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How did Akbar’s policy toward the Rajputs combine alliance and conquest?

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Akbar A painting titled *Akbar Hunting* from a folio of *Akbarnama* (“History of Akbar”), late 16th century; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

Akbar’s policy toward the Rajputs was a strategic blend of conciliation and conquest designed to integrate the independent warrior class into the Mughal dynasty.123

Alliance and Integration
Akbar offered Rajput chiefs a feudal arrangement that allowed them to retain their ancestral territories and customs. In exchange, they were required to acknowledge him as emperor, pay tribute, provide military service, and conclude marriage alliances with the Mughal house. This policy provided Rajput princes with high-ranking positions as generals and provincial governors, offering them significant honor and financial rewards.2435

Conquest and Enforcement
Akbar’s approach was not purely diplomatic; he showed no mercy to those who resisted his supremacy. A notable example occurred in 1568, when he captured the fortress of Chitor after protracted fighting and massacred its inhabitants. This display of force served to pressure other Rajput rajas into submission, eventually securing a wide base of support for Mughal power across the region.234