Capture of Agra

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Capture of Agra Fort
Part of Mughal-Jat Wars
Agra 03-2016 10 Agra Fort.jpg
Present-day view of Agra Fort
Date3 May 1761 12 June 1761;263 years ago (12 June 1761)
Location
Result Bharatpur State victory
Territorial
changes
Agra Fort occupied by Kingdom of Bharatpur [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Belligerents
Flag of Bharatpur1.png Kingdom of Bharatpur Flag of the Mughal Empire.png Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Flag of Bharatpur1.png Maharaja Surajmal Flag of the Mughal Empire.png Mirza Fazilka Khan
Mughal Faujdar of Agra

The Capture of Agra Fort ended a month-long siege by Maharaja Suraj Mal on 12 June 1761. After a one-month siege of Agra the Mughal army, led by Mirza Fazilka Khan, surrendered to the Jat army. [6] The Jat possessed himself of all the wealth of the Mughal Empire and thus became one of the richest man on the planet. The Jats seized the old capital of Mughal Empire. It remained in possession of Bharatpur State rulers until 1774. [7]

Contents

Background

Jats began to expand the boundaries of their kingdom. They expanded their territory to eastern Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, southern Haryana, and Delhi. The Jat ruler of Bharatpur Suraj Mal controlled over the Braj region. Agra had to be merged with his territory to dominate.

Battle

Maharaja Surajmal's army (four thousand Jat soldiers) advanced towards Agra. After a month's siege they captured Agra city and fort and took the revenge of Shaheedi of Chaudhary Gokul Singh Jat and melted the two silver doors of the famous Mughal monument Taj Mahal. [8] [9] It remained under the control of Bharatpur rulers until 1774. [7] After the Jats captured the fort of Agra, the Jats had stuffed straw in the Taj Mahal of Agra.

Aftermath

After capturing Agra Fort, Maharaja Surajmal became more powerful and dominant. He now became the ruler of the area of Yamuna. For the Jats, the capture of Agra was an emotional moment. About 90 years ago, just a short distance away from the gate of this fort, Veer Gokula was cut and thrown. Mh. Surajmal thus avenged himself. Jats ruled Agra for 13 years from 1761 to 1774. [7]

See also

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27°10′46″N78°01′16″E / 27.1795°N 78.0211°E / 27.1795; 78.0211