Mughal–Rajput wars

The Mughal–Rajput wars were a series of battles between various Rajput Kingdoms and Dynasties with the Mughal Empire. The conflict originated with the invasion of India by Timurid King Babur, to which the most powerful Rajput state, Kingdom of Mewar under Rana Sanga, offered staunch resistance. The conflicts went on since 1526 for over 200 years. The conflict can broadly be divided into three phases: 1526 to 1556, which was indecisive; the second happened between 1556 and 1679, largely in Mughal favour; and third between 1679 and 1799, a period marked by Rajput dominance.

The primary reason of the war was the expansionist policy of Mughal Empire which was opposed by some Rajput rulers. Maldeo was the most powerful ruler in Rajputana when Akbar started his expansion in mainland India. Maldeo had recently defeated the Mewar led alliance at Harmoda and conquered the foritified city of Merta. However Maldeo found it hard to recover from his losses suffered against Sher Shah Suri and the continuous battles that he had to continue in order to recover his lost lands. He was also isolated by his fellow neighbouring rulers due to his aggressive expansion. When the Mughal emperor invaded, Maldeo soon started losing his lands against the imperial armies. He lost Nagaur and Ajmer in 1557 and Jaitaran in 1558. In 1562 Akbar conquered Merta and Parbatsar as well. Akbar's "Rajput Policy" also started after these conquests. He gave the Rajputs a choice to either surrender and become Mughal vassals or face invasions and lose their lands. Some sources indicate that Maldeo had sent his son Chandrasen in 1562 to negotiate with Akbar however these negotiations failed due to Maldeo refusing to personally submit to Akbar. The Mughal emperor wanted to vassalize Maldeo but the rebellion of Mirza Sharf-ud-din saved Maldeo and allowed him to rule Marwar until his death in 1562. The Kingdom of Mewar refused to bend the knee due to its foremost place among both Hindu and Rajput states. The situation continued till reign of Aurangzeb, whose rigorous anti-Hindu policy united Kingdom of Mewar and Marwar and later the Kingdom of Amber too. After which Rajput Kingdoms started exploiting the weak position of Mughal emperors after the death of Aurangzeb and made themselves masters of Malwa and Gujarat, which later brought them in conflict with Maratha Confederacy.