Maratha invasion of Awadh

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Maratha invasion of Awadh
Part of Later Mughal-Maratha wars

Bajirao riding a horse during his campaigns as Peshwa(1720-1739)
DateMarch 1737
Location
Awadh, modern day Uttar Pradesh
Result
Mughal
victory
Territorial
changes
No territorial changes
Belligerents

Mughal Empire

Maratha Empire
Commanders and leaders
Saadat Ali Khan
Qamar-ud-Din Khan
Hasan Khan Koka
Casualties and losses
Unknown 1,000 Marathas captured

The Maratha invasion on Awadh in 1737, led by Peshwa Bajirao and Malhar Rao Holkar, involved campaigns such as Malhar Rao's invasion of Bhadawar, a Rajput vassal of the Mughal Empire, resulting in the Battle of Jalesar. Nawab Saadat Ali Khan of Awadh defeated Malhar Rao at Jalesar, compelling the Marathas to retreat. Subsequently, Bajirao raided Delhi, the Mughal capital, defeating a Mughal contingent at the outskirts but withdrawing upon the approach of Vizier Qamaruddin Khan. During the retreat march, Marathas, including Peshwa wife Mastani, were defeated at a location called Badhsahpur.

Background

In 1737,

Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah dispatched Saadat Ali Khan, the Nawab of Awadh, to collaborate with Qamr-ud-Din Khan, the Vizier of the Mughal empire and Khan Dowran VII, who led the military administration of the Mughal Empire. The purpose of this meeting was to strategize resistance against the Marathas. Saadat Ali Khan embarked on his journey from Faizabad with a sizable army, which included prominent figures like Safdar Jung, Abdul Mansur Khan, and Shen Jung. Their mission was to execute the Imperial order and provide assistance to Anirudh Singh Bhadwariya, the son of Gopal Singh of Bhadawar, in resisting the Marathas.[1][2]

Saadat Ali Khan received information about the defeat of Anrudh Singh and the Maratha occupation of Bhadawar before reaching the town. As a result, he decided to halt his advance towards Bhadawar.[3][4]

Battle of Jalesar

Battle of Jalesar
Part of Maratha invasion of Awadh
DateMarch 1737 A.D.
Location
Result Mughal victory
Belligerents
Maratha Empire Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Malhar Rao Holkar Saadat Ali Khan
Casualties and losses
1,000 captured Unknown


By this time on 23 March 1737, a Maratha detachment under Malhar Rao Holkar had crossed the Yamuna River with the intention of looting the Doab region and preventing the meeting of Safdaar Khan with the Wazir and Mir Bakhshi. They passed through the town of Shikohabad, which was spared from destruction after a ransom of 1,50,000 Rupees was paid. Continuing their advance, they reached Firozabad and Itimadpur, where they plundered and set fire to the towns, causing devastation in the surrounding countryside up to Moti Bagh, near Agra. Subsequently, they proceeded to the town of Jalesar, located some 26 miles northeast of Agra. Early in the morning of March 23, 1737, Abul Mansur Khan, leading 12,000 horsemen, came into view. He was at the forefront of Saadat Khan's army, which had undertaken a forced march of eighty five miles upon hearing news of the Maratha incursion into the Doab in order to reach the vicinity of Jalesar.[5][1]

Marathas, recognizing the comparative smallness of Abul Mansur Khan's force, sought to employ their traditional warfare strategy by attempting to encircle him from all directions. However, Khan skillfully avoided being besieged and instead executed a tactical withdrawal, luring the enemy closer to Saadat Khan's main army, which numbered a formidable fifty thousand soldiers. The fierce charge led by Saadat Ali caused the Maratha forces to scatter in disarray, plunging them into confusion and panic. The fleeing Maratha troops were pursued for many miles, resulting in the capture of around one thousand of them near the Itimadpur tank, situated approximately 10 miles northeast of Agra. The remainder of the Maratha forces successfully crossed the Yamuna River and later rejoined Bajirao's troops at Kotila, near Gwalior. In response, Bajirao raided Delhi.[1][4][6]

The raid on Delhi

Maratha raid on Delhi
Part of Maratha invasion of Awadh
DateMarch 1737 A.D.
Location
Result Mughal victory
Belligerents
Maratha Empire Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Baji Rao I
Mastani
Qamar-ud-din Khan
Hasan Khan Koka

The Maratha raid on Delhi occurred on March 28, 1737, when the Marathas, led by Bajirao, targeted the Mughal Empire near Talkatora, close to Delhi.[7][8] Bajirao sought to avenge for the Marathas' prior defeat at the Battle of Jalesar by Saadat Ali Khan. After defeating the Mughal army under Hasan Khan Kota, Bajirao and the Marathas raided Delhi. In response, Vizier Qamar-ud-Din Khan moved from Agra to protect the Mughal capital. Upon learning of the Vizier's approach, Bajirao chose to withdraw from Delhi. However, Mughal forces, led by Zahir-ud-Daulah and Ghiyas-uddin Khan, confronted the Maratha army near Badshahpur, 20 miles from Delhi, achieving victory. Recognizing the potential threat of Saadat Ali Khan joining the Vizier, Bajirao retreated with his wife Mastani from the battlefield.[9][10][11]

References

  1. ^ .
  2. .
  3. ^ Andhare, B. R. (1984). Bundelkhand Under the Marathas, 1720-1818 A.D.: A Study of Maratha-Bundela Relations. Vishwa Bharati Prakashan.
  4. ^ a b Gupta, Bhagavānadāsa (1987). A History of the Rise and Fall of the Marathas in Bundelkhand, 1731-1804: Based on Original Sources. Neha Prakashan. pp. 42–43.
  5. .
  6. ^ Azhar, Mirza Ali (1982). King Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. Royal Book Company. pp. 84–85.
  7. .
  8. .
  9. .
  10. ^ Srinivasan, C. K. (1961). Baji Rao I, the Great Peshwa. Asia Publishing House. p. 104.
  11. ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (1961). Marathas and Panipat. Panjab University. p. 335.