ANKITA SADHUKHAN

BA (hons) History

AKBAR’
S RELATION WITHRAJPUTSAND THEIRROLEIN THEEXPANSION OF THE
EMPIRE

Th e M u g h a l r u le r e p r ese n t s a n e r a of t ole r a n c e a n d n a t ion a l

u n if ic a t ion u n lik e t h e e a r lie r M u slim r u le s, in w h ic h R a jp u t s
p a r t ic ip a t e d u n d e r t h e b a n n e r s of t h e c la n le a d er s ,t o w h om t h e y
d ir e ct e d p r im a r y a lle g ia n c es ,a s sold ie r s a n d a d m in ist r a t ion b e ca u se
of t h e p r e st ig e a n d b e n e fit s t h e y g a in t h r ou g h t h e a ssoc ia t ion w it h t h e
M u g h a ls.

A b r oa d er p e r sp e c t iv e is r e q u ir ed t o se e t h e r e la t ion sh ip t h a t h a v e
e x ist e d b e t w e en A k b a r a n d t h e R a jp u t c h ief s. Th e r e la t ion w a s m or e
of a loy a lt y w h ic h is r a t h e r a c om p le x a n d p a r a d ox ic a l on e . Loy a lt y
c a n b e d e fin e d a s a f e elin g of a t t a c h m e n t t o som e t h in g ou t sid e t h e se lf
su c h a s g r ou p ,a n in st it u t ion ,a c a u se or a n id e a l. Th e se n t im e n t
c a r r ies w it h it a w illin g n e ss t o su p p or t a n d a c t in b e h a lf of t h e ob je c t s
on e ’ s loy a lt y a n d t o p e r sist in t h a t su p p or t ov e r a n e x t e n d e d p e r iod of
t im e a n d u n d e r c on d it ion w h ic h e x a c t a d e gr e e of m or a l , e m ot ion a l
a n d m a t e r ia l sa c r ific e f r om t h e in d iv id u a l .Loy a lt ie s e m e r g e ou t of t h e
soc ia l m a t r ix a n d p r oc e ss of loy a lt y f or m a t ion , g r ow t h a n d c h a n g e
a r e c lose ly a k in t o t h ose in v olv e d in t h e p r oc e ss of id e n t if ica t ion .
Th e r e t h e r e la t ion b e t w e en t h e R a jp u t s a n d t h e M u g h a ls is a c om p le x
on e .

A s a n im p e r ia l st a t e , M u g h a ls d id e x p a n d ed it s t e r r it or ia l e x p a n sion
f or it s ow n a d m in ist r a t iv e n e e d s a n d e x p loit e d m or e a n d m or e
r e sou r c e s . A s a n im p e r ia l st a t e , it w a s c le a r e n ou g h t h a t w h e n e v er it
w a n t e d r e sou r c e s ,it e x p a n d ed it s t e r r it or ie s .A n im p e r ia l st a t e is a
v e r y op p or t u n ist , w or k s st r a t e g ic a lly , a n d it v e r y w e ll k n ow s h ow t o
c a p t u r e a n a r e a or h ow t o in je c t it se lf on a n y p a r t ic u la r a r e a . F or
e x a m p le , R a ja st h a n w a s a v e r y h u g e t e r r it or y w it h n e a r ly 20 0 R a ja s
r u lin g t h e ir k in g d om s or c h ief d om s se p a r a t e ly a lt h ou g h t h e y w e r e
c la n b a se d r e la t ion sh ip p r e v a ils w id e ly . F or M u g h a ls, it w a s v e r y
d if fic u lt t o c on q u e r t h e w h ole of r a ja st h a n a s it w ou ld t a k e
a p p r ox im a t e ly on e or h a lf y e a r t o d e fe a t a r a ja ,m a k in g n e w
st r a t e g ie s a n d w ou ld c om e a t a h u g e c ost t o p a y .F or M u g h a ls
t h e r ef or e ,m a k in g a llia n c e s a n d b e com in g p a r t n e r t o sh a r e p ow e r is
n ot a d e a l of loss .

