Battle of Tughlaqabad
Battle of Tughlaqabad | |
---|---|
Tughlaqabad Fort | |
Result | Sur victory |
Territorial changes | Delhi captured by Hemu |
The Battle of Tughlaqabad (also known as the Battle of Delhi) was a notable battle fought on 7 October 1556 between a Hindu king
Background
Since the days of the
Sher Shah died soon after in 1545 at
Islam Shah's rightful successor, his 12-year-old son, Firoz Khan, had been murdered by his maternal uncle who had taken the throne as Adil Shah Suri. The new ruler was, however, more interested in the pursuit of pleasure than in the affairs of his state. Those were largely left to Hemu, a Hindu from Rewari, who had risen from humble circumstances to become both Adil Shah's Chief Minister as well as the general of the Suri army.[5] He was in Bengal when Humayun died on 27 January 1556. The Mughal emperor's death provided an ideal opportunity to defeat the Mughals and reclaim lost territory.[6]
Prelude
Hemu started a rapid march from the eastern provinces and drove the Mughals out of Bayana, Etawah, Sambhal, Kalpi, and Narnaul.[6] In Agra, the governor evacuated the city and fled without a fight upon hearing of Hemu's impending invasion.[7]
Hemu, who had set off in pursuit of Agra's governor, reached
Battle
According to
The Mughals were almost equal in numbers, put up an ordinary fight against Hemu's forces. What followed proved to be a turning point in the battle as the Mughals involved chose to press their advantage and pursued the Afghan army so far afield that they lost contact with their main army.[8][7]
Many of Tardi Beg's men believed that the day had been won and dispersed to raid the enemy camp. Hemu, however, had held back 300 of his best elephants and cavalry unit in reserve. Seizing the opportunity, he made a sudden charge upon the now thinly-guarded Tardi Beg with this force. His push was bolstered by the timely arrival of fresh reinforcements from Alwar under the command of Haji Khan. Seeing the troop of war elephants and dense cavalry advancing upon them, many of the Mughal officers, including Pir Muhammad Khan, fled away in terror, much to the chagrin of Tardi Beg. Their capitulation at this crucial moment made the question of further resistance futile and Tardi Beg too decided to flee the scene.[8][7]
When the previously victorious Mughal vanguard and left wing returned from their pursuit, they realised that the day was lost and dispersed without offering a fight. The Afghans had won and Hemu chose not to pursue the fleeing Mughals. He took possession of Delhi after a day's battle on 7 October 1556.[7]
Aftermath
After taking control of Delhi, Hem Chandra claimed royal status and assumed the title of
Tardi Beg's loss at Tughlaqabad was not received well in the Mughal camp and Bairam Khan had him murdered shortly thereafter.[10]
Footnotes
- ^ Frykenberg 1993, p. xxvi.
- ^ Thackston 1995.
- ^ Frykenberg 1993, p. xxviii.
- ^ Sarkar 1960, p. 66.
- ^ Qanungo 1965, p. 448.
- ^ a b Chandra 2004, p. 91.
- ^ a b c d e f Sarkar 1960, p. 67.
- ^ a b c Tripathi 1960, p. 174.
- ^ Richards 1995.
- ^ Tripathi 1960, p. 175.
References
- ISBN 9780861251551.
- Tripathi, Ram Prasad (1960). Rise and Fall of the Mughal Empire (2nd ed.). pp. 158–177.
- ISBN 9788124110669. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- Qanungo, Kalika Ranjan (1965). Sher Shah and his Times. Orient Longmans. pp. 448–449.
- ISBN 9780521566032.
- Frykenberg, R. E. (1993). Delhi through the ages: selected essays in urban history, culture and society. Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. xxv–xxvii. ISBN 9780195630237. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- Thackston, Wheeler M., ed. (1995). The Baburnama: memoirs of Babur, prince and emperor. Translated by Thackston, Wheeler M. Washington, D.C.: Freer Gallery of Art. p. 300. ISBN 9780195096712. Retrieved 7 August 2016.