Rithik Rahman: adding some info initial version

2026-02-03T15:22:43Z

adding some info initial version

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{{Short description|1572–1573 Mughal military campaign}}
{{Multiple issues|{{citations needed|date=May 2024}} {{Sources exist|date=May 2024}}}}{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Mughal conquest of Gujarat
| width =
| partof =
| image = File:1572-Akbars triumphal entry into Surat.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| alt =
| caption = Akbar's triumphal entry into Surat, 1572, ''[[Akbarnama]]''.
| date = Early July 1572–1573
| place = [[Gujarat Sultanate]]
| coordinates = 
| map_type =
| map_relief =
| map_size =
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| map_caption =
| map_label =
| result = '''[[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] victory'''
| territory = Annexation of Gujarat Sultanate and Establishment of [[Gujarat Subah]]
| status =
| combatants_header =
| combatant1 = {{Tree list}}
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Mughal Empire.png}} [[Mughal Empire]]
**[[Kingdom of Amber]]
{{Tree list/end}}
| combatant2 = [[Gujarat Sultanate]]
| combatant3 =
| commander1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Mughal Empire.png}} [[Akbar]]<br>[[File:Flag of Jaipur.svg|25px]] [[Man Singh]]
| commander2 = [[Muzaffar Shah III]]
| commander3 =
| units1 =
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| strength1 =
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| casualties1 =
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| notes =
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Akbar}}
}}

The last two [[Gujarat Sultanate|Gujarat Sultans]], [[Ahmad Shah III]] and [[Mahmud Shah III of Gujarat|Mahmud Shah III]], were raised to throne when they were young so the nobles were ruling the Sultanate. The nobles divided territories between themselves but soon started fighting between themselves for supremacy. One noble invited the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Akbar]] to intervene in 1572 which resulted in the conquest of Gujarat by 1573 and Gujarat becoming the province of the Mughal Empire.{{Citation needed paragraph|date=May 2024}}

==Background==
[[File:1572-The Battle of Sarnal Gujarat-Akbarnama.jpg|thumb|320px|The Battle of Sarnal, 1572, ''[[Akbarnama]]'']]
{{main|Ahmad Shah III|Mahmud Shah III of Gujarat}}
After establishing his supremacy in northern India, [[Akbar]] turned his attention toward extending his realm to the coastal regions. With [[Malwa]] secured and [[Rajasthan]] subdued, the path to [[Gujarat]] was now open. At that time, [[Gujarat]] was in a state of disorder under the weak rule of [[Muzaffar Shah III]], a mere figurehead whose ambitious nobles had carved the kingdom into feuding parts. The region’s rich soil, busy ports, and lucrative foreign trade made it highly attractive, while its location along the pilgrimage route to [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]] added significant strategic value. Additionally, Gujarat’s proximity to Portuguese territories made its security vital to prevent potential foreign interference.<ref name="Richards Mughal Empire">{{cite book |last1=Richards |first1=John F. |title=The New Cambridge History of India |date=1995 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=31 |chapter=The Mughal Empire}}</ref><ref name="Majumdar Mughal Empire">{{cite book |last1=Majumdar |first1=R. C. |author-link1=R. C. Majumdar |last2=Chaudhuri |first2=J. N. |last3=Chaudhuri |first3=S. |title=The History and Culture of the Indian People: The Mughal empire |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.553379/page/n142/mode/1up |year=1974 |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |location=Bombay |pages=125–127}}</ref><ref name="Chandra Medieval India">{{cite book |last=Chandra |first=Satish |title=Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals Part - II |year=2005 |publisher=Har-Anand Publications |isbn=9788124110669 |pages=231-234}}</ref>

==Conquest of Gujarat==
[[File:Fatehput Sikiri Buland Darwaza gate 2010.jpg|thumb|[[Buland Darwaza]] at [[Fatehpur Sikri]] was built by Akbar in 1575 to commemorate his victory over Gujarat]]

On 2 July 1572, [[Akbar]] departed from [[Fatehpur Sikri]] for [[Ajmer]], sending ahead an advance guard of 10,000 cavalry under Khan Kalan. His march took him through [[Nagaur]] and Merta until he reached [[Sirohi]], where he launched a counterattack on the Rajputs after they had ambushed his advance guard, resulting in the death of 150 enemy warriors. Following this engagement, he continued toward Patan, dispatching [[Raja Man Singh]] to pursue the sons of Sher Khan Fuladi near [[Idar, Gujarat|Idar]].<ref name="Richards Mughal Empire"/><ref name="Majumdar Mughal Empire"/><ref name="Chandra Medieval India"/>

