The Rise of India: Legacy of Jodha
Chapter 10: India for Indians (1581-1592)
Maharaja Jagat Singh II (circa 1584, on the heel of the war)
Chapter 10: India for Indians (1581-1592)
Maharaja Jagat Singh II (circa 1584, on the heel of the war)
In the course of Indian history there has been a small phenomenah in the halls of his leadership around the turn of the century. It is often popularly stated that a wise, influential Indian leader would always arise in India (or, pre-declaration, Rajputana) at the end of one century, and that his reign would extend over into the next, effectively straddling the two decades.
Raja Rao Jodha I had straddled the 14th and 15th Centuries at their turn, and Maharaja (later, Samraat) Jagat Singh II would straddle the 15th and 16th Centuries. However, where Rao Jodha's noted accomplishment was repairing the state of Rajputana after its wounds during the Dark Decades, Jagat Singh II would be noted for his aggressive policies, and would be the ruler to proclaim 'The Indian Raaj'.
Of course, we are getting far ahead of ourselves, this chapter deals with the first challenge of Jagat Singh II's rule: The Great Central Asian Conflict.
The Great Central Asian Conflict (1587-1592)
Jagat, much like Bhima, was a man who wished to enlarge Rajputana's prestige, and its control over India. Unlike Bhima, he was more skilled with the quilt and numbers than he was with swords and muskets
Jagat, much like Bhima, was a man who wished to enlarge Rajputana's prestige, and its control over India. Unlike Bhima, he was more skilled with the quilt and numbers than he was with swords and muskets
The first six years of Jagat's reign were rather easily defined as the 'wartime preparation years', years Jagat spent preparing his nation for the war. The efforts ranged from re-arming troops with newer brand muskets, strengthening the administrative gears in Rajputana to handle the strains of managing a war-time economy and budget, to preparing his citizens for the upcoming war. The last of these was the most difficult to do as, frankly, Jagat and his generals were not quite clear on whom should be their first targets in warfare.
A lot of time was spent drawing up war plans for war against Vijayanagar for the coastal province of Konkan, the idea being to further devastate the already devastated dirt on which the country stood. Though Jagat and the Rajput Estates vetoed this idea, the war plans were carefully tucked away into the minds of the Maharaja and his advisors, keen on this plan for later use.
In the end, the Mughal and Timurid Empires were chosen as enemies. The Timurid Empire, having been splintered and struggling to re-unite, and the Mughal Empire, having collapsed several times over, was a mere shell of the grand empire that had once caused much fear in the hearts of Rajputanans. It was also seen as beneficial, as the leaders of Rajputana knew could easily whip up nationalistic, religious, and cultural energies against the aggressive, Muslim, and Mongols.
Initially there was worry about the Ottoman Empire, a muslim powerhouse in the west who had enough troops, according to reports, to overun the borders, and the country, in a matter of months. Still, Jagat Singh was able to convince the generals and military planners that, thanks to the Shi'a Islamic government of Persia, the Ottomans would not be able to reach India, especially since they could not invade through Central Asia, and couldn't handle a naval invasion (as the only route to India from their ports was around South Africa). Another bonus was that the Timurid and Mughal Empires were allied with the tiny Islamic Shahdom of Gujarat, whom Rajputana had long seen as yet another nice addition to the Princely State of Rajputana.
With about 85% of the enemy forces under the leadership of the Ottoman Empire, the 'official troop numbers' for the war were greatly skewed when it came to just how useful most of them would be.
The Timurid Empire and the Mughal Empire were empires on the fast path to decline. The old Mongol style of warfare with which they fought had been blown out of style by the approach of firearms and cannons, and the fact that most of the populous was nomadic made for a poor tax base to use (the only truly populous region in the Mughal Empire, Persia, had broken away).
Thus, the war would've been a simple matter of the Rajput troops marching over their enemies, had not other mitigating circumstances quickly arised that would pre-occupy the troops in the pursuit of keeping rebellions from breaking out.
The next step in Rajput modernization, the continued opening of borders by Jagat made it even easier for European goods, both for war and trade, to enter the country. Of course, it also made it easy for unsettling ideas to enter the country
The sudden opening of the national borders by the Rajput Estates (a move that Jagat, whom had been all consumed by war preparations did not see coming) suddenyl summoned a viscious storm of revolutionary activity in Rajputana.
The newly imported bombardments, however, did help speed up the siege (and annexation) of Gujarat
Despite the Rajput Estates rather great abuse of power, having gone over Jagat's head in order to further open up the borders, the Maharaja was not in much of a position to do anything. After all, the modernization and opening of trade did bring in newly furnished bombardments which tore right through the walls of the Gujarat Shahdom's capitol, so even his military staff was not entirely against the new opening of trade.
Though Jagat's lack of action was good for the nation overall, this inaction would effectively allow the Rajput Estates to continue their power-grab in Rajputana (a power-grab that would result in the reformation of government in the next century).
The two great Mongol Empires, kicked out of India
The Mongol armies over the course of the next four years would try their hardest to hold back the Rajput offensive. Mass cavalry charges that at one point in history had allowed Ghengis Khan to expand the empire so many miles throughout Asia were now being broken by musket fire from infantry, and canon bombardments later in the war. Mongol infantry, once steadfast in the face of Indian enemies, was now broken easily, the forces scattering from the battlefield as professional Rajputanan Soldiers put their years of training to use. Mongol Generals, whom were once the most skilled in the world, were now slain and arrested by Indian Masterminds of War. Mongol Khans were now belittled and reduced to being the equals of Shahs, whilst the prestige of the Rajput Maharaja was extended beyond reach.
If it had not been made apparent in previous losses and previous wars, it was clear now: the mongols would no longer hold any power over India. The Peace Treaties of Jaipur and Delhi were held merely eleven months apart from each other: The Mughal Shah brought to Delhi to see the capitol his ancestor had inherited and lost, whilst the Timurid leader was dragged into Jaipur, forced to look upon the splendid capitol of the new dominating power in Central Asia.
The terms of both treaties were not to be confused: the participants of the war (exluding the Ottomans, who could not be reached, nor could fight) were to surrender all territory with a Hindi majority populace that they possed (the Timurids also forced to surrender the province of Jammu, despite it hosting a Sunni majority).
The new borders in North India
The Collapse of the 3rd Timurid Empire
The full force of the war on the Timurid Empire would not be felt for another three months. The 3rd Timurid Empire did not peacefully divide itself as the 2nd Timurid Empire had. This time, the 3rd Empire full on collapsed in on itself, the result of which was that, once again, there was no Timurid Empire.
The result for Rajputana was easy enough to guess. No more Hindi people were under the rule of Muslim leaders. Rajputana had succeeded in finally kicking the mongols out of India, and had succeeded in making 'India for Indians'. With the long-time threat of the mongols now extinguished, Jagat Singh could now turn his focus to what would make up the rest of his reign, and the reign of his successors: the consolidation of India.
A truly inspiring MMP AAR and really well written too.