Th e R a jp u t c h ief d om s , a c on st e lla t e d b od y or b od ie s w h ic h m or e or
le ss c ov e r e d t h e a r e a of R a ja st h a n a n d Gu ja r a t , w h ic h w a s a st r a t e g ic
t r a n sit ion a l z on e sit u a t e d b e t w e en la r g e r c u lt u r a l c e n t r e s in Gu ja r a t
a n d on t h e n or t h e r n I n d ia n p la in ,c r iss c r osse d b y t r a d e r ou t e s
r u n n in g b e t w e en t h e se la r g e c e n t r e s , w e r e h a r d t o d e fe a t a n d if d on e ,
it w ou ld b r in g h u g e loss e s t o t h e st a t e . So m a in t a in in g c or d ia l
r e la t ion sh ip w it h t h e R a jp u t s w a s a st r a t e g ic on e t h a t w a s p la n n e d
b y t h e M u g h a ls.

D u r in g t h e M u g h a l p e r iod ,t h e r e w e r e t w o p r im a r y u n it s of r e f er e n c e
a n d id e n t if ica t ion f or a R a jp u t s. Th e se w e r e b r ot h e r h ood (b h a ib a n d h )
a n d h is r e la t ion s b y m a r r ia g e (sa g a ). Th e b r ot h e r h ood w a s a
p a t r ilin e a l u n it of d e sc en t r e p r ese n t e d b y t h e c la n . A n ot h e r p r im a r y
u n it of r e f er e n c e a n d id e n t if ica t ion w a s t h e sa g a ,t h ose t o w h om h e
g a v e d a u g h t e r s a n d f r om w h om h e r e c eiv e d w iv e s in m a r r ia g e. Th e
im p or t a n c e of b h a ib a n d h a n d sa g a a s p r im a r y or p r e m od ia l u n it s of
r e f er e n c e a n d id e n t if ica t ion p e r sist e d d u r in g t h e M u g h a l p e r iod
b e ca u se of t h e ir c e n t r a lit y in d e fin in g w h o R a jp u t w a s .

A s r a jp u t h a d a h u g e m ilit a r y st r e n g t h c olle c t iv e ly or in d iv id u a lly

a n d a lso t h e y h a d la r g e t e r r it or ia l c h ief d om s , A k b a r h a d r e a lise d t h e
sig n if ic a n ce of t h e R a jp u t c h ief s in t e r m s of t h e ir m ilit a r y st r e n g t h .

W h y A k b a r h a d a d op t ed t h e sof t m e t h od t o d e a l w it h t h e R a jp u t s?
W h a t w a s h is r a jp u t p olic y ? W h a t w a s t h e sig n if ic a n ce of t h e p olic y ?
W a s it f r u it f u l? W a s it a t r a d it ion ? W a s t h e r e a n y sp e cia l b on d t h a t
w e r e b u ilt f u r t h er w h ic h b e n e fit e d b ot h t h e p a r t ie s or sid e s?
Th e r e w e r e m a n y d im e n sion of t h e M u g h a l –R a jp u t r e la t ion s.

A c cor d in g t o Sa t ish Ch a n d r a , A k b a r e x p a n d ed a n d e la b or a t e d t h e
p olic y w h ic h w a s a d op t ed b y h is f a t h e r H u m a y u n a s w h e n H u m a y u n
c a m e b a c k t o I n d ia ,h e e m b a r k ed u p on a d e lib er a t e p olic y if t r y in g t o
w in ov e r t h e p ow e r fu l r a ja s a n d z a m in d a r s of t h e c ou n t r y . A b u l F a z l
sa y s t h a t in or d e r t o ‘ soot h e t h e m in d s of t h e z a m in d a r s ,h e e n t e r e d
in t o m a t r im on ia l r e la t ion s w it h t h e m ’
.
 Th u s w h e n J a m a l k h a n M e w a t i ‘ on e of t h e g r e a t e st z a m in d a r s of
I n d ia ’su b m it t e d t o H u m a y u n ,h e m a r r ie s on e of h is b e a u t if u l
d a u g h t e r s h im se lf a n d m a r r ie d t h e y ou n g e r sist e r t o B a ir a m K h a n .

Th e r e w e r e t w o r a c ia l g r ou p s in A k b a r ’ s c ou r t ie t h e I r a n is a n d
Tu r a n is . W h e n on e of t h e se g r ou p c r e a t e d p r ob le m ,A k b a r h a d t o
r e lie d on ot h e r t h e r ef or e , A k b a r f ille d m or e a n d m or e r a c ia l g r ou p in
h is c ou r t . H is c h oic e w a s c on f in e d m a in ly t o R a jp u t s , Sh a ik h z a d a s
a n d t h e A f gh a n s.

