Explain how akbar expanded and consolidated his empire
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Akbar was 14 years old when his father Humayun died and was under the guardianship of Bairam Khan. On hearing about Humayun’s death the latter coroneted Akbar at Kalanur in Punjab in 1556. At the time of his accession, Akbar inherited from his father a kingdom comprising Punjab, Delhi and Agra. In course of four decades Akbar conquered virtually the whole of India.
Within a few months of the accession of Akbar, Hemu, the energetic wazir of Muhammad Adil Shah of Bihar, occupied the territory from Bayana to Delhi including Agra. The Mughals under Bairam Khan moved towards Delhi and defeated Hemu in the second battle of Panipath in November 1556. After the victory, Akbar entered Agra, which became the capital city of the Mughals. During the next four years, Bairam Khan crushed the Afghan power in different parts of the country. In those four years (1556-60), Bairam Khan enjoyed the supreme position of the state as the regent and the wakil. But due to his arrogant nature and tendency to concentrate all powers in his hands, Akbar removed him from service in 1560.
Freeing himself from the regency of Bairam Khan, Akbar embarked upon a policy of conquest. During the four decades, from the expedition against Malwa in 1561 to the fall of Asirgargh in 1601, he played the role of a great conqueror and empire builder. Malwa was conquered from its sultan Baz Bahadur. In the same year he conquered the strategic fort of Chunar.
The year 1562 was a turning point in the emperor’s life when on his first pilgrimage to the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti at Ajmer, Raja Bharmal Kachwaha of Amber (now Jaipur) proposed his eldest daughter’s marriage with the emperor. This marriage was the first step towards winning the political and military support of the valiant Rajputs whom the Sultans of Delhi had failed to subdue or convert to Islam. Hence, the foundation was laid by Amber of the Mughal-Rajput alliance. The other Rajput principalities, with the sole exception of Mewar, followed suit.
The strong fortress of Merta in Marwar (Jodhpur) was captured after a brief siege in 1562. Chandrasen, the ruler of Marwar, submitted to Akbar in 1563. Rulers of Bikaner and Jaisalmer also made their submission to Akbar and entered into matrimonial alliances with the Mughals. By the end of 1570, all prominent princes of Rajasthan, except the Rana of Mewar, submitted to Akbar and were absorbed in Mughal nobility. These conquests without the use of arms were living examples of the triumph of Akbar’s diplomacy, his readiness to recognize the full autonomy of the Rajput princes in their internal affairs and his catholicity in religious matters.
Garh Katanga or Gondwana, an independent state in central India, was ruled by Rani Durgawati, widow of Dalpat Shah. This kingdom was conquered by Akbar in 1564. Later in 1567, Akbar handed over the kingdom to Chandra Shah, the brother of Dalpat Shah.
Rana Udai Singh, son of Rana Sanga or Rana Sangram Singh, of Mewar offended Akbar by giving shelter to Baz Bahadur of Malwa. He also refused to accept the Mughal-Rajput alliance. Mewar lay on the route to the province of Gujarat, which could not be conquered without securing the submission of at least the fort of Chittor. Hence, Akbar decided to conquer Mewar. Moreover, Akbar’s supremacy over the Rajput states would have remained incomplete without the conquest of Mewar. Akbar himself conducted the siege of the fort of Chittor in 1567. Next year the fort fell into the hands of the Mughals after a desperate resistance.
After the conquest of Malwa and Mewar, Akbar turned towards Gujarat in 1572. It was a rich province commanding a large share of India’s trade with Western Asia and Europe. From the ports of Gujarat, the Haj pilgrims proceeded to Mecca and other holy places of Arabia. At that time Gujarat was divided into seven warring principalities over which the nominal king Muzaffar Shah III exercised little authority. Akbar himself led an expedition to Gujarat and completed it in 1573.
Bihar and Bengal were ruled by Suleiman Karrani, who acknowledged the overlordship of Akbar. But as Daud, the son and successor of Suleiman, refused to bow head towards the Mughals, Akbar conquered those provinces between1574-76 from him. Raja Man Singh of Amber, the grand son of Raja Bharmal, conquered Orissa in 1592 when he was governor of Bihar. He was appointed the subedar of Bengal as a reward for his success.
The Mughal- Rajput contest over Mewar did not end with the fall of Chittor in 1568. After the death of Rana Udai Singh in 1572, his son Rana Pratap Singh continued it. Hence, a battle was inevitable as the Rana wanted to throw off the Mughal subjugation. The Mughal army, led by Man Singh of Amber won the famous battle of Haldighati against Rana Pratap Singh in 1576. But Mewar was not fully subjugated to the Mughal empire.
