History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c49.s11: §12. Rajput successes.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c49.s11
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§12. Rajput successes.
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A marked increase of Rajput activity began with the Emperor's retirement to Ajmir (in March). They made raids, cut off supply trains and stragglers, and made the Mughal outposts extremely unsafe. From Prince Akbar's letters we learn how effectually the Rajputs succeeded in creating a terror of their prowess. The command of Mughal outposts went abegging, captain after captain declining the dangerous honour and "offering excuses"; the Mughal troops refused to enter any pass, "being overcome by vain fancies"; detachments sat down only a short distance from the base and refused to advance further.* The bitter experiences of Hasan Ali Khan's troops when they were lost for a fortnight in the hills west of Udaipur and the greatest alarm and anxiety which were felt in the imperial camp on their account, must have completely unnerved the Mughal army.
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In April, 1680, the Mughal garrison in Zafarnagar* was invested by Gopal Singh, and its communication with the head-quarters cut off for a time. About the middle of the next month Akbar's camp near Chitor was surprised at night and some slaughter done by the Rajputs who had entered it by a ruse. The Maharana descended from the hills and roamed the Bednor district, threatening Akbar's communications with Ajmir. Such was the terror inspired by the Rajputs that even Hasan Ali Khan refused to invade the hills, pleading the difficulty of transport. The imperialists had to wall their camp around for safety. At the end of this month (May), a terrible reverse befell the Mughal arms: Akbar was surprised by the Rana and evidently suffered a heavy loss. A few days later, the Rajputs carried off a convoy of *Banjaras* with 10,000 pack-oxen bringing grain to the prince's army from Malwa by way of Mandesor and Nimach. The enemy daily grew bolder. One of the Rana's armies under his son Bhim Singh ranged the country, striking swift and sudden blows at weak points. The Emperor's order to lay Mewar waste could not be carried out, as the Mughal captains refused to advance beyond the low country; "our army is motionless through fear," so Akbar complains. Even Bednor, north-west of Chitor, was threatened. The Mughal army in Mewar was faced with starvation, and provisions had to be sent to it from Ajmir under strong escort.∗
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∗ Adab, Nos. 662, 666, 733, 734 (officers decline the command of outposts in fear).
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∗ Adab, Nos. 721 and 748. I cannot trace this fort, which was situated in the land of the Hada clan, probably Kotah. Rantambhor is too far north to be the place meant, though otherwise it seems most likely.
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∗ Adab; Tod, i. p. 400 (supplies sent from Ajmir).
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At these signal instances of Akbar's failure, the Emperor in high wrath sent him off to Marwar and placed the command of Chitor in the hands of another son, Prince Azam (26th June).
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The imperial plan henceforth was to penetrate the Mewar hills in three columns,—from the Chitor or eastern side Prince Azam would advance by way of the Deobari Pass and Udaipur, from the north Prince Muazzam by way of the lake Rajsamudra, and from the west Akbar through the Deosuri Pass. The first two failed to achieve their tasks; and we now turn to Akbar's operations in Marwar during the second half of the year 1680, of which his 127 letters in the *Adab-i-Alamgiri* give a detailed account.†
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† Akbar's own account of his operations is given in his letters to Shah Alam (Adab, No. 686) and Zeb-un-nisa (Adab, No. 700).
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The disgraced prince left Chitor on 26th June and went to Marwar by the Barr Pass,‡ a few miles west of Beawar,—Tahawwur Khan ably leading his Van and clearing the way for him. The Rajputs occasionally molested his march, but they were beaten off, and he even took prisoners at the village of Beawar and another place south of Mairta where the Rathors had made a stand. The town of Sojat in the Luni valley was reached on 18th July, and it continued to be his head-quarters for some months.
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‡ The MS. reads B R H A, H R H or B R H. Neither Banera nor Barl (28 m. north of Banera) seems to be the place meant.