The Final Assault and Capture of Gingee: Victory, Tragedy, and the End of a Twelve-Year Siege

After years of prolonged siege operations and secret arrangements, the moment finally arrived when Zulfikar Khan could no longer avoid decisive military action. With imperial reinforcements arriving and the emperor’s patience exhausted, the Mughal commander gave the order for a coordinated assault on the multiple fortress positions that made up the Gingee complex.

capture of gingee and surrender of marathas

This was not another staged demonstration for the benefit of distant imperial observers. The presence of fresh commanders like Daud Khan, Muhammad Syed Kevud, and Venkatapati meant that real military pressure would finally be applied to capture the fortress that had resisted Mughal power for twelve long years.

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Daud Khan’s Southern Attack

The assault plan divided the attacking forces between the main fortress positions to prevent defenders from concentrating their resistance at any single point. Daud Khan received orders to attack Chandrayan Durg from the southern approach, using scaling techniques to overcome the fortress walls.

This southern assault served as one part of a coordinated attack designed to stretch Maratha defensive capabilities across multiple positions simultaneously. By forcing defenders to respond to threats from different directions, the Mughal commanders hoped to find weak points in the fortress system.

Dalpat Rao’s Northern Success

While Daud Khan engaged the southern defenses, Dalpat Rao led his forces against the northern wall of Krishnagiri. This veteran commander, who had already proven his courage in previous battles, successfully scaled the fortress walls and captured the outer fort after what historical records describe as “a severe struggle.”

Dalpat Rao’s success represented the first major breakthrough in the coordinated assault. His Bundelah warriors had once again proven their effectiveness in close combat operations, demonstrating the value of experienced troops in siege warfare.

The Retreat to Inner Fortifications

The loss of the outer fort forced the Maratha garrison to fall back to an inner stronghold called Rajagiri. However, this strategic withdrawal did not provide the safety the defenders had hoped for. Dalpat Rao and his Bundelahs pursued the retreating Marathas and managed to force their way into Rajagiri as well.

The fighting within Rajagiri was intense and deadly. Historical accounts record that “many” Maratha defenders were killed during this phase of the assault, while the survivors were forced to retreat again to Rajagiri, described as “the highest fort” in the Gingee complex.

The Capture of Krishnagiri

After securing his initial objectives, Daud Khan advanced from Chandrayandrug toward Krishnagiri, coordinating his movement with Dalpat Rao’s successful assault. This convergence of attacking forces from multiple directions created overwhelming pressure on the remaining Maratha positions.

The inhabitants and defenders at the top of Krishnagiri recognized that their position had become untenable. Surrounded by victorious Mughal forces and cut off from supplies or reinforcement, they made the practical decision to surrender rather than face certain death in continued fighting.

The Spoils of Victory

The capture of Krishnagiri provided the Mughal forces with substantial material rewards for their successful assault. Historical records indicate that “a vast amount of booty in horses, camels and other things fell into the hands of the Imperialists.”

This booty represented more than just military supplies – it included the accumulated wealth and resources that the Marathas had gathered during years of resistance. The capture of these resources significantly weakened Maratha capabilities while strengthening the Mughal position for future operations.

The Royal Family’s Last Refuge

With the outer fortifications captured, Rajaram’s family and the remaining Maratha defenders found themselves trapped in Rajagiri, described as both “the highest and the strongest of forts of Gingee.” This final stronghold represented their last hope for survival against the advancing Mughal forces.

The strategic importance of Rajagiri went beyond its defensive capabilities. As the refuge of the royal family, its capture would represent a complete Mughal victory and the elimination of the Maratha leadership structure in the region.

Securing the Approaches

Dalpat Rao took control of the gate of Rajagiri, effectively blocking one of the main approaches to Rajagiri and preventing any possibility of escape or reinforcement for the trapped defenders.

Meanwhile, Zulfikar Khan approached through the formidable Shaitan Dari, known to European observers as “Portu-du-Diable” or “Devil’s Gate.” The name itself suggests the dangerous nature of this approach, but Khan’s forces managed to overcome these challenges.

Engineering the Final Approach

The most impressive feat of military engineering during the final assault was Zulfikar Khan’s solution to reaching Rajagiri across the chasm that protected its base. His forces constructed a wooden bridge spanning this natural defensive barrier, demonstrating the level of preparation and resources available for the final push.

