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{{moresources|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Siege of Ranthambore(1568)
| partof = Mughal-Rajput War 1558-1578
| image = Bullocks dragging siege-guns up hill during the attack on Ranthambhor Fort.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Bullocks dragging siege-guns up hill during Akbar's attack on Ranthambhor Fort<ref>{{cite web|last=Unknown |url=http://warfare2.likamva.in/Moghul/Akbar/1568-Bullocks_dragging_siege-guns_up_hill_during_the_attack_on_Ranthambhor_Fort.htm |title=Bullocks dragging siege-guns up hill during Akbar's attack on Ranthambhor Fort |date=1590–95 |work=the Akbarnama}}</ref>
| date = 8 February 1568 – 21 March 1568
| place = 270km northwest east of [[Agra]]
| result = [[Mughal Empire]] Victory 
* [[Rajput]] leader Rao Surjan Hada surrenders [[Ranthambore Fort]].
| territory = The [[Mughal Empire]] swept into the territories of Rao Surjan Hada of [[Ranthambore Fort]].
| combatant1 = [[Mughal Empire]]
| combatant2 = [[Rajput]]s of [[Ranthambore Fort]]
| commander1 = [[Akbar]] Mehtar Khan [[Abu'l-Hasan Asaf Khan]] Ghazi Khan Badakshani [[Munim Khan]]
| commander2 = [[Rao Surjan Hada]]
| strength1 = 70,000 men 96 [[cannon]]s 50 [[swivel gun]]s 900 [[matchlock]]s 4000 [[war elephant]]s
| strength2 = 12,000 defenders 100 [[war elephant]]s
| casualties1 =
| casualties2 =
| coordinates = {{coord|display=inline,title}}
}}

In the '''siege of Ranthambore''', on 8 February 1568, Akbar led a massive [[Mughal Army]] of over 50,000 men and besieged [[Ranthambore Fort]]. Akbar had become emboldened after his victories at the [[Battle of Thanesar]] and the [[Siege of Chittorgarh (1567–1568)|siege of Chittorgarh]] and only [[Ranthambore Fort]] remained unconquered. [[Akbar]] believed that [[Ranthambore Fort]] was a major threat to the [[Mughal Empire]] because it housed great [[Hada Chauhan|Hada]] [[Rajput]]s who considered themselves sworn enemies of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]]s.

Akbar had first decided to besieged [[Ranthambore Fort]] in the year 1558, but decided instead to capture [[Gwalior]], northern [[Rajputana]], and [[Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh|Jaunpur]].

==Background==
After successful [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] victories around [[Rajputana]] and the fall of Akbar's most notorious enemies during the [[Siege of Chittorgarh (1567–1568)|siege of Chittorgarh]], Akbar decided to capture [[Ranthambore Fort]], which was considered the strongest fortress in [[Rajputana]] and widely believed to be impregnable.

The [[Rajput]]s in [[Ranthambore Fort]] were under the command of Rao Surjan Hada, of the Hada clan of [[Bundi]]. [[Ranthambore Fort|Ranthambore]] was the capital of [[Bundi]] state. Rao Surjan Hada was greatly demoralized by Akbar's victory during the [[Siege of Chittorgarh (1567–1568)|siege of Chittorgarh]] but however refused to surrender at first.

==Siege==
[[File:1569-Akbar directing the attack against Rai Surjan Hada at Ranthambhor Fort.jpg|thumb|The [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Akbar]], commands his troops to set up siege engines against Rao Surjan Hada.]]

The siege of Ranthambore began on 8 February 1568, an elite Mughal force of 5,000 captured an 8-mile circumference around [[Ranthambore Fort]]. Akbar then led an army of more than 30,000 Mughals bringing along with themselves some of the largest cannons ever built in the [[Mughal Empire]]. Akbars ranks expanded to over 70,000 within weeks of the siege.

