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The rulers
who had shown their inclination of being independent were
brought directly under his authority after continued fighting.
These places were Yagnapur (Jahazpur), Yoginipur (Jawar),
Vardhvan (Badnor) and Hamirpur (Hamrigarh). These expedition
resulted in the acquisition of immense wealth. The small
kingdom of Mewar thereby was raised to the position of the
premier kingdom of Rajasthan. These victories provided natural
frontiers to the state, adequately garrisoned and defended.
Kumbha’s Relations with Malwa
When Kumbha ascended the throne, Malwa had attained
considerable power under Mahmud Khalji I- Malwa was now in a
position to offer shelter to those who has some grievance or
other against the state. Thus Mahapa Panwar and Ekka were
received with open arms by the Government of Malwa. Similarly
Rawat Chunda, the elder brother of Maharana Mokal, had also
repaired to the court of Mandu where the Sultan hnoured him by
giving the district of Halla as jagir for his maintenance. The
rising power of Malwa naturally did not look favourably
towards the Rana’s assertion of suzerainty over Haroti,
Mandasor, Gargon and other Rajput principalities of the
border, which had once acknowledged the authority of Malwa.
Moreover, Kumbha’s act of garrisoning of his frontier outposts
was viewed with suspicion. Further, a promise by the to help
Umar Khan against Mahamud Khalji was taken as an indication of
hostile intentions of the Rana towards the Sultan. The rulers
of both kingdoms made no secret of their ambitions and were in
search of some pretext for open hostility. The opportunity
came when the Rana made a demand for the person of Mahapa
Panwar, one of the assassin of Mokal, who had sought shelter
with the Sultan Mahmud. Thinking that Mewar was in a state of
turmoil, the Sultan declined to surrender the refugee, and
this refusal was taken as a signal for war. Immediately both
armies moved forward and met in 1437 near Sarangpur, and a
severe engagement ended in the utter rout of the Sultan’s
forces. According to Rajasthani bardic tradition, which find
confirmation in Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh inscriptions, the
Rana burnt down Sarangpur, captured countless captives, laid
siege to Mandu and carried Mahmud as prisoner of war to Chitor.
In commemoration of this victory he is said to have erected
the triumphal pillar Jai Stambha in the fort of Chittor.
Mahmud Khalji was kept a prisoner for a period of six months,
after which on account of the Rana’s generosity, he was sent
back to his kingdom. Regarding this victory and generosity,
Col. Tod says, “Abul Fazi relates this victory and dilates of
Kumbha’s greatness of soul in setting his enemy at liberty,
not only without ransom but with gift. Such is the character
of Hindu, a mixture of arrogance, political blindness, pride
and generosity. To spare a prostrate foe is the creed of the
Hindu cavalier and he carries all such maxims to excess.”
Shri Sarda also comments on this victory as, “Political
blindness and misplaced generosity on the part of Hindus,
often illustrated in the history of India, has been the cause
of their political downfall. The Rajput ideal of life was ‘how
to die nobly’ rather than how to achieve success in life. They
preferred fame to success, and cared lees for victory and more
for praise of their personal valour. The repeated attempts
made by Sultan Mahmud Khalji of Malwa by invading Mewar to
obtain a victory over Maharana Kumbha, shows that Kumbha’s
release of Mahmudji Khalji was a piece of political folly,
almost a crime.” But, in fact, the Rana acted wisely as it was
not possible for him to keep control over Malwa for a longer
time- the resources of Mewar too did not favour the occupation
of the region which was so far off from Chittor. The release
of the Sultan at least provided a breathing gap to the Rana
who very usefully employed the time in erecting several forts
and generally strengthening the defense of his country, facing
the border of Malwa and Gujarat These forts successfully
defended Mewar against subsequent attacks made by the Sultans
of Malwa and Gujarat. When Mewar was facing some internal
disorder due to the murder of Ranmal and faction fights of
Khem Karan, the brother of the Rana, the Sultan Mahmud marched
against Mewar in 1442. He led his first attack on the fort of
Kumbhalgarh, which was repulsed by a stubborn resistance of
the Rajputs. He them directed his assault on the temple of
Banmata, which was situated at the foot of the hill. This
temple was the first defense line under the leadership of Dip
Singh. After seven days the leader and his followers fell and
the temple was razed to the ground. With an orthodox fury the
idol was burnt to ashes – from here the Sultan moved to Chitor;
but he could not capture the fort ad soon had to return to his
capital after sustaining heavy losses. To avenge the losses
incurred during the courses of the expeditions, the Sultan
adopted a plan of attacking border areas first and then
attempting the occupation of the areas which were under the
Rana’s political influence. He forced the Khichis of Garaun,
to surrender the fort. Two years later, the fort of
Ranthambhor was also occupied. His attack of 1455 resulted in
the crushing defeat of Gajadhar, governor of Ajmer. Saif Khan
was posted there as Governor on behalf of Malwa. In 1457 the
Sultan attacked Mandalgarh and succeeded in capturing the
fortress. As was the practice with the inarching army of the
Muslims, temples were broken and mosques ministration of the
conquered part in the hands of his own men and returned.
Relation of Kumbha with Gujarat
The confusion created by the offensive wars of Mahmud
encouraged Sultan Qutbuddin of Gujarat to attack the kingdom
of Mewar. The appeal of Shams Khan of Nagaur and Devra chief
of Sirohi for help in recovering their lost lands was taken
immediate pretext by the Sultan. Malik Shaban was deputed to
lay siege to Abu and forces were sent to recover Nagaur for
Shams Khan. But the Rana’s garrison drove back the enemies
with heavy losses. Ultimately the Sultan returned to his
capital after inflicting damages to the Rana’s territory. On
returning to his capital, Qutbuddin received a proposal from
Mahmud Khalji for joint action against the Rana. As planned,
the armies from Gujarat directed military operations against
Kumbhalgarh and those from Malwa against Mandalgarh in 1447.
but these expeditions resulted in untold hardships and
exhaustion; both the parties had no other alternative but to
retreat. From the account of Frishta and the Kumbhalgarh
inscription it appears that there arose some difference
between the two invading parties abut the occupation of Rana’s
territory, adjoining their respective territories. This
situation forced the invaders to return to the capitals. Of course, Mewar had also to suffer great losses in men and
money. |
