Battles & Conflicts of

Mughal Empire By Sajid Bin Rashid Rafi

First Battle of Panipat

Part of Mughal conquests

Date 21 April 1526

Location Panipat (in present-day Haryana, India)

Result Decisive Mughal Victory, End of the Lodi dynasty, Establishment of the Mughal Empire

Territorial changes Delhi Sultanate annexed by Mughals

Belligerents

Babur Lodi dynasty and Afghans

Commanders and leaders

Babur Humayun Chin Timur Khan Ustad Ali Quli Mustafa Rumi Asad Malik Hast Raja Sanghar Ali Khan

Ibrahim Lodi Vikramjit

Strength

12,000 Mughals (Babur) Field artillery

1,00,000 (Babur) 50,000 (Afghan sources) 100 war elephants

Casualties and losses

Few 15,000-20,000

Battle of Khanwa

Part of Expansion of the Mughal Empire

Date 1527

Location Khanwa, near Agra, India

Result Decisive victory of the first Mughal Emperor Babur and consolidation of Mughal power in India

Territorial changes Expansion of the Mughal Empire into Rajput territories.

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Rajput, Lodi dynasty loyalists

Commanders and leaders

Babur Humayun Ustad Ali Quli Mustafa Rumi Chin Timur Khan Mir Mohib Ali Khalifa Mir Abdul Aziz Mir Muhammed Ali Khan Khusrau Shah Kokultash Kassim Husain Khan Muhammad Zaman Mirza

Sultan Mahmud Lodi Mewar.svg Hasan Khan Mewati Mewar Rana Sanga (WIA) Rawal Uday Singh Wagari Mewar Manik Chand Chauhan Mewar. Chandrabhan Chauhan Mewar.Ratan Singh Chundawat Mewar. Raj Rana Ajja Mewar.Rao Ramdas Mewar.Gokaldas Parmar Mewar. Rawal Udai Singh

Strength

60,000 Mughals 8000 Kabul Reinforcements 40-50 Field Artillery

50,000 Rajputs, 30,000 Purbiyas, 10,000 Afghans, 12,000 Muslim Rajputs, 500 War Elephants

Battle of Ghaghra

Part of Mughal conquests

Date 6 May, 1529

Location Ghaghara River, near Bihar side, India

Result Decisive Mughal victory

Territorial changes Bihar annexed by Mughal Empire including surrounding territories. Peace settlement with the Sultanate of Bengal

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Eastern Afghan Confederates, Sultanate of Bengal

Commanders and leaders

Babur Humayun Askari Mirza Muhammad Zaman Mirza Sultan Jalal ud-Din Sherki Sultan Junaid Birlas Ustad Ali Quli Musfata Rumi

Sultan Mahmud Lodi Sultan Nusrat Shah Sultan Jalal ud-Din Lohani Sher Shah Suri Bayezid Biban Fateh Khan Shirwani Shah Muhammad Maaruf

Strength

>30,000 ~150,000 100-150 Naval Vessels

Casualties and losses

200 12500

Siege of Sambhal

Part of Mughal conquests

Date 1526

Location Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, India

Result Decisive Mughal victory

Territorial changes Sambhal taken by Mughals

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Western Afghan Confederates

Commanders and leaders

Babur Hindu Baig

Malik Baban Jilwani Kasim Sambhali

Strength

~150

Larger

Casualties and losses

Heavy High

Second Battle of Panipat

Part of Mughal conquests

Date November 5, 1556

Location Panipat (in present-day Haryana, India)

Result Decisive victory of the Mughal Empire

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Himu

Commanders and leaders

Bairam Khan Shah Ali Quli Khan Lal Khan of Badakshan Muhammad Qasim Abdulla Khan Iskander Khan Sikandar Khan Uzbeg Mulla Pir Muhammad

Hemu Rammaya Shadi Khan Kakkar Mahipal

Strength

10,000-20,000 cavalry Cannons in larger number than Hemu

50,000 cavalry 1,000 War elephants 51 cannons 500 falconets (Badayuni)

Casualties and losses

120 War elephants captured

Battle of Thanesar

Part of Mughal-Rajput War 1558-1578

Date July 1567-

Location Thanesar on the banks of the Sarsawati Ghaggar River in the state of Haryana

Result Expulsion of two rival groups of Sanyasis from the encampment of the Mughal Emperor Akbar

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Two rival groups of Sanyasis

Commanders and leaders

Akbar Mehtar Khan Ghazi Khan Badakshani

Sanyasis

Strength

8000 men 2 cannons 400 Matchlocks 75 War elephants

800-1000 Sanyasi's

Casualties and losses

5-10 wounded 50-150 killed

Siege of Chittorgarh

Part of Mughal-Hindu Rajput War (1558-1578)

Date 23 October 1567 - 23 February 1568

Location 250 km northwest east of Agra

Result Decisive victory and a successful siege by Mughal Emperor Akbar

Territorial changes The Mughal Empire swept into the territories of Udai Singh II

