The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c13.13

v4.c13.13

When Humāyūn reached Sārangpur Chitor had not fallen, and a council was held in the Gujarāt camp to decide whether the siege should be pressed or the Mughul enemy met. It was correctly guessed that Humāyūn would not fight a Muslim king while he was engaged against an unbeliever like the Rānā, and efforts were redoubled to take the fortress. The Gujarāt artillery prevailed at last, and while the women of the city perished voluntarily in flames the remnant of the garrison hurled themselves to death against the weapons of the besiegers. As the end of the siege was approaching Humāyūn had moved on into Gujarāt territory till he reached Mandasor only 60 miles from Chitor, and once again Bahādur Shāh had to make choice of his plan of campaign. This time he rejected the advice of his most acute councillor who wished him to attack Humāyūn at once with troops elated by their recent success. He decided to remain on the defensive and rely on his superior artillery to repel the Mughuls. An entrenched camp in such a position was merely a trap. When the besieged made a sally they were easily defeated in the open field by the Mughuls even with odds in their favour, and rarely succeeded in drawing them close enough to bring them under artillery fire. As the siege continued supplies ran short and could not be replaced. The garrison was dying of starvation and Bahādur Shāh decided to escape. With a few attendants he left the camp in the night (March, 1535) and made his way to MĀndū with Mallū Qādir Khān, the governor of that place, while some of the surviving troops either followed him or were led by Muhammad Zamān Mīrzā to cause revolt in the Punjab.