Maarg Manthan · Topic 6.14

Akbar’s Early Territorial Expansion (Malwa, Garh-Katanga, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Eastern India)

Medieval History › Mughal Period · Topic 6.14

Between 1560 and 1576 Akbar took Malwa from Baz Bahadur, overran Garh-Katanga after Rani Durgavati's last stand, captured Chittor in 1568 and Ranthambhor, entered Ahmedabad in 1572, put down the Gujarat revolts in a nine-day dash in 1573, and defeated Daud Khan in Bihar in 1576, ending the last Afghan kingdom in north India.

6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Mughal Period

At a Glance

Malwa Baz Bahadur defeated, 1561
Garh-Katanga Rani Durgavati’s last stand
Chittor Fell in 1568 after six months
Gujarat Ahmedabad 1572; revolts crushed 1573
Bengal and Bihar Daud Khan defeated, 1576
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Mughal Period

Where Does It Fit?

This is the fourteenth topic of the category on the Mughal period. The previous topic covered Akbar’s control of the nobility, and this topic covers his first wave of conquests. The next topic covers his relations with the Rajputs. Previous topic: Akbar’s Regency Under Bairam Khan and the Revolt of Uzbek Nobles.

How Was Malwa Conquered?

In short: Malwa fell in two stages, first to a cruel expedition under Adham Khan, then to a second campaign that made Baz Bahadur a Mughal mansabdar.

Malwa was ruled by a young prince, Baz Bahadur, a master of music and poetry. His romance with Rupmati is well known, and in his time Mandu was a celebrated centre of music. His army, however, had been neglected. The expedition led by Adham Khan defeated him badly in 1561 and the Mughals took valuable spoils, including Rupmati, who preferred suicide to being dragged into Adham Khan’s haram. The senseless cruelties of Adham Khan and his successor caused a reaction that let Baz Bahadur recover Malwa. After dealing with Bairam Khan’s rebellion Akbar sent another expedition. Baz Bahadur fled, sheltered for a time with the rana of Mewar, wandered, and finally joined Akbar’s court as a mansabdar. Malwa came under Mughal rule.

What Happened in Garh-Katanga?

Item	Detail
Kingdom	Included the Narmada valley and northern Madhya Pradesh; the most powerful Gond kingdom, welded together by Aman Das, who took the title Sangram Shah from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat
Strength	Said to have 20,000 cavalry, a large infantry and 1000 elephants, though the figures may not be dependable
Ruler	Rani Durgavati, a Chandel princess married to Sangram Shah’s son; widowed early, she ruled for her minor son with courage and was a good marksman
Attack	Asaf Khan, the Mughal governor of Allahabad, advanced with 10,000 cavalry, lured by her wealth
End	Wounded and nearly captured, she stabbed herself; Asaf Khan stormed Chauragarh near Jabalpur and kept most of the plunder
Aftermath	After the Uzbek revolt Akbar forced Asaf Khan to disgorge his gains and restored the kingdom to Chandra Shah, taking ten forts to round off Malwa

How Did Akbar Conquer Rajasthan?

Over the next ten years Akbar brought most of Rajasthan under control. The siege of Chittor was a major step: the fortress commanded the shortest route from Agra to Gujarat and was a symbol of Rajput resistance, and Akbar realised that other Rajput rulers would not accept his suzerainty without it. Chittor fell in 1568 after a gallant six-month siege. Rana Udai Singh, on his nobles’ advice, retired to the hills, leaving the warriors Jaimal and Patta in charge. Many peasants sheltered in the fort and helped the defenders. When the Mughals stormed it, peasants and Rajput warriors amounting to 30,000 were massacred, the first and last time Akbar indulged in such carnage. Akbar had stone statues of Jaimal and Patta on elephants set up outside the main gate of the Agra fort. Ranthambhor, reputed the most powerful fortress in Rajasthan, followed. Jodhpur had been conquered earlier, and most Rajput rajas, including those of Bikaner and Jaisalmer, submitted. Only Mewar continued to resist.

How Was Gujarat Taken?

Item	Detail
Why	Fertile soil, advanced crafts and import-export trade made it a prize; Humayun had once ruled it; the failed Mirza rebels had taken shelter there; Akbar would not allow a rival centre of power
1572	Akbar advanced on Ahmedabad via Ajmer and it surrendered without a fight; he then turned on the Mirzas holding Broach, Baroda and Surat
Cambay	Akbar saw the sea for the first time and met Portuguese merchants; the conquest frustrated Portuguese designs
Mahi	Near Surat, Akbar crossed the river and charged the Mirzas with 200 men, including Man Singh and Bhagwant Das of Amber
1573	Revolts broke out; Akbar crossed Rajasthan in nine days and reached Ahmedabad on the eleventh day, with only 3000 men keeping up, and defeated a force of 20,000

How Did Akbar Take Bihar and Bengal?

