Akbar completes the conquest of Rajasthan from 1561 through 1570, then pushes westward against the heavily defended kingdom of Gujarat, an opponent of Muslim rule since the time of the Delhi Sultanate.

He systematically attacks the kingdom’s network of fortresses and fortified cities, easily reducing Ahmadabad in November 1572.

Akbar seizes the Gujarati fortress at Cambay in December 1572, a month after his successful siege of Ahmadabad. Annexing the sultanate, he then vanquishes the forces of a hostile relative at Sarnal before returning to his new court city of Fatehpur Sikri.

Ahmadebad has been ruled since 1561 by one Hubboo or Nannu or Nathu (a pretender to the Muzaffarid throne according to Mughal historians).

Ahmedabad had grown under the Muzaffarid dynasty to become one of the world's largest and wealthiest cities.

The sultans have patronized a distinctive architecture that blends Islamic elements with Gujarat's indigenous Hindu and Jain architectural traditions. Gujarat's Islamic architecture presages many of the architectural elements later found in Mughal architecture, including ornate mihrabs and minarets, jali (perforated screens carved in stone), and chattris (pavilions topped with cupolas).

Akbar’s hostile relative, defeated at Sarnal in late 1572, lays siege to Ahmadabad the following summer, thinking that the monsoon rains will prevent Akbar from interfering.

The resolute imperial forces cover the more than five hundred miles in eleven days of difficult weather to defeat the two thousand rebel Indian troops, capturing and imprisoning Akbar’s rival.

Ahmadebad, with all of Gujurat, comes permannetly under imperial rule.

The Portuguese, who had backed the Gujaratis (by whose courtesy they occupy the island of Diu), make peace with Akbar following Akbar’s successful war against Gujarat and his subsequent suppression of a rebellious kinsman.

Akbar returns to his new capital of Fatehpur Sikri.