Annals & Antiquities of Rajasthan by James Tod

Author:James Tod [Tod, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789351940012
Publisher: Roli Books

Author’s Note: A second version is that Umra escaped from the fort by urging his horse to jump from the fifty-metre-high ramparts and into the moat. Today a statue of Umra and his horse marks the spot near which they landed. He was, however, treacherously stabbed to death by his brother-in-law later.

RAJA JESWANT AND AURANGZEB

Umra’s brother Raja Jeswant was on the throne of Marwar at this time. He came into prominence in 1658 when Shah Jehan was old and feeble and had to rely on the fidelity of the Rajpoot princes. Aurangzeb, commanding Mogul troops in the south, had raised the banner of revolt against his father, the emperor. The war of succession had started.

Shah Jehan declared Jeswant as the generalissimo of the army and sent him to oppose Aurangzeb. Jeswant marched from Agra towards the Nerbudda and awaited his foe. Meanwhile, Aurangzeb’s brother Morad had also risen against his father. Jeswant, who could have crushed the rebellious Aurangzeb, had the vainglorious desire to conquer two princes at once and he purposely gave time so that Aurangzeb could effect a junction with his brother Morad. He paid dearly for his presumption for he had given time to the wily Aurangzeb to sow intrigues in his camp and as soon as the battle joined, the Mogul horse deserted Jeswant and joined the enemy. The official Mogul historian and Bernier both confirm Jeswant’s personal bravery in this battle and likening him to a ‘famished lion’, say, notwithstanding the immense superiority of the imperial princes, aided by a numerous artillery served by Frenchmen, night alone put a stop to the contest of science, numbers and artillery against Rajpoot courage. According to the chronicler, this battle of Futtehabad was a drawn battle.

Aurangzeb was too politic to renew the battle the next day but Jeswant withdrew his forces. Jeswant’s queen, a princess of Boondi awaited his return in a fort not far from the scene of battle. Wounded and exhausted he arrived to find the gates shut. When he demanded entrance the proud queen asked, ‘Was victory yours?’ Jeswant admitted it was not, whereupon she said, ‘You cannot be my lord – he would never leave the battlefield unless he was the victor – you must be an impostor and I must prepare for sati.’ She was finally persuaded by the other chiefs to let him in when she found he had fought valiantly and had ‘brought back his shield and his honour’.

Aurangzeb advanced to the capital Agra and deposed the aged emperor. He imprisoned his father in Agra Fort and declared himself emperor. He then sent assurances of a pardon to Jeswant and summoned him with his forces to fight against another brother, Shuja, who also had claims to empire. The Rahtore who detested Aurangzeb deemed this an excellent occasion for revenge. He obeyed Aurangzeb but conveyed his real intentions to Shuja. The hostile armies met near Allahabad. Jeswant wheeling about his Rahtore cavaliers, attacked the rear of Aurangzeb’s army, cutting it to pieces.

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