A k b a r m a d e a d r a st ic c h a n g e in t h e n a t u r e of t h is r e la t ion sh ip . A k b a r
b r ou g h t t h e R a jp u t s t o t h e c e n t a l st a g e a n d t r e a t e d t h e m a s p a r t n e r s
in t h e sov e r e ig n p ow e r a n d w e a lt h of t h e e m p ir e . A k b a r t r e a t e d t h e m
a s p a r w it h t h e Tu r a n i a n d I r a n i n ob le s. Th e p e r u sa l of t h e m a n sa b s
a ssig n e d t o t h e R a jp u t in d ic a t e d t h a t m a n y of t h e m w e r e g iv e n h ig h
m a n sa b s a n d t h e y e n joy e d a h ig h st a t u s on M u g h a l Cou r t . R a ja
B h a r m a l ,r u le r of A m b e r w h o’ s d a u g h t e r w a s m a r r ie d t o A k b a r a n d
c e m e n t e d t h e a llia n c e b y m a r r y in g ,H a r k h a b a i , a n d h is son a n d
su c c e ssor B h a g w a n D a s K u c h w a h a of A m b e r w e r e g iv e n t h e st a t u s of
50 0 0 m a n sa b d a r in M u g h a l h ie r a r c h y . Tow a r d s t h e e n d of t h e A k b a r ’
s r e ig n , R a ja M a n Sin g h K a c h w a h a h a s e a r n e d t h e st a t u s of 70 0 0 J a t
a n d 70 0 0 Sa w a r . Th e r e w e r e m a n y ot h e r s lik e R a i Sin g h of B ik a n e r
,P r a t a p of B a glon a a n d R a ja Su r a j Sin g h of J od h p u r w e r e a c cor d e d
t h e st a t u s of 4 0 0 0 ,30 0 0 a n d 20 0 0 / 20 0 0 r e sp ec t iv e ly . F r om t h e e a r ly
1750 t h e R a jp u t c h ief s w e r e a ssig n e d sig n if ic a n t of f ice s . I n 1572-
73.,w h ile le a n in g f or Gu ja r a t , A k b a r m a d e R a ja b h a r M a l W a z ir –i-
M u t la q of A g r a . Th is m e a n t h a t t h e a d m in ist r a t ion c h a r g e of t h e c it y
w a s e n t r u st e d t o h im . I n 158 5-8 6 w h e n t h e e m p ir e w a s d iv id e d in t o
su b a s a n d in e a ch su b a ,t w o g ov e r n or s w e r e a p p oin t e d R a ja
J a g a n n a t h K a c h w a h a a n d R a ja D u r g a Sisod ia w e r e a p p oin t e d t h e
g ov e r n or s of A jm e r P r ov in c e . Tow a r d s t h e e n d of A k b a r ’ s r e ig n , M a n
Sin g h h e ld su b a s of B ih a r a n d B e n g a l.

Th e m a r r ia g e p la y e d a b ig r ole w h ic h m a in t a in e d a sor t of r e la t ion s.

B ot h A k b a r n a m a a n d t h e B a bu r n a m a e x p lic it e ly m a in t a in t h a t
m a r r ia g es t h e c on t r a c t e d w it h t h e g ir ls of loc a l z a m in d a r f a m ilie s t o
c on c ilia t e t o t h e z a m in d a r s . W it h t h is v ie w B a bu r m a r r ie d a
Ya su f z a i g ir l a n d H u m a y u n m a r r ie d t o M e w a t i g ir l .
A kba r ’ s m a r r y in g a r a jp u t p r in c e ss w a s a n id e n t ic a l a c t .A s m a r r ia g e
w a s a p a r t of a n y a llia n c e a n d v e r y w e ll sh ow t h a t g iv in g d a u g h t e r s
in m a r r ia g e t o t h e ov e r lor d s w a s a h a llm a r k of p olit ic a l a s w e ll a s
soc ia l su b m ission b y t h e v a ssa ls. Th e r e for e B h a r M a l’ s e n t r y in t o
A kba r ’ s se r v ic e a n d m a r r ia g e of K a c h w a h a p r in c e ss w it h t h e e m p e r or
in 156 2 sh ou ld b e se e n a s a c on t in u a t io n of t h is t r a d it ion . Th e r e a f t e r
t h e m e m b e r of t h e M u g h a l r oy a l f a m ily m a r r ie d m a n y R a jp u t
p r in c e ss.

