The Book of Akbar 38.2

38.2

In former times there was no one supreme ruler, but the country was ruled by several rajas and rais, and at the present time, when, by the will of fortune, it no longer belongs to this race, there are several rajas, such as Raja Garha, Raja * * *. The fighting men of this country are chiefly infantry, the horsemen being few. From the earliest establishment of the Muhammadan power in India no monarch had been able to reduce the fortresses of this country or to annex the territory. At the time when Asaf Khan received the jagir of Karra, and accomplished the conquest of Panna, the government of this country was in the hands of Rani Durgavati, commonly known as “the Rani.” She was highly renowned for her courage, ability, and liberality, and by the exercise of these qualities she had brought the whole country under her rule. The author has heard from intelligent men who have been there that she had twenty-three thousand inhabited villages under her sway. Twelve thousand of these were managed by her own shikkdars, and the remainder were in the possession of tributary chiefs. The heads of the various clans paid their homage to her. She was the daughter of a Raja of the tribe of Chandel, who was named Salibahan, who was Raja of Ratah and Mahoba. He married her to Dalpat, a son of Aman Das. He did not belong to a high tribe, but he was wealthy, and as evil times had fallen upon Raja Salibahan, he had consented to this alliance.