The History of Shāhjahān (ʿInāyat Khān) 25: Appointment of 'Allámí to the task of demolishing the Fort of Chitor, and chastising the Ráná.

25

On the 22nd Zí-l ka'da, at a chosen moment, the royal departure from the metropolis of Sháhjahánábád to the blessed city of Ajmír took place. On the same date, the Emperor despatched 'Allámí, with a large number of nobles and mansabdárs and 1500 musketeers, amounting altogether to 30,000, for the purpose of hurrying on in that direction, and demolishing the fort of Chitor, which was one of the gifts ('atáyá) that had been made by this Imperial dynasty. From the time of the late Emperor Jahángír, it had been settled that no one of the Ráná's posterity should ever fortify it; but Ráná Jagat Singh, the father of Rájá Jai Singh, having set about repairing it, had pulled down every part that was damaged, and built it up very strongly anew. He also directed him, if perchance the Ráná did not tender his obedience, to overrun his territory with the royal forces, and inflict suitable chastisement on him. The triumphant standards then moved on by the regular marches in the rear of the ever-victorious troops. On the 2nd of Zí-l hijja, when the world-subduing banners were planted at Khalílpur, the Ráná's confidential vakíls waited on the Prince Buland Ikbál, and begged His Royal Highness to act as their intercessor. When, by his mediation, the penitence and humility expressed by the Ráná was reported at the threshold of might and majesty, an order was issued that His Royal Highness should send his Mír-i buyútát to wait upon the Ráná, and deliver the following message, viz. that if, with judicious forethought, he would despatch his eldest son, the Sáhib-i-tíká, to the presence, and a detachment of his people under the command of one of his relatives were stationed in the Dakhin, the same as formerly, to be employed in the royal service, he should be left in security, or otherwise he should be overwhelmed in adversity.
As the Rana had again in these days humbly forwarded an address to the Prince Buland Ikbal, requesting him to send his diwan, in order that he might start off his sons to Court in company with that individual, His Royal Highness obtained permission from the Imperial threshold, and despatched Shaikh 'Abdu-l Karim, his own diwan, to the Rana. * * *
The exploits of the army that accompanied 'Allami were as follows. On his arriving within twelve kos of Chitor, which is the frontier of the Rana's territory, inasmuch as the latter's negociations had not yet been satisfactorily terminated, he commenced plundering and devastating, and depasturing his cattle on the crops. On the 6th of Zi-l hijja, this year, having reached the environs of Chitor, he directed working parties with pickaxes and spades to overthrow that powerful stronghold. Accordingly, in the course of fourteen or fifteen days, they laid its towers and battlements in ruins, and having dug up and subverted both the old and the new walls, levelled the whole to the ground. The Rana having awoke from his sleep of heedlessness at the advent of the prosperous banners at Ajmir, the irresistible force of the royal arms, the dispersion of the peasantry, and the ruin of his territory, sent off a letter containing the humblest apologies to Court, along with his eldest son, who was in his sixth year, and a number of his principal retainers, in company with Shaikh 'Abdu-l Karim, the Prince Buland Ikbal's Mir-i buyutat. A farman was then issued to Jamdatu-l Mulk ('Allami), that since the fort had been demolished, and the Rana had sent off his son to Court, the pen of forgiveness had been drawn through the register of his delinquencies at the Prince Buland Ikbal's solicitation, and that he should set out himself with the whole of the victorious army to the royal presence.