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Rajputs of Chittorgarh Fort

Commanders and leaders

Akbar Abdullah Khan Khwaja Abdul Majid Ghazi Khan Mehtar Khan Munim Khan

Rao Jaimal Rana Jai Singh Patta Chundawat

Strength

80,000 men 80 cannons 95 swivel guns 800 matchlocks 5,000 war elephants

8,000 men

Casualties and losses

29,336 to 39,500 8,000 Rajputs 30,000 civilians inside the fort

Siege of Ranthambore

Part of Mughal-Hindu Rajput War (1558-1578)

Date February 8, 1568 - March 21, 1568

Location 270 km northwest east of Agra

Result A successful siege by Mughal Emperor Akbar causes the Rajput leader Rai Surjan Hada to surrender Ranthambore Fort.

Territorial changes The Mughal Empire swept into the territories of Rao Surjan Hada of Ranthambore Fort.

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Rajputs of Ranthambore Fort

Commanders and leaders

Akbar Mehtar Khan Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan Ghazi Khan Badakshani Munim Khan

Rao Surjan Hada

Strength

70,000 men 96 cannons 50 swivel guns 900 Matchlocks 4000 War elephants

12,000 men 100 War elephants

Casualties and losses

Unknown 3,000

Battle of Tukaroi

Part of Mughal conquests

Date March 3, 1575

Location Between Midnapore and Jalesar, Western Bengal

Result Decisive Mughal victory Treaty of Katak

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Sultanate of Bengal

Commanders and leaders

Akbar Munim Khan Daud Khan Raja Todar Mal

Daud Khan Karrani Gujar Khan

Strength

Larger 40,000 Cavalry 140,000 infantry 20,000 Guns 3600 Elephants Several Hundred War Boats

Casualties and losses

Heavy High

Battle of Rajmahal

Part of Mughal conquests

Date 12 July 1576

Location Rajmahal

Result Decisive Mughal victory End of Karrani Dynasty

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Karrani dynasty of Sultanate of Bengal

Commanders and leaders

Akbar Muzaffar Khan Turbati Khan Jahan Raja Todai Mar

Daud Khan Karrani Junaid Kala Pahar

Strength

5000 horsemen reinforcement 50,000

Casualties and losses

Heavy

Battle of Haldighati

Part of Mughal conquests

Date 18/21 June 1576

Location Haldighati

Result Strategic Victory of Rajputs Battle victory of Mughals. Mughals fail to capture or kill Maharana. The Mewarian army is defeated by the Mughal Army

Empires

Mughal Mewar

Commanders and leaders

Akbar Man Singh I Syed Hasim Syed Ahmed Khan Bahlol Khan Multan Khan Gazi Khan Badakshi Bhokal Singh Khorasan Wasim Khan

Maharana Pratap Hakim Khan Sur Rao Poonja Dodiya Bhim Man Singh Jhala Man Singh Bida Ramshah Tanwar Shalivahan Singh Tomar Krishnadas Chundawat Rao Chandra Sen

Strength

80,000 (James Todd) 5,000 (Modern Estimates)

22,000 (James Todd) 3,000 (Modern Estimates)

Casualties and losses

Heavy losses Few thousand

Battle of Bhuchar Mori

Part of Mughal conquests

Date July 1591

Location Bhuchar Mori plateau near Dhrol State (now near Dhrol, Jamnagar district, Gujarat, India)

Result Decisive Mughal victory

Territorial changes Kathiawar fell under Mughal Empire

Empires

Mughal Nawanagar State, Junagadh State, Kundla State , Cutch State

Commanders and leaders

Mirza Aziz Koka Jam Sataji Jam Ajaji † Jasa Vajir † Daulat Khan Ghori Loma Kumar Rao Bharmal Ji I Sanganji Vadher Vasai Parmar

Strength

8900-9000 17000-21000 84 elephants

Casualties and losses

100-200 warriors 500 injured

2000 warriors 700 horses disabled

Siege of Kandahar (1605–06)

Part of Mughal–Persian Wars

Date 1605–1606

Location Kandahar, Afghanistan

Result Mughal Victory

Empires

Mughal Empire Safavid Empire

Commanders and leaders

Šāh Beg Khan Hosayn Khan

Mughal–Safavid War

Part of Mughal–Persian Wars

Date 1622–1623

Location nowadays Afghanistan

Result Safavid victory

Territorial changes Kandahar falls to Safavid Iran

Empires

Mughal Empire Safavid Empire

Commanders and leaders

Emperor Jahangir Emperor Abbas I of Persia

Strength

5000 5000

Mughal–Safavid War

Part of Mughal–Persian Wars

Date 1649–1653

Location Afghanistan

Result Safavid victory , Safavids recapture Kandahar Territorial changes Kandahar falls again to the Safavids

Empires

Mughal Empire Safavid Empire, Khanate of Bukhara

Commanders and leaders

Emperor Shah Jahan Kilij Khan Mughal Prince Murad Baksh Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh Mughal Prince Aurangzeb (Next emperor)

