Mughal-Rajput Wars

The Mughal-Rajput Wars were a series of battles fought between the Rajput Confederacy and the Mughal Empire which started with the Timurid ruler Babur's invasion of northwestern India and the head of the Rajput confederacy Rana Sanga's resistance to it. In 1525, after the conquest of Transoxania, Babur invaded the Punjab several times. To campaign he took the time to furnish his army with gunpowder weapons and to train them in their use, meanwhile preserving the more traditional skills of steppe warfare. Not until the end of the year did he invade Hindustan. Babur was given stiff resistance by Rana Sanga however Babur defeated the Rana in the Battle of Khanwa, the cannons of Babur and the betrayal of Silhadi were some of the chief reasons for the defeat. The wars were however continued by the descendants of both Rana Sanga and Babur.

Mughal-Rajput Wars
Date1526–1750
Location
Modern day Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh Madhya Pradesh, Bihar
Result

Inconclusive;

  • Expansion of Mughal influence in Northern India. Mostly with help of other Rajputs.
  • Rajputs gain influence in Mughal politics.
  • After Aurangzeb's death, Rajputs have a stream of success and regain their independence.
Belligerents
Mughal Empire Rajput Confederation
Commanders and leaders
Babur
Akbar
Jehangir
Aurangzeb
Bahadur Shah I
Farrukhsiyar		 Rana Sanga
Medini Rai
Prithviraj Singh I
Maldeo Rathore
Udai Singh II
Pratap Singh I
Chandrasen Rathore
Amar Singh I
Durgadas Rathore
Raj Singh I
Raja Ajit Singh
Jai Singh


Babur's grandson Akbar faced heavy resistance by Rana Udai Singh II and Rana Pratap, Jehangir was opposed by Rana Amar Singh, which resulted in an honorable peace treaty in 1615.[1] Similarly Aurangzeb was opposed by Rana Raj Singh and his son Rana Jai Singh.[2]

Chandrasen Rathore defended his kingdom for nearly two decades against relentless attacks from the Mughal Empire. Mughals were not able to establish their direct rule in Marwar until Chandrasen was alive.[3]

In 1679, State of Mewar and Marwar rebelled against Aurangzeb. While a peace treaty was signed with Mewar after a year, war with Marwar went on till the death of Aurangzeb and concluded in capture of Marwar by Rathore forces.

During the Rajput rebellion of 1708–10, the Mughals were forced to accept a humiliating peacy treaty with the Rajput Rajas.[4] Rajputs forced Mughals to make them governors of Malwa, Sindh and Gujarat.

Durgadas Rathore fought the Mughals for 25 years, until Ajit Singh was made the Raja of Marwar[5] who became so influential in Mughal politics that he challenged the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar by making an alliance with the Sayyid brothers. Ajit Singh fought Farrukhsiyar and after a night-long battle, on 28 February 1719 Farrukhsiyar was defeated and deposed.[6]

The Mughals tried to collect taxes in Rajputana during 1750 however they were met with resistance in every town and village leading to an invasion by the Mughal general Salabat Khan. The Mughal Empire invaded Marwar but were repelled by the armies of Raja Ram Singh and Ishvari Singh.[7]

References
  1. Pant 2012, p. 129.
  2. Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p. 183. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  3. Bose, Melia Belli (2015). Royal Umbrellas of Stone: Memory, Politics, and Public Identity in Rajput Funerary Art. BRILL. p. 150. ISBN 978-9-00430-056-9.
  4. The Cambridge History of India, Volume 3 pg 322
  5. Dodwell, Henry Herbert (1928). The Cambridge History of India. pp. 248–252, 281. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  6. Irvine pg. 390
  7. Rajasthan through the Ages vol 4 pg.189
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