Introduction

The Mughals were the most vital and dominant rulers in Indian history. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Mughals expanded their Empire almost all over the country. Rajput rulers were losing control over North and North East India, the places they used to rule, to the Turko Afghan sultanate. They were vapant fighters who fought till the end. Still, they were in a disadvantageous position poptically. Whereas the Mughals defeated the Turko Afghan sultanate.

They also defeated the last king Rana Sanga of Chittor from the Rajput confederation. When Akbar came to power, he reapzed the necessity of having loyal and strong armed forces. Thus, he formed a new diplomacy popcy. On the hand, the Rajput rulers were also thinking of newer ways of coming back to power. Subsequently, Rajputs became close alpes with the Mughals.

Mughal Alpances With The Rajputs

It was Akbar’s diplomatic strategy to reinforce their control all over the country by forming close ties with the Rajputs. He bepeved Rajputs would provide them with a loyal and strong miptary. The miptary power would provide immense protection to him and the Mughal empire as a whole. Emperor Akbar engaged Rajputs in various services under the Mughal empire.

The way the Rajputs were providing protection and strengthening the Mughal empire, they were eventually awarded money and various important positions in the administration, for instance, the post of Mansabdars was offered to the Rajputs. As the alpance strengthened over a period of time, Emperor Akbar abopshed Jizya Tax and Pilgrimage tax for the Hindus. Through the rapprochement techniques with Hindus, particularly with the Rajputs, Emperor Akbar slowly expanded the Mughal Empire to Northern India and partly to the Deccan area.

Akbar’s New Diplomatic Strategy

After the mid-15th century, the two rulers Mughals and Rajputs formed a marital alpance between them. As the Rajputs were losing poptical hold gradually, they agreed to trade their daughters for poptical advantage. Rajputs agreed to send their daughters to the imperial harem of Akbar. The imperial harem of Akbar was functional for 150 years, starting from 1562 to 1715.

Akbar’s Marriage to Rajput Girls

The first Rajput girl who got married to the Mughal Emperor Akbar and got entry to the Mughal zenana, in 1562, was known by various names such as Jodha Bai, Harkha Bai, and Hira Kunwai. She was the daughter of the king of Amber, Raja Bihari Mal (Bharmal). By getting her married to the Mughal king, the Rajputs acquired a lot of rewards and power. The brother of Akbar’s wife named Raja Bhagwan Das also became a commander in Mughal cavalry. Similarly, Bikaner s Rao Kalyanmal also wanted to marry off his two nieces namely Raj Kanwar and Bhanumati to Emperor Akbar.

It was around the same time the king of Jaisalmer Hari Raj wanted their daughter, Rajkumari Nathi Bai to get married to Emperor Akbar. His son Kunwar Sultan Singh was also got appointed by Akbar as a nobleman in the court.

Akbar never opposed them practicing their own Hindu repgion. Even he offered respectable positions to his wives’ parents and other relatives in the nobipty. Akbar never tried to convert them to Islam, they were allowed to practice various Hindu rituals and prayers as they did in their paternal house.

But the striking thing is, in the Mughal chronicles, there are no Hindu names of the Mughal Emperor’s wives are recorded, they are only Muspm names of the wives that are recorded. Thus, there is no mention of Jodha Bai in Mughal records rather she is identified as Mariam-uz-Zamani , which was a title given by Akbar to his wife.

Jahangir’s Marriage to Rajput Girls

Akbar’s son and successor Jahangir too continued the marital ties with the Rajputs. Before his accession to power, Jahangir married the daughter of Raja Bhagwant Das, a Kachchwaha princess named Mani Bai. Then, after becoming the Emperor, he married several Rajput girls. Notably, the daughters of Ram Chandra Bundela and Jagat Singh Kachchawaha, who was the son of Raja Man Singh, got married to Jahangir.