Primary sourcePainting1590-1595
A Mine Explodes During the Siege of Chittor
Miskina (composition), with Bhura and Sarwan · 1590-1595
A Mughal Akbarnama painting of a mine exploding during the 1567-68 Mughal siege of Chittor, the attack that shaped Mewar before Pratap's reign.
Depicts the 1567-68 siege of Chittor, the event that shaped the Mewar kingdom before Pratap's reign began.
About this source
What it is
This painting from the Akbarnama, Akbar's official chronicle, shows a mine exploding during the Mughal siege of the fortress of Chittor (Chittaurgarh), killing many of the attacking Mughal forces. It was made between 1590 and 1595, with the composition designed by the court artist Miskina and details painted by Bhura and Sarwan.
Why it matters
The siege took place in 1567-68, before Pratap Singh became ruler of Mewar in 1572, but its outcome shaped the kingdom he inherited and his later resistance to Mughal rule. Made by Mughal court artists for Akbar, the image shows the siege from the attackers' side, including the hazards they faced from the fortress's defenders.
Look closer
- What does the painting show about the dangers faced by both the Mughal attackers and the Rajput defenders?
- Why might Akbar's court have wanted to record a Mughal setback like this mine explosion?
- How might a painting commissioned by the Rajputs of Chittor have shown this same event differently?
This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Maharana Pratap on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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