Maarg Manthan · Topic 6.15

Akbar’s Relations with the Rajputs and the Growth of a Composite Ruling Class

Medieval History › Mughal Period · Topic 6.15

Akbar won over the Rajputs by marriage alliances, high ranks such as 5000 for Bhagwant Das and 7000 for Man Singh, religious freedom, abolition of the pilgrim tax and the jizyah in 1564, and autonomy in their homelands. Mewar alone resisted: Rana Pratap fought at Haldighati in 1576 and later in guerrilla warfare. The alliance gave the empire its bravest warriors and a composite Mughal-Rajput ruling class.

6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Mughal Period

At a Glance

Key ally Bhara Mal of Amber and then Bhagwant Das and Man Singh
Policy Marriage, rank, religious freedom, autonomy
Jizyah Abolished in 1564
Resistance Mewar under Rana Pratap; Haldighati 1576
Pratap’s death 1597
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Mughal Period

Where Does It Fit?

This is the fifteenth topic of the category on the Mughal period. The previous topic covered Akbar’s conquests, and this topic describes how he turned the Rajputs from opponents into partners. The next topic covers Akbar’s administration. Previous topic: Akbar’s Early Territorial Expansion (Malwa, Garh-Katanga, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Eastern India).

What Was the Background to the Rajput Policy?

In short: Akbar extended and deepened a policy of winning over powerful rajas and zamindars that Humayun had begun.

Humayun, on returning to India, tried to win over the zamindars. Abul Fazl says he entered matrimonial relations with them to soothe their minds; Jamal Khan Mewati submitted, and Humayun married one of his daughters and the younger sister to Bairam Khan. Akbar elaborated this policy.

How Did Akbar Win the Rajputs?

Method	Detail
Amber	Bhara Mal came to Akbar’s court immediately after his accession and impressed him when the Rajputs stood firm before a maddened elephant; in 1562, on being harassed by the local Mughal governor, he paid homage to Akbar and married his younger daughter Harkha Bai to him
Different from earlier marriages	Earlier Hindu-Muslim marriages had not led to stable relations because the girls were lost to their families; Akbar gave his Hindu wives complete religious freedom and an honoured place in the nobility to their parents and relatives
Ranks	Bhara Mal became a high grandee; his son Bhagwant Das rose to 5000 and grandson Man Singh to 7000, a rank given to only one other noble, Aziz Khan Koka, Akbar’s foster-brother
Trust	Prince Danyal was sent to Amber to be brought up by Bhara Mal’s wives; in 1572 Bhara Mal was placed in charge of Agra, where the royal ladies lived
No bar	Marriage was not a precondition: no marriages were made with the Hadas of Ranthambhor, yet Rao Surjan Hada was put in charge of Garh-Katanga with a rank of 2000
Toleration	Pilgrim tax and forcible conversion of prisoners of war were abolished earlier and the jizyah in 1564

After Chittor fell, most leading Rajput rulers accepted Akbar’s suzerainty and paid personal homage. The rulers of Jaisalmer and Bikaner entered matrimonial relations with him. The only state that steadfastly refused was Mewar.

What Happened in Mewar?

Though Chittor and the plain around it fell to the Mughals, Udaipur and the hilly part of Mewar stayed under the rana. Rana Pratap succeeded Udai Singh in 1572. Akbar sent embassies, including those under Man Singh, Bhagwant Das and Todar Mal, which the rana received courteously; the story that he insulted Man Singh is not a historical fact. At one stage he seems to have been ready to compromise: he put on the imperial robe and sent his son Amar Singh with Bhagwant Das. No agreement was reached because the rana would not tender personal homage and, it seems, the Mughals wished to keep Chittor.

Event	Detail
Early 1576	Akbar moves to Ajmer; Man Singh leads 5000 against the rana, who had devastated the territory up to Chittor and fortified the passes
Haldighati	A furious battle below a narrow defile leading to Kumbhalgarh; the rana’s van included Hakim Khan Sur’s Afghan contingent and some Bhils, so it was not a Hindu-Muslim struggle; his forces are put at 3000
Turn	The Rajputs and Afghans threw the Mughals into disarray, but a rumour of Akbar’s arrival and fresh reinforcements turned the tide and the rana escaped; the Mughals occupied Gogunda
After	Pratap fought as a guerrilla, hunted from forest to forest with Bhil support; Mughals took Kumbhalgarh and Udaipur
1579 and 1585	Pressure relaxed after the revolt in Bihar and Bengal; Akbar moved to Lahore in 1585 and no expedition went against Pratap afterwards
Recovery	Pratap regained many territories, including Kumbhalgarh, but not Chittor, built a new capital Chavand near Dungarpur and died in 1597 aged 51 from an injury while drawing a stiff bow

The defeat at Haldighati did not weaken his resolve, but the cause had already been lost since most states had accepted Mughal suzerainty. His method of sporadic warfare was later elaborated by Malik Ambar and by Shivaji.