In December, [[Akbar]] left [[Ahmedabad]] for the prosperous port of Cambay, where he first saw the sea and interacted with merchants from Portugal, Turkey, Syria, Persia, and Transoxiana.<ref name="Richards Mughal Empire"/><ref name="Majumdar Mughal Empire"/><ref name="Chandra Medieval India"/>

Not long after, local noblemen, including Itimad Khan, came to pay their respects to [[Akbar]]. In November, he arrived in the capital of [[Gujarat]] and began reorganizing the territory. He divided the region, assigning the area northwest of the Mahi River to Khan Azam and handing over the southern part—where rebellious Mlrzas had taken hold—to Itimad Khan.<ref name="Richards Mughal Empire"/><ref name="Majumdar Mughal Empire"/><ref name="Chandra Medieval India"/>

Turning his focus to regional powers, [[Akbar]] addressed challenges from the Mirzas, who controlled significant parts of [[Gujarat]]—namely, Ibrahim Husain in [[Baroda]], Muhammad Husain in Surat, and Shah Mirza in [[Champaner]]. After arriving at [[Baroda]], he dispatched an army under Shiahbaz Khan toward Champaner and sent a larger force led by Sayyid Mahmud Khan Barha to Surat. Akbar himself moved to intercept Ibrahim Husain, who was advancing from the north. With only 200 men at his disposal, he risked a daring nighttime crossing of the Mahi River and engaged in fierce, close-quarters combat that resembled a tournament. Despite nearly losing his life when two enemy troopers attacked him, Akbar managed to defeat Ibrahim Husain, who later escaped under cover of darkness.<ref name="Richards Mughal Empire"/><ref name="Majumdar Mughal Empire"/><ref name="Chandra Medieval India"/>

Next, [[Akbar]] set his sights on [[Surat]]. After approximately six weeks of resistance, the fort’s commandant surrendered on 26 February 1573. During the siege, Ibrahim Husain’s wife and his young son fled to the Deccan. Although the Portuguese—invited by the Mirzas—arrived in response, they found themselves too weak to engage Akbar and instead paid him a respectful visit. At the same time, Muhammad Husain Mirza and Shah Mirza, in alliance with Sher Khan Fuladi, laid siege to Patan. Khan A‘zam, along with local lords from Malwa and [[Chanderl]], moved to relieve the Mughal commander Sayyid Ahmad Barha, inflicting a heavy defeat on the besiegers on 22 January 1573. Consequently, Sher Khan Fuladi retreated to Junagarh, while the Mirzas withdrew to the Deccan.<ref name="Richards Mughal Empire"/><ref name="Majumdar Mughal Empire"/><ref name="Chandra Medieval India"/>

== Aftermath ==
In April, [[Akbar]] returned to [[Ahmedabad]], transferring the administration of [[Gujarat]] to Khan Azam and that of [[Malwa]] to Muzaffar Khan Turbati before heading for his capital. Along the way, he received news from Sirohi that the notorious rebel Ibrahim Husain, who had been causing disturbances in [[Punjab]] after leaving [[Gujarat]], had been defeated by the Mughal governor Husain Qull Khan. This governor had also negotiated peace with the local ruler Bidai Chand, contingent on recognizing Akbar’s authority.<ref name="Chandra Medieval India"/><ref name="Majumdar Mughal Empire"/> In June, [[Akbar]] reached [[Fatehpur Sikri]], where he was presented with the head of Ibrahim Husain. His brother Masud, whose eyes had been sewn shut as punishment, was captured but later pardoned by the emperor.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Fatehpur Sikri : Akbar's magnificent city on a hill|last1=Sen Gupta|first1=Subhadra|last2=Israni|first2=Prakash|publisher=Niyogi Books|year=2013|isbn=9789381523728|location=New Delhi|pages=186–187|oclc=845530599}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Campbell |first=James Macnabb |editor=[[James Macnabb Campbell]] |title=History of Gujarát |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/54652/54652-h/54652-h.htm |series=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency |volume=I(II) |year=1896 |publisher=The Government Central Press |chapter=Chapter I. Early Musalmán Governors.(A.D. 1297–1403.) and II. ÁHMEDÁBÁD KINGS. (A. D. 1403–1573.) |pages=266–}} {{PD-notice}}
{{refend}}
{{Mughal Empire}}

[[Category:Wars involving the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:1573 in India]]
[[Category:Gujarat under the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:16th century in the Mughal Empire]]

Mughal conquest of Gujarat - Revision history

Rithik Rahman: adding some info initial version