Rani Durgavati

"Akbar's attack on a princess of a character so noble was mere aggression, wholly unprovoked and devoid of all justification other than the lust for conquest and plunder. Akbar shared the opinion of all Asiatic and not a few European monarchs that it is the duty of a king to extend his dominions. ' A monarch ', he said, ' should be ever intent on conquest, otherwise his neighbours rise in arms against him.'"

"The country of Garha-Katanka was near to Asaf Khan, and he formed the design of subduing it. The chief place of that country is Chauragarh. It is an extensive country containing seventy thousand (haftad hazar) flourishing villages.4 Its ruler was at this time a woman named Durgavati, who was very beautiful. When Asaf Khan heard the condition of this country, he thought the conquest of it would be an easy matter, so he marched against it with fifty thousand5 horse and [p. 129] foot. The Rani collected all her forces, and prepared to oppose the invader with 700 elephants, 20,000 horsemen, and infantry innumerable. A battle followed, in which both sides fought obstinately, but by the will of fate the Rani was struck by an arrow, and fearing lest she should fall alive into the hands of the enemy, she made her elephant-driver kill her with a dagger. After the victory Asaf Khan marched against Chauragarh. The son of the Rani, who was in the fort, came forth to meet him; but he was killed, and the fort was captured, and all its treasures fell into the hands of the conquerors. Asaf Khan, after he had achieved this victory and acquired so much treasure, returned greatly elated, to Karra, and took possession of his government."