Chapter 31: The Flames of Rebellion Ignite
By 1623, Mewar was no longer a passive resistance—it had transformed into an organized war machine, reclaiming Rajputana piece by piece. The Battle of the Aravalli Pass had been the first major blow to the Mughal Empire, and now Amar Singh and his generals prepared for the next stage of the war.
1. Preparing for a Larger War: Mewar's War Council
After the stunning victory against the Mughals, Amar Singh convened a grand war council at Kumbhalgarh Fort—the heart of Mewar's military strategy. The most trusted Rajput warriors, commanders, and intelligence officers gathered to discuss the next move.
✔ Karan Singh led the meeting, explaining that while the battle had been won, the Mughals would soon retaliate with a far greater force.
✔ Raj Singh, a brilliant strategist, argued that Mewar should continue using guerrilla warfare rather than engaging in full-scale battles.
✔ Jaivardhan Rathore, a young and ambitious commander, proposed an offensive campaign, reclaiming Rajput forts one by one before the Mughals could regroup.
After hours of deliberation, a two-pronged strategy was decided:
✔ Phase 1: Continue harassing Mughal supply lines, burning down their food stores, and weakening their forces before they could march on Mewar.
✔ Phase 2: Begin reclaiming key fortresses, starting with Mandalgarh, Dungarpur, and Chittorgarh, all of which were under Mughal control.
With this plan, the next phase of Mewar's rebellion had begun.
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2. The Siege of Mandalgarh (1623): The First Retaliation
Mandalgarh was a strategic fort in southern Rajputana, controlled by Mughal governor Jalal Khan, who commanded 5,000 Mughal troops. If Mewar reclaimed Mandalgarh, it would cut off Mughal reinforcements from Malwa.
✔ Amar Singh personally led a force of 4,000 Rajput warriors toward Mandalgarh.
✔ Rajput spies had already infiltrated the fort, learning its weak points and bribing discontent Mughal soldiers.
✔ Instead of a direct attack, Mewar's army laid siege, blocking supplies and reinforcements from reaching Jalal Khan.
For two weeks, the Mughal soldiers inside the fort suffered hunger, thirst, and disease. Then, on the 15th day of the siege, the Rajputs launched a surprise night assault.
✔ Rajput archers, stationed on hidden cliffs, rained fire arrows into the fort, setting Mughal barracks ablaze.
✔ Amar Singh led the Rajput cavalry, charging through the broken gates with swords drawn, cutting down Mughal defenders mercilessly.
✔ Jalal Khan tried to escape, but a Rajput warrior beheaded him in single combat.
By dawn, the Rajput flag was raised over Mandalgarh, marking Mewar's first major fortress victory in decades.
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3. Emperor Jahangir's Wrath: The Mughal Counterattack
The fall of Mandalgarh sent shockwaves through the Mughal court in Agra. Emperor Jahangir, furious at Mewar's growing strength, ordered his most ruthless general, Asaf Khan, to march an army of 25,000 troops to crush Amar Singh.
✔ Asaf Khan, known for his brutal tactics and siege warfare, vowed to burn Mewar to the ground.
✔ His army consisted of heavy Mughal cavalry, war elephants, and artillery cannons, far outmatching Mewar's forces.
✔ Jahangir personally wrote to Rajput rulers still loyal to the Mughals, demanding they send reinforcements to crush Amar Singh.
The Mughal war machine was now in motion, preparing to annihilate Mewar once and for all.
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4. The Strategy Against the Mughal Army: Divide and Conquer
Facing such an overwhelming force, Amar Singh and his war council knew that a direct confrontation would be suicide. Instead, they devised a strategy to break the Mughal army apart:
✔ Guerrilla Warfare: Instead of fighting a single battle, Rajput warriors would ambush the Mughal army at different locations, forcing them to divide their troops.
✔ Sabotage: Rajput spies poisoned Mughal water supplies, set fire to their food stores, and spread false rumors about Mewar's army size.
✔ False Retreat Tactic: Amar Singh's army would pretend to retreat, luring the Mughal forces into narrow valleys where Rajput archers could slaughter them from above.
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5. The Battle of Dungarpur: Bleeding the Mughal Army
Asaf Khan's massive army marched through Rajputana, but his men were constantly attacked by small Rajput raiding forces.
