How did Akbar deal with defeated Rajput rulers?

Akbar employed a dual policy of conciliation and conquest toward the Rajput rulers.

For those who chose to submit, Akbar offered a pragmatic feudal arrangement. Rajput chiefs were permitted to retain their ancestral territories provided they acknowledged him as emperor, paid tribute, supplied military troops when requested, and entered into marriage alliances with him. This policy integrated the Rajputs into the Mughal dynasty, allowing their princes to serve as high-ranking generals and provincial governors, which provided them with both honor and financial rewards.12

Conversely, Akbar showed no mercy to those who refused to acknowledge his supremacy. A notable example of this occurred in 1568, when, following protracted fighting in Mewar, Akbar captured the fortress of Chitor and massacred its inhabitants. This harsh response served as a powerful deterrent, prompting other Rajput rajas to accept his authority and seek alliances in the years that followed.12