[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 172 # Storia do Mogor 172: Aurangzeb sends an Embassy to the Rana, and declares war. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 172 - **Language:** English ### Aurangzeb sends an Embassy to the Rana, and declares war. ### [172.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172.1) This was the reason, or at least one of the reasons, for which Aurangzeb determined to declare war against the said Rana. In order that it might not seem that he was acting without cause, he sent him an embassy with such and such requests. It amounted to telling him that he had either to become a Mahomedan, or had to feel the strength of his (Aurangzeb's) spears, the sharp edge of his swords, the strong flight of his arrows, the hot fire of his artillery, and the consuming courage of his soldiers. The overtures were of this nature, and were sent through a gurz-bardár (a mace-bearer) carrying his golden mace, who intimated to the Rana that the first demand was for his daughter in marriage to one of his (Aurangzeb's) sons. This is a thing the Rana would never do, for although some rajahs gave their daughters as wives to the Mogul, they only did it because they were petty princes compared to the Rana. If he had consented \[185\], he would have done great injury to his family. ### [172.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172.2) But this was a small thing in comparison with the next demand. This was that he should no longer coin money in his own name, but in that of Aurangzeb. This was the same thing as saying that the Rana was not the king of his realm but a simple governor, since the money would be graven with Aurangzeb's name. The third thing he asked was one that touched very closely the Hindu religion. He asked permission to kill cows within the Rana's kingdom. Now, the Hindus being great worshippers of cows, which they hold in the greatest estimation, this asking leave to kill cows was to the Hindus as if he were to take away their religion. As a further indication of his design to abolish Hinduism throughout his kingdom, he asked, in the fourth place, for the destruction of all temples and the erection of mosques in their stead. Finally, Aurangzeb, as a declaration of absolute sovereignty over the Rana's kingdom, requested that the jurisdiction of the qdzl should be acknowledged — that is, the law of the Quran should be introduced. If the Rana did not wish to consent to these things, let him abandon his kingdom. What harder conditions could one king demand from another as an excuse for declaring war than what Aurangzeb demanded from the Rana ? ### [172.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172.3) But although these Hindus were very much afraid of the Moguls from what had happened in the invasion of Taimur-ilang, who with twelve thousand horsemen defeated the Rana at the head of one hundred thousand, of which I spoke at the beginning of the Second Book of the First Part of my History (I. 60), still, even this did not persuade the Rana to concede to Aurangzeb what he demanded. He replied to the following effect : As to the first request, it had never been the custom for the Rana to give his daughters in marriage to the Mogul kings. He could not break the ancient rule of his predecessors, nor was it right that he should be the first to do this injury to his family. As for the second request, he replied that it was entirely opposed to the privileges conceded by all the Mogul kings from Mir Shah up to the present reign. It would suffice for Aurangzeb to read the chronicles of the great and famous kings of his own family to ascertain the truth of what was now said. As to the third and fourth requests, the wisdom of His Majesty should be judge whether a king could admit such demands, they being directly contrary to a religion which had lasted for so many centuries in Hindustan. You might as well demand from the Rana his head and the destruction of his kingdom \[186\] as demand the things asked for by His Majesty. ### [172.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172.4) Here let me briefly inform Europeans that the Hindus of Hindustan are wedded to their religion for no other reason than that their ancestors observed it. Nor do they approve of its being said of their sons and grandsons that they have abandoned the customs of their old folk. Although this is reasoning unworthy of attention, still, it is so riveted into their heads, that it is impossible to convert them to any other religion, unless God endows them with powerful grace or it be done by force of arms. Otherwise they can never be made to change their religion. The padre Busde, of whom I have spoken (I. 259; II. 117), a man well acquainted with the people of India, used to say that the way to preach in Hindustan, whether to the Mahomedans or to the Hindus, was with a well-sharpened sword. ### [172.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172.5) As for Aurangzeb's last request, the Rana answered that since he could not accept the third and the fourth, he attached less importance to the fifth, because every religion had its courts of justice conformable to its tenets. Then, in respect to the additional remark that if he were not willing to consent to these things he must quit his kingdom, his reply was that it had been acquired by his ancestors by just title; they had never interfered with anyone, and were ever contented with the much or little which their gods granted. All this His Majesty would easily understand, while he knew also that the Rana could place in the field many soldiers whose valour had enabled him, long before Taimur-i-lang descended into the plains of Hindustan, to conquer many rajahs then existing in the Mogul country. All these words being the very truth itself, he earnestly entreated Aurangzeb to leave his kingdom in peace. There were many other kingdoms hostile to him, against whom he could give proof of his valour. The Rana had never failed to maintain under his (Aurangzeb's) control and in his service seven thousand cavalry. If he wished it, in order to conquer some other kingdom, he would send him even more men. ### [172.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172.6) Aurangzeb knew quite well that the Rana must reply in this style. Nevertheless, he meant to await the reply, and when it arrived he sent at once couriers to recall Prince Shah 'Alam from the Dakhin, with an order to make peace with Bijapur and Gulkandah. Just as a father might pardon the fault of his little children, so must he deal with those kings, leaving behind nothing beyond a small force to resist Shiva Ji. To carry out this plan he sent Bahadur Khan to replace Shah 'Alam \[187\] and Diler Khan, in order that these last might march and arrive punctually at the positions where we were ordered to camp. We encamped near a great lake called Rana-sagar—that is to say, 'Made by the Rana.' Its wall on one side is formed by the mountains; on the other side are stairs of handsome hewn stone. This lake was so large that it took more than eight hours to go round it, and I say this because I proved it myself with my horse. In the middle of the lake there are three large boats, gilded and beautiful, which are anchored in the centre so that no one may get upon them, they being used by the Rana for his amusement. ### [172.