The Afghans dominated Bengal and Bihar and had overrun Orissa and killed its ruler. At first their ruler read the khutba in Akbar’s name, but internal fights and the declaration of independence by Daud Khan gave Akbar the excuse. Daud was believed to have 40,000 cavalry, about 150,000 infantry, thousands of guns and elephants and a strong flotilla. Akbar captured Patna first to secure communications, then left Khan-i-Khanan Munaim Khan in charge. After hard campaigning Daud sued for peace and rebelled again. In a stiff battle in Bihar in 1576 he was defeated and executed on the spot. This ended the last Afghan kingdom in north India and the first phase of Akbar’s expansion.

As an analytical point, the campaigns show a plan: Malwa and Garh-Katanga secured the centre, Chittor and Ranthambhor the Rajput heartland, Gujarat the seaboard trade, and Bengal and Bihar the east. The ruling-class consequences are in Akbar’s Relations with the Rajputs and the Growth of a Composite Ruling Class, and the administration that followed in Akbar’s Central and Provincial Administration.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Conquests Frequent Prelims sequence questions
Personalities Baz Bahadur, Durgavati, Jaimal and Patta
Strategy Pattern of expansion

What Came Next?

The next topic describes Akbar’s relations with the Rajputs. Next topic: Akbar’s Relations with the Rajputs and the Growth of a Composite Ruling Class.

Key People and Terms

Baz Bahadur Ruler of Malwa
Rani Durgavati Gond queen of Garh-Katanga
Chauragarh Capital of Garh-Katanga
Jaimal and Patta Chittor defenders
Daud Khan Last Afghan ruler of Bengal
Munaim Khan Mughal Khan-i-Khanan in Bengal

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Malwa: 1561 (Baz Bahadur).
Chittor: 1568, after six months.
Gujarat: 1572 and 1573.
Daud Khan defeated in 1576.
At Cambay Akbar met Portuguese merchants.

Do Not Confuse With

Baz Bahadur and Bahadur Shah Malwa prince versus the Gujarat sultan
Chittor 1568 and Ranthambhor Fort that fell after six months versus the fortress that followed
Daud Khan and Munaim Khan Afghan ruler of Bengal versus the Mughal commander

Memory Hook

Malwa, Garh, Chittor, Gujarat, Bengal: five fronts in sixteen years.

Mains Angle

Questions on Akbar’s conquests ask for causes and a pattern. These points add depth.

Motives Wealth, trade and the Rajput symbol
Method Sieges and rapid marches
Outcome End of Afghan power

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Trace Akbar’s early territorial expansion up to 1576 and explain its motives.”

How to Answer

Centre Malwa and Garh-Katanga.
Rajasthan Chittor and Ranthambhor.
Coast Gujarat.
East Bengal and Bihar, 1576.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Akbar's conquests and dates. GS Paper 1: expansion of the Mughal empire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Baz Bahadur?

Baz Bahadur was a young ruler of Malwa, a master of music and poetry, who neglected his army and was defeated by the Mughals in 1561. He later joined Akbar's court as a mansabdar, and the story of Rupmati is famous.

Who was Rani Durgavati?

Rani Durgavati was a Chandel princess who ruled Garh-Katanga for her minor son after being widowed. Attacked by Asaf Khan, the Mughal governor of Allahabad, she fought on while wounded and stabbed herself when the battle was lost.

When did Chittor fall to Akbar?

Chittor fell in 1568 after a gallant siege of six months. Rana Udai Singh had retired to the hills, leaving Jaimal and Patta in charge, and about 30,000 peasants and warriors were massacred when the fort was stormed.

Why did Akbar conquer Gujarat?

Gujarat had fertile soil, developed crafts and the import-export trade, Humayun had once ruled it, and rebel Mirzas had taken shelter there. Akbar would not let such a rich province become a rival centre of power.

Who was Daud Khan?

Daud Khan was the Afghan ruler of Bengal and Bihar who declared independence from Akbar. After hard campaigning he sued for peace, rebelled again, and was defeated and executed in a stiff battle in Bihar in 1576.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Chittor fell to Akbar in 1568.

True

Jaimal and Patta were honoured with statues.

2 Akbar rode in a boat on the sea at Cambay.