This bridge construction shows that the Mughal forces were now committed to achieving complete victory regardless of the engineering challenges involved. The willingness to undertake such complex construction work under enemy fire indicates the determination that had replaced the previous years of half-hearted siege operations.

The Royal Family’s Surrender

Recognizing that their position was hopeless, the Maratha royal family opened negotiations for surrender terms. Their primary concern was obtaining guarantees of personal safety and protection from violence by the victorious Mughal forces.

Zulfikar Khan responded to these negotiations by providing “assurances of protection and good treatment” through Rama Chand Hada, who served as an intermediary in these delicate discussions. The use of an intermediary suggests the formality and importance of these surrender negotiations.

Honorable Captivity

The surrender terms resulted in what historical records describe as “honourable captivity” for the royal family members. Palanquins were sent to transport the women and children safely from the citadel, ensuring that they were “saved from violence” during the transition from resistance to captivity.

This treatment reflects both military pragmatism and political calculation. Treating the royal family with respect would encourage other Maratha strongholds to surrender rather than fight to the death, while also demonstrating Mughal power and magnanimity to regional populations.

The Tragic Suicide -A Final Act of Defiance

Not all members of the royal family accepted the terms of surrender. One of Rajaram’s wives chose death over captivity, throwing herself from the summit of the fort rather than face what she viewed as the disgrace of surrender to enemy forces.

The historical account of her death is particularly graphic and tragic. Her head was “dashed to pieces as it struck a projecting rock,” and her body remained “in an inaccessible place without a funeral.” This detail emphasizes both the height of the fortress and the complete finality of her decision.

The Meaning of Sacrifice

This suicide represents the ultimate expression of resistance to foreign conquest. Rather than accept even honorable captivity, this unnamed woman chose to preserve her personal dignity through death, creating a powerful symbol of Maratha defiance that would outlast the military defeat.

Her decision also highlights the different ways that individuals responded to military defeat. While others chose survival and accommodation, she selected martyrdom as the only acceptable response to the loss of independence.

The Reality of Conquest

The capture of Rajagiri revealed the true nature of the fortress’s final defenders. Historical records indicate that approximately 4,000 women and children were found within the fort, but “there were only very few fighting men among them.”

This overwhelming ratio of civilians to combatants explains why the final assault succeeded so quickly once serious pressure was applied. The Maratha military forces had largely escaped or been killed in earlier fighting, leaving primarily non-combatants to face the final siege.

The Human Cost of Twelve Years

The presence of so many civilians within the fortress reflects the reality of twelve years of siege warfare. Families had gathered within the walls seeking safety from the ongoing conflict, creating a situation where military defeat would affect thousands of innocent people.

The successful protection of these civilians during the surrender process represents one of the more positive aspects of the final assault, showing that military victory did not necessarily require mass casualties among non-combatants.

Narayanan’s Alternative Account – A Different Perspective

The account provided by Narayanan offers additional insights into the timing and motivation behind the final assault. According to this source, the arrival of money and reinforcements under Daud Khan, Muhammad Syed Kevud, and Venkatapati created the conditions that made serious siege operations finally possible.

Narayanan’s version emphasizes that “the siege of Gingee was pushed on vigorously” only after these reinforcements arrived, confirming that previous operations had been less than fully committed to achieving victory.

Rajaram’s Preparation for Escape

This alternative account also reveals that Rajaram was actively preparing to abandon the fortress even before the final assault began. He was gathering valuable possessions and organizing his wives and attendants for departure, showing his understanding that the changed military situation made continued resistance impossible.

The fact that “the Nawab was not aware of this” preparation for escape confirms that intelligence communications between the opposing sides had finally broken down when serious military pressure began.

The Twelve-Year Context

Narayanan’s account emphasizes the duration of the siege by noting that it “had been going on for twelve years” and that “even the Padusha’s resources were getting almost exhausted.” This context helps explain why the emperor finally insisted on decisive action regardless of the personal preferences of field commanders.

The reference to exhausted imperial resources also suggests that the prolonged siege had become economically unsustainable for the Mughal Empire, making victory a financial necessity rather than just a military objective.

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