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172.7) Other couriers had been sent to A'zam Tara in Bengal, telling him to march with his army, and fixing the point at which he must invade the Rana's territory. Diler Khan, as a veteran and experienced general, was directed to reinforce with his army that of the said prince. Aurangzeb also wrote to Akbar, who, after he had killed the rajah (Kishan Singh), had proceeded to Multan, that he must come with his forces, bringing also Tabercan (Tahavvar Khan). For them also a place was fixed from which they were to attack the Rana. Letters were also written to the governor of Gujarat to join with all haste, and take up his position against the Rana. Thus for this campaign Aurangzeb put in pledge the whole of his kingdom, and the people were astounded at the whole realm being turned upside down for a war against a king who did not want to fight, who only relied upon the rights of his forefathers, and at the same time intended only to defend himself against the Mogul, without undertaking the task of overthrowing him. This fact may be seen in the course of this account, and thereby the reader will understand how inflexible are these Hindus in the preservation of the rules made by their mightier predecessors. The scheme of the campaign having been worked out in the way stated, and the Rana's territory encircled, Aurangzeb started from Agrah in the year one thousand six hundred and seventy-nine. He took an army with him, and was firmly resolved to make himself master of the Rana's kingdom. ### [172.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172.8) He advanced as far as Ajmer, where he halted, and thence sent out fitting orders to his generals for fighting valiantly, and invading that kingdom with vigour. He also invaded it on his side, sparing neither time nor fatigues. When the Rana heard that Aurangzeb was advancing with a great army, he sent orders into the provinces situated beneath the mountains for all the inhabitants \[188\] to move into the hills and abandon their houses. In addition, the Rana ordered that the royal abodes should be left carpeted. Nor did he omit to send messages to Aurangzeb, begging him as a favour not to penetrate farther. But Aurangzeb, instead of moderating his ire and ambition on finding that the Rana dealt with him so courteously, even leaving his rooms with their carpets spread, assumed that this was done from fear. He did all the injury to the Rana that he could — sent out orders to knock down and make ruins of every temple, and to kill cows in them. As a farther aggravation, finding himself by chance in a palace where there were statues of the ancient Ranas, and of the reigning one with his wives and their ladies, he, out of contempt, ordered them all to be broken to pieces. But the Rana proved to him one day how easily he could destroy him, and yet how much he desired his friendship. ### [172.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172.9) With this design the Rana barred the roads in such a way that the Moguls, being now surrounded by mountains, could find no exit, nor knew they where to pass ; for the roads are provided with labyrinths, and none but the natives know the right road. Aurangzeb was amazed at finding himself by one stroke thus encircled, unable to move either forward or backward. He knew likewise that if the Rana up to that time had made no movement against his person, it was not because he could not, but because he would not. Still more was he alarmed when he found that his beloved Udepuri put in no appearance ; nor was there the slightest news of her. Neither was there word of any supplies. The Rana, to show that he did not want to fight, sent him supplies from his own country. He allowed him to suffer hunger for one day, so that hunger might inspire him with good sense. Thus Aurangzeb, as well as his army, had to content himself with a little kichri — that is, rice and lentils cooked with a little butter. ### [172.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172.10) Then in the evening the Rana sent in the Mogul's wife (Udepuri Begam), in the company of his soldiers, again begging him as a favour to withdraw and leave his kingdom in peace, and made the excuse that his soldiers had stopped the roads without his orders. This would have been enough to pacify the most barbarous of kings, enraged by some great insult or another which he had received ; while, on the contrary, this was a king unjustly assailed who yet granted life to his enemy, when he could have killed him with impunity. But not for such courtesies would Aurangzeb refrain from his fixed purpose ; on the contrary, he sent order upon order to his sons and generals to penetrate farther and farther. He himself withdrew to Ajmer, so as not to incur again any evil fortune. Leaving himself with no more than two thousand men, made up of household slaves and clerks, he divided up his forces and sent them to all four quarters with orders to invade without hesitation. But his sons and generals, more prudent than Aurangzeb himself, perpetually made excuses, for they knew how easy it is to get into a labyrinth, yet how difficult to follow it up to the appointed limit, and then return by the same route. They knew the mishap that had happened to the king himself. Yet he, in his over-boldness, would not agree to desist from the enterprise, and insisted on carrying all before him. ### [172.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172.11) Aurangzeb deserved to have had Pathans to deal with in those mountain ranges, and of a certainty they would never have sacrificed such a good chance for cutting off the head of him who had decapitated his own brothers. But the Rana was more concerned in following the rules of his foregoers than in defending himself; thus, though not afraid of the Mogul, he did not care to take well-deserved vengeance for the harm done to him by Aurangzeb. In order to relieve himself of the obligation of doing more, he worked to get up a mutiny in the army of Aurangzeb. ### [172.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172.12) It is necessary to state how the adventurous Mogul proved that he did not mean to give up his enterprise of conquering the kingdom of the Rana. Whilst he was in Ajmer he ordered the fortress of Chitor to be put in order and garrisoned. I spoke of it in the history of Akbar in the Second Book of my First Part (I. 82). Yet. as I said there, one of the conditions of peace between Akbar and the Rana was that both of them should relinquish the said fortress of Chitor, a stone being placed on the gateway of that fortress, on which were cut these words: 'Neither I nor you for evermore.' Thus Aurangzeb was not constant in following the rules of his fathers — at any rate, not in those things where he found his advantage. Therefore he ordered the said fortress to be garrisoned, and commanded the destruction of the pillar that the famed PadmanI had caused to be erected in the fortress, bearing a graven stone stating you should never place faith in Moguls \[190\]. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.172) · Pramāṇa