[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [General histories](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general) › [Ṭabaqāt-i Akbarī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari) › [Tabakat-i Akbari of Nizamu-d din Ahmad (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot) › 34 # The Akbarī Generations 34: Conquest of the Fort of Chitor. Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 34 - **Language:** English ### Conquest of the Fort of Chitor. ### [34.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.34.1) Many zamindars and rajas of Hindustan had become subjects of the Imperial throne. But Rana Udi Singh, Raja of Marwar, 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 to Ma-maidana. When he reached the fort of Supar, he found that, hearing of his approach, the men who garrisoned that fort for Rai Surjan of Rantambhor, had abandoned it and fled to Rantambhor. The fort was placed in charge of Nazar Bahadur, one of the Imperial adherents. From thence he went on to Kota, one of the parganas of that country, of which he made Shah Muhammad Khan Kandahari the governor. Next he marched to Gagrun, on the borders of Malwa. ### [34.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.34.2) Mirza Ulugh and Mirza Shah, sons of Muhammad Sultan Mirza, had fled from Sambal, and had come into these parts, where they had begun a revolt, which the Emperor deemed it necessary to suppress. He therefore appointed Shah Abu-l din Ahmad Khan, Shah Bidagh Khan, Muhammad Murad Khan, and Haji Muhammad Sistani to Jagirs in Mandu, and charged them with that duty. When the amirs reached Ujjain, which is one of the chief places in that country, they found that the Mirzas, on hearing of the Emperor's approach, had assembled together and fled to Gujarat, to Changiz Khan, the ruler of that country, who had been one of the adherents of Sultan Mahmud Gujarati. So the amirs obtained possession of Mandu without opposition. When the Emperor marched from Gagrun, Rana Udi Singh left seven or eight thousand men to hold Chitor, under the command of a Rajput named Jai Mal, a valiant chief, who had fought against Mirza Sharafu-d din Husain, in the fort of Mirtha, as before related. The Rana himself, with all his relatives and dependents, took refuge in the hills and jungles. The fort of Chitor is seated on a hill, which is about one kos in height, and has no connexion with any other hill. The length of the fortress is three kos, and the width half a kos. It contains plenty of running water. Under His Majesty's orders, the ground round the fort was portioned out among the different amirs. ### [34.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.34.3) The royal forces were ordered to plunder and lay waste the country, and Asaf Khan was sent to Rampur, a prosperous town of the province. He attacked and captured the fort, and ravaged all the neighbourhood. Husain Kuli Khan was sent with a detachment towards Udipur and Kombalmir, which is one of the chief fortresses in that country, and is the residence of the Rana. He ravaged several towns and villages, but finding no trace of the Rana, he returned to the Imperial camp. When the siege of Chitor had been carried on some time, the Emperor ordered the construction of sabats, and the digging of mines. About 5000 builders and carpenters and stonemasons were collected, and began their work of constructing sabats on two sides of the fort. A sabat is a kind of wall which is begun at musket-shot distance (from the fort), and under the shelter of its planks strongly fastened together and covered with raw hides, a kind of way (kucha) is conducted to the fortress. The walls are then battered from it with guns, and a breach being made, the brave assailants rush into the fort. The sabat which was conducted from the royal battery (morchal-i badshahi) was so extensive that ten horsemen abreast could ride along it, and it was so high that an elephant-rider with his spear in his hand could pass under it. ### [34.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.34.4) While the sabat was in course of construction, the garrison kept up such a fire of guns and muskets, that more than 100 of the workmen and labourers employed in it were killed daily, although they covered themselves with shields of bull-hide. Corpses were used in the walls like bricks. In a short time, the sabat was completed, and carried close to the fort. ### [34.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.34.5) The miners also carried their mines to the foot of the walls, and having constructed mines under two bastions which were near together, they filled them with gunpowder. A party of men of well-known bravery, fully armed and accoutred, approached the bastions, ready to rush into the fort as soon as a breach was made by the explosion of the mines. Fire was applied to both mines at the same time, but the match of one was shorter than the other, and that made the explosion first. The bastion was blown into the air, and a large breach was effected. The storming party at once rushed to the breach, and were about to enter, when the second mine exploded, and the bastion was blown up. Friends and foes, who were contending in the breach, were hurled into the air together, and those also on whom the stones fell perished. It is notorious that stones of 200 mans were carried to a distance of three or four kos from the walls, and bodies of men who had been burnt were found. Saiyid Jamalu-d din and \* \* \* and a great number of the Emperor's attendants, were slain, and nearly 500 picked soldiers were killed by blows from the stones. A large number also of the infidels perished. After this disaster, the pride and solicitude of the Emperor became still more intent upon the reduction of the fortress. A sabat which had been laid down in the battery of Shuja'at Khan was now completed. ### [34.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.34.6) On the night of Tuesday, 25th Sha'ban, 975 H., the Imperial forces assembled from all sides, and the wall being breached, a grand struggle began. Jai Mal, commander of the fortress, came into the breach to encourage his men. The Emperor was seated in a gallery, which had been erected for him on the sabat, and he had a musket in his hand. The face of Jai Mal was discernible by the light which was cast upon the spot by the fire of the guns and muskets. The Emperor took aim at him, and so wounded him that he died upon the spot. The garrison was disheartened by the fall of their leader, and each man hurried to his own home. They collected their wives and children, property and effects, in one place, and burnt them. This proceeding, in the language of the infidels of Hind, is called jauhar. The royal forces were now massed, and they assaulted the breaches in several places. Many of the infidels rushed forward to defend them, and fought most valiantly. His Majesty, seated on the sabát, beheld the exertions of his men with an approving eye. 'Adil Muhammad Kandahari \* \* \* \* and others exhibited great valour and daring, and received great praise. All that night the fighting went on, but in the morning, which was a glorious morning, the place was subdued. The Emperor mounted on an elephant, and, attended by his devoted followers on foot, entered the fortress. An order for a general massacre was issued, and more than 8000 Rajputs who were in the place received the reward of their deeds. ### [34.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.34.7) After noon the slaughter was stayed, and the Emperor returned to his camp, where he remained three days. Asaf Khán was appointed to rule this country, and His Majesty started for the capital, on Tuesday, the 25th Sha'bán. A curious incident in this siege was this : A person was sitting near the battery of the author of this book, under the shelter of a tree, with his right hand placed upon his knee. As an opportunity presented itself, he raised his thumb, covered with the stall usually worn by archers, and just at that moment a gun was fired from the fortress, and the ball passed within the length of a barley-corn from his thumb, and did him no harm. When the Emperor started to effect the conquest of Chitor, he vowed that if he were successful, he would make a pilgrimage to the tomb of Khwája Mu'ínu-d dín Chishtí, which is at Ajmír. In performance of this vow, he set off for Ajmír, and walked all the way on foot. On Sunday, the 7th Ramazán, he reached Ajmír. He performed all the observances of the pilgrimage, and made the poor and needy glad with his alms and offerings. He remained there ten days, and then departed for the capital. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tabaqat-i-akbari~en-elliot.34) · Pramāṇa