On e sig n if ic a n t a sp ec t of t h e se m a r r ia g es w e r e t h e d ig n it y a s R a jp u t s
w iv e s e n joy e d f u ll f r e ed om in t h e M u g h a l H a r e m a n d t h e se m a r r ia g es
a r e n ot f or c e d a t a ll. H in d u f e st iv a ls lik e D iw a li a n d R a k h i w e r e
c e le br a t e d a t t h e M u g h a l c ou r t . A n ot h e r sig n if ic a n t a sp ec t w a s t h e
e st a b lish m e n t of soc ia l in t e r c ou r se b e t w e en t h e t w o f a m ilie s. On
sp e cia l oc c a ssios t h e R a jp u t w iv e s of t h e M u g h a l u se d t o v isit t h e ir
p a r en t isl h om e s. A k b a t sh a r ed g r ie f a n d b a p p in e ss w it h t h e
R a jp u t s.A t t h e m om e n t of g r ir f t h e y c on sole d e a ch ot h e r .

Th e t it le m ir z a .F a r z a n d a n d B h a iy a g iv e n t o M a n Sin g h , M a n oh a r
Sh a ik h a w a t a n d R a m Ch a n d B a gh e la r e p ec t iv e ly w e r e t h e
m a n if e st a t ion of soc ia l c lose n e ss of t w o f a m ilie s. Th e t it le M ir z a w a s
g e n e r a lly su f f ix e d w it h t h e ir n a m e s b y t h e M u g h a l P e r son n e l.

On e t h in g t h a t is t o b e n ot e d t h a t A k b a r d id n ot in sist u p on
m a t r im on ia l r e la t ion s a s a p r e c on d it ion . N o m a t r im on ia l r e la t ion s
w e r e e n t e r e d in t o w it h t h e H a d a s p f R a n t h a m b or , y e t t h e y r e m a il
h ig h in f a v ou r of A k b a r .R a o Su r ja n H a d a w a s p la c ed in c h a r g e in
Gh a r K a t a n g a .

A c cor d in g t o Sa t ish Ch a n d r a , A k b a r 's R a jp u t p olic y w a s c om b in e d

w it h a p olic y of b r oa d r e lig iou s t ole r a n c e .

B e sid e s t h e su p p or t of m a n y R a jp u t r a ja s , t h e r e w e r e m a n y w h o w e n t
a g a in st t h e M u g h a ls a n d d id n ot b e com e a lly a t a n y c on d it ion m or e or
le ss. F ollow in g t h e c on q u e st of c h it t or , m ost of t h e le a d in g R a jp u t
r u le r s a c ce p t ed A k b a r t r ie d t o c om e w it h t h e t e r m s t o c a p t u r e
U d a ip u r a n d a la r g e r p a r t of M e w a r w h ic h w a s t h e r e u n d e r R a n a
Pr a ta p.

I n 1572 , w h e n R a n a P r a t a p b e com e t h e r u le r of t h a t p la c e ,a se r ie s of
e m b a sie s w e r e se n t b y A k b a r t o h im t o p e r su a d e h im t o a c cp t M u g h a l
su z e r a in t y a n d t o d o p e r son a l h om a g e .D e p it e of a n e g ot ia t ion t h e
p r ou d R a n a w a s n ot p r e p a r ed t o a c ce p t A k b a r 's d e m a n d f or t e n d e r in g
p e r son a l h om a g e .A f u r r iou s b a t t le b e t w e en t h e t w o sid e s w a s w a g e d a t
H a ld i Gh a t i a n d t h e t id e of t h e b a t t le b e g a n t u r n a g a jn st t h e R a jp u t s .
Se e lin g t h is R a n a e sc a p e d .R a n a r e sor t e d t o g u e r illa w a r f a r e .B u t t h e
d e fe a t d id n ot w e a k en R a n a P r a t a p 's r e solv e t o f ig h t f or
in d e p en d e n c e.A n d t h ose w h o su p p or t e d R a n a w a s p r e ssu r ise d b y
M u g h a ls a n d A k b a r c on c lu d e d se p a r a t e t r e a t ie s w it h t h e se st a t e lik e
D u n g a r p u r .B a n sa r a e t c .B ot h K jm b h a lg a r h a n d U d a ip u r w e r e
oc c u p ied b y t h e M u g h a ls.A p a r t f r om M e w a r . A k b a r h a d t o f a ce
op p osit ion in M a r w a r .

