The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.94

v4.c19.94

Prince Akbar had been left in Chitor in charge of all the Mughul posts east of the Arāvalli and south of Ajmer. But his force was too small for the effective defence of this vast region. A marked increase of Rājput activity began with the emperor’s retirement to Ajmer; they made raids, cut off supplies and stragglers, and rendered the Mughul outposts extremely unsafe. In terror of the enemy’s prowess, the Mughul troops refused to enter any pass, detachments shrank from advancing far from their base, and the command of outposts went begging. About the end of May, Akbar’s camp near Chitor was entered at night and some slaughter done in it by a Sisodia band. The Mahārānā descended to the Bednor district, threatening Akbar’s communications with Ajmer, while another army under his son Bhīm Singh ranged the country, striking swift blows at weak points and cutting off grain supplies coming from Mālwā. A fortnight after the surprise of his camp, Akbar himself was defeated with severe loss. At these signal instances of Akbar’s incapacity the emperor transferred him to Mārwār, and gave the Chitor command to Prince A‘zam. The plan of war adopted now was to penetrate into the Mewār hills in three columns: from the eastern or Chitor side by way of the Deobāri pass and Udaipur under A‘zam; from the north by way of lake Rājsamudra under Mu‘azzam, and from the western or Mārwār side through the Deosurī pass under Akbar. The first two of these generals failed to achieve their tasks.