Akbar’s capture of Patna and Hajipur

01Daud’s defiance

Sulaiman Karrani, ruler of Bengal and Bihar, had kept the peace with Akbar by acknowledging him in name. His son Daud, who came to the throne in 1572, had the khutba read in his own name and attacked the Mughal post at Zamania. Akbar’s governor Munim Khan besieged him at Patna without success. In 1574 Akbar came himself, sailing down the Ganga from Agra with an army and a fleet of boats in the rains.

02Hajipur and Patna

Patna drew its supplies from Hajipur, on the far side of the Ganga at the mouth of the Gandak. Akbar sent a force across to storm it, and Hajipur fell in August 1574. The heads of its Afghan defenders were sent across to Daud. Daud lost heart and fled Patna by night down the river; many of his men drowned in the crush at the bridges. Akbar entered Patna, gave Munim Khan and Raja Todar Mal the task of conquering Bengal, and went back to Agra.