B e sid e t h e m e t h od of c on c ila t ion a n d p e r su a t ion A k b a r h a d t o u se

f or c e w h e n som e R a jp u t r u le r s k ic k e d A k b a r 's p r op osa l of f r ie n d sh ip
.H e t ook r e sor t t o u se f or c e a n d d e fe a t t h e R a jp u t r u le r s a s in t h e c a se
of R a n a P r a t a p .

W it h t h e g r ow in g in t e r a c t ion a n d t h e R a jp u t c h ief s it b e com e c le a r er

t h a t t h e ir in t e r e st s w e r e id e n t ic a l a n d c om p le m e n t a r y .Th e w h ole
id e olg y w a s b a se d on sh a r ed p olit ic a l p ow e r .A k b a r sh ow e d h is
a p p r e cia t ion of t h e se r v ic e s of t h e R a jp u t c h ief s b y p r om ot in g t h e m t o
h ig h e r m a n sa b s a d in c r e a sin g t h e ir ja g ir s. Th e in c om e f r om t h e se
ja g ir s w a s f a r m or e t h a n t h e ir e r st w h ile c h ief d om s .A k b a r h ow e v e r
d id n ot a c cor d any sp e cia l t r ea t m en t to the e r st w h ile
p r ic ip a lit ie s.Th ese t e r r it or ie s w e r e t r e a t e d a s p a r y a n d p a r ce l of t h e
M u g h a l e m p ir e . Th e r e v e n u e of t h e se p r in c ip a lit ie s w a s a d ju st e d
a g a in st t h e ir sa la r ie s.Th e r a jp u t w e r e a ssig n e d t o t h e W a t a n J a g ir s ,t o
b r in g t h e m in t g e f old of J a g ir d a r i sy st e m a n d su z e r a n it y .

Th e sig n if ic a n ce of A k b a r -R a jp u t r e la t ion s la y n ot m e r e ly in t h e
t e r r it or ia l a n d p olit ic a l e x p a n sion of t h e M u g h a l e m p ir e in t e r r it or ia l
a n d p olit ic a l e x p a n sion of t h e M u g h a l E m p ir e b u t m or e im p or t a n t ly
in t h e e n d u r in g soc ia l a n d c u lt u r a l in t e r a c t ion a m ou n g v a r iou s soc ia l
g r ou p . Th e r e la t ion sh ip w a s m or e st r a t e g ic a n d c r a ft e d w it h p e r son a l
c a r e w h ic h w ou ld h e lp A k b a r t o e x p a n d h is t e r r it or ia l e x p a n sion s in
R a ja st h a n a n d Gu ja r a t a r e a e x t e n d e d u p t o K a sh m ir a n d Or issa .

Th e R a jp u t p olic y of A k b a r p r ov e d b e n e fic ia l t o t h e M u g h a l st a t e a s
w e ll a s t o t h e R a jp u t s. Th e a llia n c e se c u r e d t o t h e M u g h a l e m p ir e t h e
se r v ic e s of t h e b r a v e st w a r r ior s in I n d ia . Th e loy a lt y of t h e R a jp u t s
b e ca m e a n im p or t a n t f a ct or in t h e c on solid a t ion a n d e x p a n sion of t h e
e m p ir e . Th e a llia n c e e n su r e d p e a c e in R a ja st h a n , a n d e n a b le d t h e
R a jp u t s t o se r v e in f a r f lu n g p a r t s of e m p ir e w it h ou t w or r y in g a b ou t
t h e sa f et y of t h e ir h om e la n d s. Th e h ig h g a n d ee s of t h e e m p ir e ,t h e y
w e r e g r a n t e d ja g ir s in a d d it ion t o t h e ir h e r ed it a r y k in g d om s ,t h u s
a u g m e n t in g t h e ir r e sou r c e s.

B ib liog r a p h y

Su b h r a m a n y a m ,Sa n ja y a n d M u z a f fa r A la m , Th e M u g h a l St a t e
152 6- 1750
R ic h a r d s, J .F .Th e N e w Ca m b r id g e H ist o r y Of I n d ia
Za id i,I n a y a t .A . A k b a r 's r e la t ion s w it h R a jp u t c h ief s a n d t h e ir r ole
in t h e e x a p a n sion of t h e e m p ir e .
Ch a n d r a ,Sa t ish . H ist o r y of M e d ie v a l I n d ia