Humayun’s Gujarat Campaign Against Bahadur Shah
Medieval History › Mughal Period · Topic 6.7
Humayun invaded Malwa and Gujarat to end the threat from Bahadur Shah, who had conquered Malwa, besieged Chittor twice and backed Tatar Khan against Agra. He took Mandu and Champaner and drove Bahadur Shah to Kathiawar, but Gujarat and Malwa were lost within months because Askari was inexperienced and the people were attached to Gujarati rule. The threat from Gujarat ended for good.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Mughal Period
At a Glance
- Opponent Bahadur Shah of Gujarat
- Campaign Malwa and Gujarat, February 1535 to February 1537
- Forts taken Mandu and Champaner
- Left in charge Askari
- Result Provinces lost; Bahadur Shah’s threat ended
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Mughal Period
Where Does It Fit?
This is the seventh topic of the category on the Mughal period. The previous topic gave an overview of Humayun’s reign, and this topic describes his campaign in the west. The next topic describes the Bengal campaign and the rise of Sher Khan. Previous topic: Humayun’s Reign and Conflict with the Afghans.
Who Was Bahadur Shah of Gujarat?
In short: Bahadur Shah was an able and ambitious ruler of about Humayun’s age who extended Gujarat into Malwa and Rajasthan and sheltered the Mughals’ enemies.
Bahadur Shah ascended the throne in 1526, first overran and conquered Malwa, and then turned to Rajasthan and besieged Chittor. He soon reduced the Rajput defenders to sore straits. According to some later legends, Rani Karnavati, the widow of Rana Sanga, sent a rakhi to Humayun seeking help and Humayun responded gallantly, but no contemporary writer mentions the story and it may not be true. It is a fact that Humayun moved from Agra to Gwaliyar and that, for fear of Mughal intervention, Bahadur Shah patched up a treaty with the rana, leaving the fort in his hands after extracting a large indemnity in cash and kind.
Why Did Humayun Attack Gujarat?
| Reason | Detail |
|---|---|
| Growing power | Bahadur Shah had conquered Ajmer and overrun eastern Rajasthan, areas bordering Agra |
| Refuge | He made his court the refuge of all who feared or hated the Mughals |
| Chittor | He invested Chittor again |
| Tatar Khan | He supplied arms and men to Tatar Khan, a cousin of Ibrahim Lodi, to invade Agra with 40,000 while diversions were made in the north and east |
Humayun easily defeated Tatar Khan: the Afghan forces melted away at the approach of the Mughals, and Tatar Khan was defeated and killed. Determined to end the threat once for all, Humayun invaded Malwa.
How Did the Campaign Unfold?
| Stage | Event |
|---|---|
| Mandsor | Bahadur Shah abandoned Chittor and fortified a camp at Mandsor |
| Flight to Mandu | Humayun’s cautious tactics forced him to flee to Mandu after spiking his guns, leaving his rich equipage |
| Mandu | Humayun invested the fortress and captured it without much opposition |
| Champaner | Bahadur Shah fled to Champaner; a small party scaled the fort by a path considered inaccessible, with Humayun the 41st man to climb the walls |
| Flight | Bahadur Shah fled to Ahmedabad and finally to Kathiawar |
The rich provinces of Malwa and Gujarat and the large treasures hoarded at Mandu and Champaner fell into Humayun’s hands. In this campaign Humayun showed considerable military skill and remarkable personal valour.
Why Were Gujarat and Malwa Lost?
Both provinces were lost as quickly as they were gained. Humayun placed Gujarat under his younger brother Askari and retired to Mandu, which was centrally located and enjoyed a fine climate. The major problem was the deep attachment of the people to Gujarati rule. Askari was inexperienced and the Mughal nobles were divided. A series of popular uprisings, military actions by Bahadur Shah’s nobles and the rapid revival of Bahadur Shah’s power unnerved Askari. He fell back on Champaner but received no help from the commander of the fort, who doubted his intentions, so he decided to return to Agra. This raised the fear that he might displace Humayun at Agra or carve out a separate empire. Humayun abandoned Malwa and followed Askari by forced marches, overtook him in Rajasthan, and the two brothers were reconciled and returned to Agra. Meanwhile both Gujarat and Malwa were lost.
What Was the Result?
