# Jat Rebellion (1667–1723)

The Jat Rebellion also known as The Jat War was the conflict between the Jat community of India and the Mughal Empire. The Jat rebellion, led by Gokula, began as a response to the imposition of the Jizya tax and the destruction of the Keshava Rai Temple in Mathura by the Mughals. The Jats resisted the Mughal invasion for nearly 56 years (the timeline differ in accordance with sources). Although the Jats weren't successful in their rebellion but this became one of the major factor for decline of the Mughal Empire as well as jats carving out an independent state of Bharatpur under leadership of Suraj Mal.

## Background

The first organized resistance against Aurangzeb's religious policies took shape in Mathura in 1669. The local Jat peasantry, under the leadership of Gokula, stood up against the Mughal administration's efforts to demolish temples and enforce the jizya tax. This conflict reached a peak with the killing of Abdul Nabi, the Mughal official tasked with carrying out Aurangzeb's orders, which included the destruction of Hindu temples and the building of a mosque on their remains. Nabi was also responsible for the removal of a carved stone railing from the Keshava Rai temple, a gift from Dara Shikoh. After his death, the Jats openly defied Mughal authority by plundering the pargana of Sadabad.

## History
### The Jat War
#### Gokula Ram and Mughals

Gokal Ram, popularly known as Gokula, was a Jat landowner and Zamindar from Tilpat who spearheaded a rebellion against Mughal authority in the 1660s. He brought together Jat, Gujar, and Ahir farmers to refuse payment of taxes to the empire. In retaliation, Aurangzeb dispatched troops led by Radandaz Khan and later Hasan Ali Khan, offering Gokula a pardon if he chose to surrender. Gokula declined the offer, which led Aurangzeb to take personal command of a military campaign. On December 4, 1669, Mughal forces, under the leadership of Hasan Ali Khan and Brahmdev Sisodia, defeated Gokla’s troops. In recognition of his efforts, Aurangzeb appointed Hasan Ali Khan as Faujdar of Mathura.
In December, Mughal forces launched a significant offensive against the Jat leader Gokula, successfully capturing several fortresses. The imperial army, led by Hasan Ali Khan and Shaikh Razi-ud-Din Bhagalpuri and bolstered by artillery, confronted Gokla’s formidable force of 20,000 Jat, Ahir, and Gujar peasants. Despite facing fierce resistance, Tilpat fell after three days, resulting in 4,000 Mughal and 5,000 Jat casualties.
Gokula, along with his uncle Uday Singh and their family, was captured. Some reports indicate they were executed in Agra after refusing to convert to Islam, while others suggest that many Jats preferred death over surrender. Gokula’s defiance became a powerful symbol of future resistance.

#### Rajaram and Mughals
##### Victory over Mughals

In the late 17th century, Rajaram led the Jats of Sinsini in a successful fight against Mughal rule. The Mughal commander Nawab Khan-i-Jahan, backed by forces from Amber and Mathura, was defeated, allowing the Jats to take control of several parganas and expel Mughal officials. In a second campaign, Khan-i-Jahan managed to capture Sogar but faced another defeat near Sinsini, resulting in heavy casualties for the Rajputs. With their strength bolstered, the Jats established dominance in various regions.
Rajaram later launched a surprise attack on Aghar Khan near Dholpur, killing him and his men. These victories solidified the Jats' position as a formidable force against Mughal authority.

##### Defeat and death

Raja Ram, a prominent Jat leader, rose to prominence in 1687 after defeating the Mughal commander Uighur Khan, plundering the noble Mir Ibrahim (Mahabat Khan), and looting Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra. Historian Manucci claims that he even burned Akbar’s remains. This act alarmed Aurangzeb, who dispatched his grandson Bidar Bakht and the ruler of Amber, Bishan Singh, to quell the Jats. In July 1688, Raja Ram was ultimately defeated and killed, resulting in significant losses for both sides. His nephew, Churaman, continued the fight until Aurangzeb's death.

#### Churaman and Mughals

Churaman was an able and strong ruler, he continued to resist Mughals after the death of Rajaram. After Khan-i-Jahan's defeat, the Jat resistance intensified, resulting in the removal of Mughal outposts and the establishment of Jat-controlled territories, especially under Churaman, who strengthened Sinsini. Following the death of Raja Ram Singh, Bishan Singh was tasked with quelling the Jats, with a goal to bring them under control within six months.
In December 1688, an imperial army led by Prince Bidar Bakht, along with Bishan Singh’s forces comprising 2,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry, advanced against the Jats. Despite facing surprise attacks from the Jats, the Mughals succeeded in building fortifications and capturing nearby forts. After fierce battles and the use of mines, the Mughal forces broke through Sinsini’s defenses and ultimately took control of it. The conflict resulted in approximately 1,500 casualties on the imperial side. The Conflicts between the two continued in places like Mathura, Agra, Delhi, Ranthambore, Alwar etc. Sinsini was soon recaptured by Churaman in 1704.
Jai Singh II laid siege to Thun with impressive strategic tactics that caught the Emperor's attention. He cleared the surrounding area, constructed new forts, and positioned seasoned troops to confront the enemy. Additionally, he dismantled smaller forts to block any potential enemy retreats and ensured a steady supply of camels, carts, and livestock for his campaign.
Despite the strong defense mounted by Muhkam Singh and Rupa, the siege dragged on for twenty months. Thun's thick mud walls and towering ramparts held up against cannon fire, while food shortages made survival increasingly challenging. The dense forest also slowed the Raja’s advance. Ultimately, Churaman was pardoned thanks to Abdullah Khan's intervention, leading to Jai Singh's recall. Churaman, who had once been a robber, was promoted to Amir.

#### Muhkam Singh and Mughals

In April 1722, after Saadat Khan, the governor of Agra, was unable to defeat the Jats, the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah appointed Jai Singh Sawai for a second time to lead an expedition against them. By this time, the Jats, led by Churaman, had emerged as a formidable force in the area. Jai Singh began the siege of the Jat stronghold at Thun on October 25, 1722. During the siege, Churaman passed away, and his son, Mukham Singh, took over as the leader of the Jats. Jai Singh, commanding an army of 14,000 to 15,000 troops, brought significant resources, including weapons, munitions, and two lakh rupees, to support the assault on the fort.
The siege of Thun started in October 1722, when Sawai Jai Singh began clearing the jungles and establishing artillery positions. That same night, the Jats launched a surprise attack on the imperial camp, and Badan Singh, a cousin of Mukham Singh, betrayed him by disclosing the fort's vulnerabilities. On November 8, 1722, Jai Singh successfully captured the fort, prompting Emperor Muhammad Shah to celebrate with three days of drumbeats. In response, Mukham Singh set fire to the fort and evacuated, taking his wealth with him. Jai Singh was subsequently honored by the Mughal Emperor, while Badan Singh was appointed as the headman of the Jats.