✔ Mughal supply caravans were burned, leaving his troops without food.
✔ War elephants were driven into panic by Rajput warriors using fire and smoke tactics.
✔ Entire battalions were lured into ambushes in the dense forests of southern Mewar.
By the time Asaf Khan reached Dungarpur, his army had already lost 5,000 soldiers without fighting a single battle.
Finally, at Dungarpur, the Rajput army set up its final ambush:
✔ 200 Rajput cavalry riders, disguised as Mughal soldiers, rode into Asaf Khan's camp at night, causing chaos and panic.
✔ At dawn, Amar Singh's 8,000 Rajput warriors launched a full-scale assault, crushing the exhausted Mughal army.
✔ Asaf Khan barely escaped with his life, retreating with only 10,000 soldiers left out of 25,000.
The Mughal invasion had failed.
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6. The Aftermath: A Nation Reborn
The victories at Mandalgarh and Dungarpur were not just military triumphs—they were a declaration that Mewar had truly risen again.
✔ The Mughal army had been humiliated and forced to retreat, proving that Rajputs were not mere rebels, but a force to be reckoned with.
✔ Rajput kings who had once supported the Mughals now began reconsidering their loyalty.
✔ Mewar's warriors grew in confidence, knowing they had defeated an empire far larger than themselves.
For the first time in decades, Rajputana was beginning to break free from Mughal rule.
But the war was far from over.
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7. Jahangir's Next Move: The Call for Revenge
When Jahangir received news of Asaf Khan's crushing defeat, he was furious beyond reason.
✔ He swore vengeance against Amar Singh and Mewar.
✔ He ordered another, even larger invasion, preparing an army of 50,000 soldiers, elite Mughal cavalry, and Persian mercenaries to end Mewar's defiance once and for all.
✔ He even offered rewards to any Rajput king who betrayed Amar Singh, trying to turn Rajputs against one another.
The next battle would not just be for Mewar's survival—it would decide the future of Rajputana itself.
Would Rajputs unite to resist Mughal rule? Or would Jahangir finally crush Mewar forever?
8. Strengthening Mewar: The Call for Unity
With Mewar's victories at Mandalgarh and Dungarpur, the tides of war were shifting, but Amar Singh knew that Mewar could not stand alone forever. If they were to resist the Mughal Empire, they needed the support of all Rajputs.
✔ Amar Singh sent messengers to every Rajput ruler in Rajasthan, urging them to stand together instead of fighting separate battles.
✔ Some rulers, like Raja Udai Singh of Jodhpur and Rao Surjan Singh of Bundi, were hesitant, still under Mughal influence.
✔ However, other kings, such as Maharana Mahendra Singh of Bikaner, were inspired by Mewar's victories and pledged their support.
Amar Singh made a bold declaration in his letter to the Rajput rulers:
> "The Mughals seek to divide us, to make us weak. But if Rajputs stand together, no empire—no matter how vast—can defeat us. Let us reclaim our land, our pride, and our honor!"
This call for unity sparked whispers of rebellion throughout Rajputana. Rajput kings who once feared the Mughals began questioning their loyalty.
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9. Mewar's Military Innovations: Preparing for the Final War
Anticipating Jahangir's massive counterattack, Amar Singh knew that Mewar could not rely on courage alone—they needed superior strategy and technology.
(i) Fortifications and Supply Lines
✔ Rajput fortresses were strengthened with better defenses, hidden escape routes, and reinforced walls.
✔ Food and weapons were stockpiled across different forts so that even in a siege, Mewar could hold out.
✔ Secret tunnels were dug beneath Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh to ensure safe transport of soldiers and supplies.
(ii) Weaponry and Armor Upgrades
✔ Mewar's blacksmiths crafted stronger swords and spears, making Rajput warriors better equipped for battle.
✔ Rajput armor was reinforced with lightweight iron plating, improving defense while maintaining speed.
✔ Gunpowder weapons (early muskets and cannons) were introduced, giving Rajputs a counter to Mughal firearms.
(iii) War Elephants and Cavalry Tactics
✔ Mewar's war elephants were armored and trained to charge enemy formations without fear.
