The Chittorgarh Fort is a decisive military confrontation occurred between 1567 and 1568 , this meeting the main stronghold of the Rajput was besieged by the armies of the Mughal empire . The clash was due to the shock of Mongol expansionism with the desire of several Rajput chiefs to achieve the reunification of Rajasthan .
According to the chronicles of Akbar’s time, was a single attack on Chittor by Mughal forces. However, in his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan , James Tod mentions two, a first in the imperial army was rejected, and a second in which he was successful and Chittor fell. Udai Singh’s wife was infiltration of the Mughal camp during the first attack, and a foray the Rajputs reached the heart of the camp and forced the Mughal imperial army to retreat.
The Rajputs were known for being fierce warriors and faithful Hindus who rejected the idea of being ruled by a Muslim as was the Mughal emperor, Akbar the Great , who, however, after several victories and his reputation for compassionate, enlightened and tolerant of various religions of his empire achievement gain the support of some Rajput chiefs. But this does not achieve the pacification of the sesodianos ruled by Raja Udai Singh II .
Faced with the threat posed to the security of their empire strength and dreams of expansion of Udai Singh, Akbar decided to launch a campaign of conquest final. On October 21 , 1567 began the siege, the fortress city half ¾ mile wide and 3 ¼ long and was on a hill 558 feet high. 3 Arriving Akbar Udai Singh fled away with his entourage leaving two princes adolescents in charge of the fort, Pratap and Padmini, with a garrison well supplied and armed with muskets and cannons.
Akbar ordered to surround with three batteries of artillery strength, with the main under his personal command shell the main gate of the fort. Contrary to the Mughals orders some troops attacked the fort being slaughtered, after which it was decided by the siege of the fort and starve its defenders waiting for the final attack leaving a direct assault that was very well planned.
Engineers began digging to undermine the walls, while workers began to dig and build Sabbaths , ditches with walls constructed above ground level covered with heavy planks of wood and leather. This coverage was given to the troops and so close to the walls to facilitate a quick assault when the mines were ready. The Sabbaths were built en masse and as wide as for several mounted horsemen marched them next to each other and as deep as for the elephants of Akbar pass through them. The walls were also some gaps where you could shoot at the defenders.
In mid-December the mines were ready to be filled with gunpowder and popped, however, rejected the rajput assault and repaired the breaches, Akbar responded by ordering construction of new mines and Sabbaths , reaching the same to inspect the works on the first line and inspecting the defenses. At that time the Rajputs sent a delegation to offer his capitulation but the Emperor’s refusal to demand the delivery of Udai Singh who was hidden. On February 22 , 1568 the new mines were ready and at night blew themselves up, the Mongols came, this was the only time that Akbar allowed his troops to plunder and massacre civilians.