The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.95

v4.c19.95

Prince Akbar took post at Sojāt in Mārwār on 28 July, but could not repress the Rāthor bands that spread over the country, closing the roads to trade and disturbing every weak post. His instructions were to occupy Nādol, the chief town of the Godwār district, and from this new base penetrate eastwards into Mewār by the Deosurī pass and invade the Kumbhalgarh region, where the Mahārānā and many Rāthors had taken refuge. Akbar reached Nādol at the end of September, but for nearly two months did nothing. At last the emperor in wrath sent the imperial paymaster to his camp to enforce a forward movement. It was only then that Akbar advanced to Deosurī and, sending his lieutenant Tahavvur Khān ahead, forced the Jhilwārā pass (2 December). The next step would have been to push on eight miles southwards to Kumbhalgarh and drive the Mahārānā out of his last refuge. But it was not done. There followed a lull of inactivity for five weeks, during which the prince's treasonable plot was fully hatched, and at last on 11 January, 1681, he united with the Rāthor and Sisodia contingents and proclaimed himself emperor of India!