✔ The Rajput cavalry adopted Mongol-style horse archery, allowing them to strike and retreat swiftly.
✔ New battle formations were developed, including false retreats to lure Mughal forces into traps.
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10. Jahangir's War Preparations: A Ruthless Counterattack
While Mewar prepared, Jahangir was assembling the largest army Rajputana had ever seen. Furious at his previous defeats, he vowed to erase Mewar from history.
✔ He ordered a 50,000-strong army, led by his most ruthless generals—Abdullah Khan and Mahabat Khan.
✔ Persian and Afghan mercenaries were hired, adding experienced foreign warriors to the Mughal army.
✔ Heavy artillery, including massive siege cannons, was transported to Rajasthan to demolish Rajput forts.
✔ Spies and traitors were sent into Mewar to sow distrust among Rajput rulers.
Jahangir's ultimate goal was clear:
✔ He would not just defeat Amar Singh—he would destroy Mewar completely, reducing its forts to ruins.
The final and bloodiest war between Mewar and the Mughals was about to begin.
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11. The March to War: Mewar's Grand Strategy
As the Mughal juggernaut marched toward Mewar, Amar Singh and his generals gathered for their final war council at Kumbhalgarh.
✔ Jaivardhan Rathore, the young commander, suggested luring the Mughals into the Aravalli mountains, where Rajputs had the advantage.
✔ Raj Singh proposed launching quick cavalry strikes to exhaust the Mughal forces before a direct battle.
✔ Amar Singh made the final decision: a combination of both tactics.
The Strategy
✔ Phase 1: Exhaust the Mughal Army – Rajput raiders would attack supply lines, burn food stores, and use hit-and-run tactics to weaken the Mughals.
✔ Phase 2: Divide and Conquer – The Mughal army would be lured into narrow valleys, where Rajputs could ambush them from the cliffs.
✔ Phase 3: The Final Battle – Once weakened, the remaining Mughals would face Mewar's full army in open battle, with war elephants and cavalry crushing them.
This three-stage strategy would decide Mewar's fate.
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12. The War Begins: Mughal Invasion of Mewar
By mid-1623, the Mughal army crossed into Mewar, burning villages and destroying Rajput settlements.
✔ Mughal war elephants trampled crops, trying to starve Mewar's people.
✔ Any village that resisted was set ablaze, its people slaughtered.
✔ The Mughals believed Mewar would surrender before the main battle even began.
But they underestimated Rajput determination.
✔ Rajput warriors, disguised as farmers, ambushed Mughal supply lines, forcing their troops to march without food or water.
✔ Saboteurs destroyed Mughal bridges and roads, slowing their advance.
✔ False reports were spread, making the Mughals believe they were surrounded, causing paranoia among their ranks.
Despite their numbers, the Mughals were marching deeper into hostile territory, growing weaker by the day.
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13. The Battle of Gogunda: Mewar Strikes Back
As the Mughals reached the plains of Gogunda, Amar Singh launched his first major assault.
✔ 5,000 Rajput cavalry riders appeared from nowhere, striking Mughal supply wagons and killing their commanders.
✔ War elephants, covered in armor, smashed through Mughal formations, scattering their troops.
✔ Rajput archers rained fire-tipped arrows, setting Mughal tents and gunpowder stores ablaze.
Caught off guard, the Mughals suffered heavy casualties, losing nearly 7,000 soldiers in a single night.
But this was just the beginning.
✔ Abdullah Khan regrouped his forces, preparing for a full-scale invasion of Chittorgarh—the final showdown.
✔ Mewar's warriors withdrew to the fort, ready for the ultimate battle.
✔ The largest siege in Rajput history was about to begin.
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14. The Last Stand: The Siege of Chittorgarh Begins
As the sun rose over Chittorgarh Fort, the Mughal army surrounded its walls, preparing for the final assault on Mewar's heart.
✔ 50,000 Mughal troops lined the plains, armed with cannons, war elephants, and siege towers.
✔ Amar Singh stood atop the fort walls, gazing down at the enemy, knowing this would be the greatest battle of his life.
✔ Mewar's warriors sharpened their swords, ready to defend their land to the death.
The siege of Chittorgarh had begun—and Mewar's fate would be decided in the bloodiest battle