Maharana Pratap: Difference between revisions

The forces of Pratap Singh and Mughal and Rajput general Man Singh met on 18 June 1576 beyond a narrow mountain pass at [[Haldighati]] near [[Gogunda]], modern day Rajsamand in [[Rajasthan]]. This came to be known as the [[Battle of Haldighati]]. Pratap Singh fielded a force of around 3000 cavalry and 400 Bhil archers. Man Singh commanded an army numbering around 10,000 men.{{sfn|de la Garza|2016|p=56|ps=One year later the Rajputs attempted a similar all-out charge at Haldighati. The result was an even more decisive Mughal victory.}}{{sfn|Raghavan|2018|p=67|ps=Although most of the other Rajput rulers soon entered the Mughal alliance system, the kingdom of Mewar continued its resistance. Udai Singh was followed by his son, Pratap Singh, whose continued opposition to Mughal expansion – despite military defeats, most notably in the battle of Haldighati in 1576...}}<ref name="sarsa" /> After a fierce battle lasting more than three hours, Pratap found himself wounded andbut the day lostwon. He managed to retreat to the hills and lived to fight another day.{{sfn|Sarkar|1960|p=77–79}} The Mughals werelost victorious andbut inflicted significant casualties among the forces of Mewar butand failed to capture Maharana Pratap.{{sfn|de la Garza|2016|p=56|ps=One year later the Rajputs attempted a similar all-out charge at Haldighati. The result was an even more decisive Mughal victory.}}{{sfn|Raghavan|2018|p=67|ps=Although most of the other Rajput rulers soon entered the Mughal alliance system, the kingdom of Mewar continued its resistance. Udai Singh was followed by his son, Pratap Singh, whose continued opposition to Mughal expansion – despite military defeats, most notably in the battle of Haldighati in 1576...}}<ref name="sarsa">{{cite book|url=http://m.friendfeed-media.com/6e9ec7f58014456d2d5fd015cc8af9d2974509c0|title=Dictionary of Battles and Sieges|page=428|author=Jacques, Tony|year=2006|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0-313-33536-5|access-date=23 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626120848/http://m.friendfeed-media.com/6e9ec7f58014456d2d5fd015cc8af9d2974509c0|archive-date=26 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Haldighati was a futilebig victoryloss for the Mughals, as they were unable to kill or capture Pratap, or any of his close family members in [[Udaipur]].{{sfn|Chandra|2005|pp=121–122}} While the sources also claim that Pratap was able to make a successful escape, Man Singh managed to conquer Gogunda within a week after Haldighati then ended his campaign. Subsequently, [[Akbar]] himself led a sustained campaign against the Rana in September 1576, and soon, [[Gogunda]], [[Udaipur]], and [[Kumbhalmer|Kumbhalgarh]] were all under Mughal control.{{Sfn|Chandra|2005|pp=121–122}}