[[Akbar]] set up the [[Red]] imperial tent in front of the hill that led to the gateway into [[Ranthambore Fort]]. Akbar then armed his camp with massive cannons, three of which were more than 15 ft long. Akbar then ordered his men to capture three nearby rocky outcrops, Akbar then placed cannon batteries on those positions. it was from these three positions that [[Akbar]] bombarded [[Ranthambore Fort]], which was perched on top of a steep rock cliff.<ref>[https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O9610/painting-akbar-directing-the-attack-against/ Painting - Akbar directing the attack against Rao Surjan Hada at Ranthambhor Fort - Victoria & Albert Museum - Search the Collections]</ref>

As the siege continued Akbar placed even bigger [[cannon]]s and high velocity [[mortar (weapon)|mortars]] on the two rocky outcrops facing [[Ranthambore Fort]].<ref>[https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O9611/painting-bullocks-dragging-siege-guns-up/ Painting - Bullocks dragging siege-guns up hill during Akbar's attack on Ranthambhor Fort - Victoria & Albert Museum - Search the Collections]</ref> Akbar also ordered his men to begin constructing ''sabats'', or covered ways, in order to allow the army to move nearer to the enemy. Within weeks the ''sabats'' allowed Akbar's men to gain control of areas just underneath the steep slope of [[Ranthambore Fort]]. The Mughals built prefabricated walls to protect their gains around the fort and then placed highly accurate narrow barreled long-[[cannon]]s that were about 20–25 ft in length.<ref>[https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O9609/painting-akbars-forces-besieging-rai-surjan/ Painting - Akbar's forces besieging Rai Surjan Hada's fort of Ranthambhor - Victoria & Albert Museum - Search the Collections]</ref> The long-cannons and [[volley gun]]s that were effectively utilized during the siege were known to have been designed by the prestigious inventor [[Fathullah Shirazi]].

As a result of such close bombardment flames began to shoot out from the buildings within the fort's walls and the sky was black with smoke, even [[war elephant]]s within the fort went rogue. It was during this stage that Akbar personally massed soldiers near the gates of the fort and was ready to advance on the fort.

Finally on 21 March 1568, Rao Surjan Hada opened the gate of [[Ranthambore Fort]] and allowed the [[Mughal Army]] to enter after he collected statues of [[Hindu]] deities from the temples and personally welcomed [[Akbar]] into [[Ranthambore Fort]].<ref>[https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O9607/painting-akbars-entry-into-the-fort/ Painting - Akbar's entry into the fort of Ranthambhor - Victoria & Albert Museum - Search the Collections]</ref> Akbar then invited Rao Surjan Hada to his imperial camp and in the evening of that very day Rao Surjan Hada, the ruler of [[Ranthambore Fort|Ranthambhor]], submitted to the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Akbar]], after a fiercely fought campaign of immense strategic importance to the expansion of the [[Mughal Empire]]. Akbar then seated on a throne under a canopy, when Rao Surjan Hada bowed in submission before him.<ref>[https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O9608/painting-rao-surjan-hada-making-submission/ Painting - Rao Surjan Hada making Submission to Akbar - Victoria & Albert Museum - Search the Collections]</ref>

Mehtar Khan was then appointed by [[Akbar]] to be the commander of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] garrison at [[Ranthambore Fort]] after Rao Surjan Hada was sent to [[Bundi]].

==Aftermath==
[[File:1569-The imperial army besieges Ranathambhor fort-Akbarnama.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Akbar]] placed highly accurate narrow barreled long-[[cannon]]s, protected by ''sabats'' at the base of Ranthambore Fort.]]

After being besieged for more than a month Rai Surjan Hada and his [[Hindu]] [[Rajput]]s eventually surrendered [[Ranthambore Fort]], which was considered to be impregnable.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Mughal Empire|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Battles involving the Mughal Empire|Ranthambore]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Rajputs|Ranthambore]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1568|Ranthambore]]
[[Category:History of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:1569 in India]]

Siege of Ranthambore (1568) - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Add new article