Draft:Maharana Pratap’s reconquest of Mewar

The Maharana Pratap reconquest of Mewar was fought from 1582-1585 between the forces of Mewar led by Maharana Pratap and the Mughal forces led by Mughal commander Bahlol Khan and ex-commander Sultan Khan. It was started when Mewari forces attacked the Mughal outpost of Dewair, after hours of fierce fighting Mewari forces were able to push the Mughals back and went on to score a decisive victory. Later on Maharana Pratap conquered Kumbhalgarh and then 36 Mughals outposts were also captured by Maharana Pratap .Maharana Pratap reclaimed all the land lost to Akbar after the battle of Haldighati. and in Seige Of Chittorgarh

Background
After the battle of Haldhighati, Gogunda then the capital of Maharana Pratap was annexed by the Mughals then the following year Kumbhalgarh was annexed too forcing Maharana to take Shelter in the hills of Aravallis. There Maharana lived for more than 5 years with his followers and fought with the Mughals. He dispatched two of his commanders Bhamashah and Tarachand to loot and annex Malwa. There they looted Mughal caravans freely and amass as much money as they could they also captured mandu and chanderi. They were able to generate 2.5 million in local currency and 20,000 gold coins. Now Pratap had the army and resources to fight the war and he chose Dewair.

Strength
Since very patchy details of this war are available, the estimates for Pratap’s army vary from as high as 25,000 men on foot and 5,000 on the cavalry to as little as a total army of 5,000. But given the money Pratap had in 1582, and the support of most of the nobles of Mewar along with supporting kingdoms, it can be said without doubt that this army exceeded 10,000 on the side of Mewar.

Serima Sultan Khan the incharcge of Dewair had prior intelligence about Pratap’s impending attack and he summoned more troops from fourteen neighbouring Mughal thanas. Shyamdas writes in his Veer Vinod that the usual number of troops in each Mughal thana was approximately 1,000. Thus, it can be safely assumed that at least 15,000 Mughal troops were involved in the Battle of Dewair

Strategy Of Mewar
The war council met 10 km around the southeast of the valley of Dewair. It was attended by Pratap Himself with Kunwar Amar Singh with Bhama Shah, Tarachand Shah, Shakti Singh, Bhil King Rana Punja, Rawat Krishna Das, Gopal Das Mertiya, and the whole clan of Shakti Singh's son.

It was decided that the Mewari army would not venture into the plains of Mewar a mistake which cost the battle of Haldhighati but will attack from south of Mewar which is a hilly area. A few hundred soldiers were to mingle with the local population and get close to the outpost without getting noticed.

Pratap, Bhama Shah and all other generals were to stay in the base of the valley and in the center Bhillls would attack from the trees atop the mountain with arrows and stones using goofan. Amar Singh was to encircle the village and wait at the northern end of the valley to cut any attempts of the Mughals to escape from the northern plains of Dewair

Battle
Khan Khana’s invasion

After Shahbaz Khan, Dastan Khan was appointed as the Governor of Ajmer, but he soon died at Bali on Oct. 24, 1580 A.D, Abdur Rahim Khan Khana replaced him as the Governor of Ajmer and Incharge of Mewar affairs, But he was not very active like Shahbaz Khan. Once, according to Raj Prashasti, Kunwar Amarsingh seized his Begums and presented them before the Maharana, who did not relish such activities. During the times of Maharana Kumbha and Sanga, several Muslim: ladies were macle captive in siege operations and were not returned. But Pratap, whose policy was to fight not as an imperialist, returned these ladies with due honour. After Dec, 1581 A. D. Khan Khana mostly remained at Fatehpur Sikari, therefore, he could not pay sufficient attention to Mewar affairs and thus Mughal operations in Mewar were much impeded, The Mughal commandants holding important outposts in Mewar, were badly stricken by panic of sudden invasion by the Rajputs. This state of affairs provided a few month’s respite to the Maharana, Thus consolidating his power he invaded Diwer, which was under the charge of Sultan Khan Ghori as Thanedar. He was defeated and killed by Kunwar Amarsingh (1582 A.D.). This fateful victory changed the Maharana’s destiny. He also pursued the fugitives and invaded the outposts of Amet and Madariya which were also deserted by their Thanedars. Thereafter, Kumbhalgarh was recaptured by defeating its Mughal Commander Abdullah Khan (1583 A.D.), In this way within a short span of time the Maharana gained the entire western Mewar.

After this Jagannath Kacchawa was sent to Mewar in order to pursuit Pratap only to be defeated. On departure of the Mughal army Pratap, made up his mind to regain his authority over Chhapan, Vagad etc. He, therefore, detached his army under the command of Rawat Bhan against Sur Khand. A successful encounter was held on the bank of the river Som. After this nearly whole of Mewar was under Pratap’s rule.

Aftermath
All the Mughal posts exept Chitoor and Mandalgarh were captured by Pratp. He from there on lived 15 years peacefully, rulling his Kingdom. Mewar in this time again became a prosperous kingdom. The war between Mughals and Mewar became neutral untill the death Of Pratap and Akbar both and accesion of Maharana Amar Singh son of Pratap and Jahangit son of Akbar.

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