibi, who had valiantly defended the fort, was killed during internal unrest, paving the way for Mughal annexation.

The Deccan campaigns were incomplete at Akbar’s death in 1605, but they laid the groundwork for future Mughal expansion under Jahangir and Aurangzeb.

Political and Strategic Results

Akbar’s military conquests transformed the Mughal Empire into the most extensive and powerful state in South Asia. The key outcomes of his campaigns include:

• Political Integration: The subjugation of regional kingdoms created a unified political entity from Afghanistan to Bengal.
• Economic Expansion: Control over trade centres such as Surat, Thatta, and Bengal enriched imperial revenues.
• Administrative Uniformity: Newly annexed regions were incorporated under Akbar’s centralised administrative system, based on the Mansabdari and Suba (province) frameworks.
• Cultural Integration: The inclusion of diverse ethnic and religious groups under Mughal rule fostered a composite cultural identity and the development of the “Sulh-i-Kul” (universal peace) policy.