What About Marwar and Other Houses?

After Maldeo’s death in 1562 his younger son Chandrasen succeeded but had to give parts of the country to his elder brothers under Mughal pressure, and later rebelled. Akbar took Marwar under direct Mughal administration, possibly to safeguard the supply route to Gujarat, and put Rai Singh of Bikaner in charge of Jodhpur. Chandrasen waged guerrilla warfare, took refuge in Mewar and died in 1581. A couple of years later Akbar gave Jodhpur to Udai Singh, Chandrasen’s elder brother, who married his daughter Jagat Gosain (Jodha Bai) to Prince Salim. The rulers of Bikaner and Bundi served with distinction, and in 1593 Akbar personally consoled Rai Singh of Bikaner and dissuaded his widowed daughter from sati because her children were young.

Why Was the Policy Beneficial?

The alliance gave the empire the services of the bravest warriors in India, ensured peace in Rajasthan, and let the Rajputs serve in far-flung areas without fearing for their homelands. Bhagwant Das was joint governor of Lahore and Man Singh governor of Bihar and Bengal, while others held Agra, Ajmer and Gujarat. They also received jagirs in addition to their hereditary kingdoms. Jahangir and Shah Jahan continued the policy, and Jahangir settled the Mewar dispute (see Jahangir’s Reign and Territorial Consolidation (Mewar, Kangra)). The earlier history of the Rajput houses is in Rajput States of Medieval India.

As an analytical point, Akbar made the Rajputs partners and not subjects: Mughal and Rajput nobles became one ruling class that shared service, rank and loyalty, and this broadened the base of the empire beyond Turks, Iranians and Afghans.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Core theme Most-asked Akbar topic in Mains
Facts Ranks, 1564, Haldighati and dates
Link Prepares religious policy and Jahangir’s settlement

What Came Next?

The next topic describes Akbar’s central and provincial administration. Next topic: Akbar’s Central and Provincial Administration.

Key People and Terms

Bhara Mal Ruler of Amber
Bhagwant Das His son
Man Singh Grandson, rank of 7000
Haldighati 1576 battle in Mewar
Chavand Pratap’s new capital
Jizyah Tax on non-Muslims

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Jizyah abolished in 1564.
Man Singh: rank of 7000.
Haldighati: 1576.
Pratap died in 1597.
Mewar alone refused suzerainty.

Do Not Confuse With

Haldighati and Khanwa Akbar’s side versus Pratap, and Babur versus Sanga
Rana Pratap and Rana Sanga Opponent of Akbar versus opponent of Babur
Chandrasen and Udai Singh Jodhpur rebel versus the brother Akbar made ruler

Memory Hook

Marriage and rank bind, jizyah goes, Mewar alone stands, Haldighati breaks but does not bend.

Mains Angle

Questions on the Rajput policy ask for its character and results. These points add depth.

Method Marriage, rank, toleration, autonomy
Exception Mewar
Result A composite ruling class

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Examine Akbar’s policy towards the Rajputs and its significance.”

How to Answer

Origin Humayun’s policy and Amber.
Methods Marriage, ranks, toleration.
Resistance Mewar and Haldighati.
Results Strong, loyal nobility.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Akbar and the Rajputs, Haldighati. GS Paper 1: Rajput policy and the Mughal nobility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Akbar's Rajput policy?

Akbar made the Rajput rajas partners through marriage alliances, high ranks, religious freedom for his Hindu wives and subjects, and autonomy in their homelands. He abolished the jizyah in 1564, and the policy brought the Rajputs into the nobility.

Who were the leading Rajputs in Akbar's service?

Bhara Mal of Amber was the first, followed by his son Bhagwant Das, who rose to a rank of 5000, and his grandson Man Singh, who rose to 7000. Others included the rulers of Bikaner and Bundi.

What was the battle of Haldighati?

Haldighati was fought in 1576 between Rana Pratap and a Mughal force led by Man Singh. The rana, who had Afghan and Bhil allies and about 3000 men, was defeated and escaped, and he then turned to guerrilla warfare from the hills.

Did Rana Pratap accept Akbar's suzerainty?

No. Rana Pratap refused to tender personal homage and Mewar steadfastly resisted Akbar, although several embassies were sent to him. After Haldighati he fought a guerrilla war, recovered much territory except Chittor, and died in 1597.

Why was the Rajput alliance important for the Mughals?

The alliance secured the services of the bravest warriors in India, gave peace in Rajasthan and let Rajputs serve in far-flung places without fearing for their homelands. Rajput nobles also held important governorships and jagirs.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Akbar abolished the jizyah in 1564.

True

He had earlier abolished the pilgrim tax.

2 Man Singh held a rank of 7000.