Capture of Agra

The Capture of Agra Fort ended a month-long siege by Maharaja Suraj Mal on 12 June 1761. After a one-month siege of Agra the Mughal army, led by Mirza Fazilka Khan, surrendered to the Jat army. The Jat possessed himself of all the wealth of the Mughal Empire and thus became one of the richest man on the planet. The Jats seized the old capital of Mughal Empire. It remained in possession of Bharatpur State rulers until 1774.

Background
Jats began to expand the boundaries of their kingdom. They expanded their territory to eastern Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, southern Haryana, and Delhi. The Jat ruler of Bharatpur Suraj Mal controlled over the Braj region. Agra had to be merged with his territory to dominate.

Battle
Surajmal's army (four thousand Jat soldiers) advanced towards Agra. After a month's siege, on 12 June 1761, Surajmal offered peace terms and promised the Qiledar, Fazilka Khan, one lakh money with five villages and Agra Fort came under the control of Surajmal. They also melted the two silver doors of the famous Mughal monument Taj Mahal. It remained under the control of Bharatpur rulers until 1774. After the Jats captured the fort of Agra, the Jats had stuffed straw in the Taj Mahal of Agra.

Aftermath
After capturing Agra Fort, Suraj Mal became more powerful and dominant. He now became the ruler of the area of Yamuna. For the Jats, the capture of Agra was an emotional moment. About 90 years ago, just a short distance away from the gate of this fort, Gokula was cut and thrown. Surajmal thus avenged himself. Jats ruled Agra for 13 years from 1761 to 1774. On 18 February 1774, the Mughal Commander Mirza Najaf Khan re-captured Agra.