Within a few months of the accession of Akbar, Hemu, the energetic wazir of Muhammad Adil Shah of Bihar, occupied the territory from Bayana to Delhi including Agra. The Mughals under Bairam Khan moved towards Delhi and defeated Hemu in the second battle of Panipath in November 1556. After the victory, Akbar entered Agra, which became the capital city of the Mughals. During the next four years, Bairam Khan crushed the Afghan power in different parts of the country. In those four years (1556-60), Bairam Khan enjoyed the supreme position of the state as the regent and the wakil. But due to his arrogant nature and tendency to concentrate all powers in his hands, Akbar removed him from service in 1560.
Freeing himself from the regency of Bairam Khan, Akbar embarked upon a policy of conquest. During the four decades, from the expedition against Malwa in 1561 to the fall of Asirgargh in 1601, he played the role of a great conqueror and empire builder. Malwa was conquered from its sultan Baz Bahadur. In the same year he conquered the strategic fort of Chunar.
The year 1562 was a turning point in the emperor’s life when on his first pilgrimage to the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti at Ajmer, Raja Bharmal Kachwaha of Amber (now Jaipur) proposed his eldest daughter’s marriage with the emperor. This marriage was the first step towards winning the political and military support of the valiant Rajputs whom the Sultans of Delhi had failed to subdue or convert to Islam. Hence, the foundation was laid by Amber of the Mughal-Rajput alliance. The other Rajput principalities, with the sole exception of Mewar, followed suit.
The strong fortress of Merta in Marwar (Jodhpur) was captured after a brief siege in 1562. Chandrasen, the ruler of Marwar, submitted to Akbar in 1563. Rulers of Bikaner and Jaisalmer also made their submission to Akbar and entered into matrimonial alliances with the Mughals. By the end of 1570, all prominent princes of Rajasthan, except the Rana of Mewar, submitted to Akbar and were absorbed in Mughal nobility. These conquests without the use of arms were living examples of the triumph of Akbar’s diplomacy, his readiness to recognize the full autonomy of the Rajput princes in their internal affairs and his catholicity in religious matters.
Garh Katanga or Gondwana, an independent state in central India, was ruled by Rani Durgawati, widow of Dalpat Shah. This kingdom was conquered by Akbar in 1564. Later in 1567, Akbar handed over the kingdom to Chandra Shah, the brother of Dalpat Shah.
Rana Udai Singh, son of Rana Sanga or Rana Sangram Singh, of Mewar offended Akbar by giving shelter to Baz Bahadur of Malwa. He also refused to accept the Mughal-Rajput alliance. Mewar lay on the route to the province of Gujarat, which could not be conquered without securing the submission of at least the fort of Chittor. Hence, Akbar decided to conquer Mewar. Moreover, Akbar’s supremacy over the Rajput states would have remained incomplete without the conquest of Mewar. Akbar himself conducted the siege of the fort of Chittor in 1567. Next year the fort fell into the hands of the Mughals after a desperate resistance.
After the conquest of Malwa and Mewar, Akbar turned towards Gujarat in 1572. It was a rich province commanding a large share of India’s trade with Western Asia and Europe. From the ports of Gujarat, the Haj pilgrims proceeded to Mecca and other holy places of Arabia. At that time Gujarat was divided into seven warring principalities over which the nominal king Muzaffar Shah III exercised little authority. Akbar himself led an expedition to Gujarat and completed it in 1573.
Bihar and Bengal were ruled by Suleiman Karrani, who acknowledged the overlordship of Akbar. But as Daud, the son and successor of Suleiman, refused to bow head towards the Mughals, Akbar conquered those provinces between1574-76 from him. Raja Man Singh of Amber, the grand son of Raja Bharmal, conquered Orissa in 1592 when he was governor of Bihar. He was appointed the subedar of Bengal as a reward for his success.
The Mughal- Rajput contest over Mewar did not end with the fall of Chittor in 1568. After the death of Rana Udai Singh in 1572, his son Rana Pratap Singh continued it. Hence, a battle was inevitable as the Rana wanted to throw off the Mughal subjugation. The Mughal army, led by Man Singh of Amber won the famous battle of Haldighati against Rana Pratap Singh in 1576. But Mewar was not fully subjugated to the Mughal empire.
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