The campaign was not a complete failure. It did not add to Mughal territory, but it destroyed forever the threat from Bahadur Shah, so Humayun could concentrate all resources on Sher Khan. Soon after, Bahadur Shah drowned in a scuffle with the Portuguese on board one of their ships, which ended whatever danger remained from Gujarat.
As an analytical point, conquest of a rich province was easy; holding it needed local support and a capable governor, a point that links to Akbar’s Early Territorial Expansion (Malwa, Garh-Katanga, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Eastern India), where the same regions return. The delay also cost Humayun in the east, as covered in Humayun’s Bengal Campaign and Struggle with Sher Khan (Sher Shah Suri).
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Cause of failure Part of why Humayun lost to Sher Khan
- Governance lesson Conquest versus control
- Fact-heavy Mandu, Champaner and the Karnavati legend
What Came Next?
The next topic describes Humayun’s Bengal campaign and his struggle with Sher Khan. Next topic: Humayun’s Bengal Campaign and Struggle with Sher Khan (Sher Shah Suri).
Key People and Terms
- Bahadur Shah Sultan of Gujarat
- Tatar Khan Cousin of Ibrahim Lodi
- Mandu Fortress in Malwa
- Champaner Gujarat fort
- Askari Humayun’s brother
- Karnavati Rana Sanga’s widow, in a later legend
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Bahadur Shah became ruler in 1526.
- Campaign: February 1535 to February 1537.
- Tatar Khan was defeated and killed.
- Humayun was the 41st man to scale Champaner.
- Askari was left in Gujarat.
Do Not Confuse With
- Bahadur Shah of Gujarat and Bahadur Shah Zafar Sixteenth-century sultan versus the last Mughal
- Tatar Khan and Daulat Khan Lodi cousin supported by Gujarat versus governor of the Punjab
- Mandu and Mandsor Fortress in Malwa versus the camp where Bahadur Shah halted
Memory Hook
Chittor falls, Tatar Khan dies, Mandu opens, Champaner climbed, Askari flees, Gujarat slips away.
Mains Angle
Questions on this campaign ask what Humayun gained and lost. These points add depth.
- Cause Threat from Gujarat to Agra
- Success Quick conquest and Bahadur Shah’s flight
- Failure Weak governor and local attachment
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Why did Humayun’s Gujarat campaign succeed in battle but fail in territory?”
How to Answer
- Cause Bahadur Shah’s growth and Tatar Khan.
- Conquest Mandu and Champaner.
- Failure Askari and popular revolts.
- Result Threat ended, territory lost.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bahadur Shah of Gujarat?
Bahadur Shah was an able and ambitious ruler of about Humayun's age who came to the throne in 1526, conquered Malwa, besieged Chittor and sheltered the Mughals' enemies, and who was later driven from Gujarat by Humayun.
Why did Humayun invade Gujarat?
Bahadur Shah had overrun eastern Rajasthan and Ajmer near Agra, made his court a refuge for Mughal enemies, and supplied arms and men to Tatar Khan for an attack on Agra. Humayun wanted to end the threat once and for all.
Which forts did Humayun capture in the campaign?
Humayun captured the fortress of Mandu in Malwa without much opposition and then took Champaner in Gujarat, where he was the forty-first man to scale the walls by a path considered inaccessible. The treasures hoarded there also fell to him.
Why did Humayun lose Gujarat?
Humayun left it with his brother Askari, who was inexperienced, while the Mughal nobles were divided and the people were deeply attached to Gujarati rule. Popular uprisings and Bahadur Shah's revival led Askari to return to Agra, and Gujarat and Malwa were lost.
How did Bahadur Shah die?
Bahadur Shah drowned in a scuffle with the Portuguese on board one of their ships soon after Humayun's campaign had broken his power. His death ended whatever danger remained from the side of Gujarat for the Mughals.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Humayun placed Gujarat under his brother Askari.
Askari proved inexperienced.
2 Humayun permanently annexed Gujarat and Malwa after the campaign.
Both were lost as quickly as they were gained.
3 Tatar Khan was a cousin of Ibrahim Lodi.
Bahadur Shah backed him.
4 The story that Karnavati sent a rakhi to Humayun is confirmed by contemporary writers.
No contemporary writer mentions it.
Related Topics
Browse the full Medieval History index