Emperor Abbas II of Persia Mehrā Khan Autar Khan Abdul Aziz

Strength

40,000 10,000 12,000 Zamburak

80,000 18,000 Sowars 110 cannons

Casualties and losses

5,000 17,000

Battle of Samugarh

Part of Mughal war of succession 1658–1659

Date May 29, 1658

Location Samugarh, about 10 miles (16 km) east of Agra

Result Decisive victory and coronation of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb

Territorial changes The Mughal Empire faced no significant change in territory

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Mughal Empire

Commanders and leaders

Aurangzeb Murad Baksh Mir Jumla II Kilich Khan Bahadur

Dara Shikoh Sulaiman Shikoh Khalilullah Khan Rustam Khan Deccani Rao Chhatrasal Hada Ram Singh Rautela

Strength

40,000 60 cannons 75 swivel guns

60,000 80 cannons 990 swivel guns

Casualties and losses

2,000 30,000

Battle of Khajwa

Part of Mughal war of succession 1658–1659

Date January 5, 1659

Location Khajwa

Result Decisive victory and coronation of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb

Territorial changes The newly crowned Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb gains absolute control of the eastern territories of the Mughal Empire

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Mughal Empire

Commanders and leaders

Aurangzeb Mir Jumla II Islam Khan Kilich Khan Bahadur Shaista Khan Haji Shafi Isfahani Nur Beg Dur Beg Rustam Beg

Shah Shuja Buland Akhtar Sultan Bang Zainul Abedin

Strength

90,000 120 cannons 8,000 War elephants

25,000 110 cannons 10,000 War elephants

Casualties and losses

11,000 9,000

Battle of Itakhuli

Part of the Ahom-Mughal conflicts

Date August 1682

Location Guwahati

Result Decisive Ahom Victory

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Ahom kingdom

Commanders and leaders

Dihingia Alun Borbarua Mansur Khan, Ali Akbar

Siege of Purandhar

Part of The Mughal-Maratha War

Date 1665

Location Purandar near Saswad

Result Mughal Victory Territorial changes The Mughal Empire regained control of much of

modern day Tamil Nadu

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Maratha Empire

Commanders and leaders

Aurangzeb Dilir Khan Jai Singh I Prince Muazzam Jahan Khan Bahadur

Shivaji

Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal War

Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal War Date 1679–84

Location Ladakh

Result Treaty of Tingmosgang Belligerents

Mughal Empire Tibet

Commanders and leaders

Deldan Namgyal Fidai Khan

Galdan Chhewang

Mughal–Maratha Wars

Part of Mughal–Maratha Wars Date September 1681 – May 1707

Location Present-day states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu

Result victory during Aurangzebian phase,final victory to marathas during peshwa phase

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Maratha Empire

Commanders and leaders

Aurangzeb Azam Shah Husain Ali Khan Bahadur Shah

Sambhaji Rajaram Maharani Tarabai

Siege of Golconda

Part of Mughal-Qutbshahi War (1686–1687)

Date January 1687 – September 22, 1687

Location Golconda, India

Result Victory of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and the overthrow and imprisonment of Abul Hasan Qutb Shah

Territorial changes Qutb Shahi dynasty, Golconda included in the Mughal Empire

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Qutb Shahi dynasty

Commanders and leaders

Aurangzeb Abdullah Khan Bahadur Firuz Jang Munnawar Khan Kilich Khan Bahadur Shaista Khan Ibrahim Khan Dilir Khan Khalilullah Khan

Abul Hasan Qutb Shah Muqarrab Khan (defector) Sarandaz Khan (defector)

Strength

90,000 men - 120,000

240 Cannons 50,000 Cavalry

35,000 men 110 Cannons 10,000 Cavalry

Casualties and losses

1000 killed or wounded 5000 killed or wounded

Battle of Karnal

Part of Nader Shah's invasion of the Mughal Empire & the Naderian Wars

Date February 24, 1739

Location Karnal, Punjab region, North India

Result Decisive Persian victory

Territorial changes The Mughal capital of Delhi is occupied, and then sacked. All Mughal territories north of the Indus River are annexed by the Persian Empire.

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Persian Empire

Commanders and leaders

Emperor Muhammad Shah Nader Shah of Persia

Strength

300,000 2,000 War Elephants 3,000 Cannon

55,000

Casualties and losses

20,000–30,000 1,100

Battle of Buxar

Part of Bengal War

Date 22 October 1764

Location Near Buxar

Result British East India Company Victory

Belligerents

Mughal Empire

Nawab of Awadh

Nawab of Bengal

Durrani and Rohilla Factions

British East India Company

Commanders and leaders

Emperor Shah Alam II

Shuja-ud-Daula

Mirza Najaf Khan

Mir Qasim

General Hector Munro of Novar

Strength

40,000 140 cannons

7,072 30 cannons

Casualties and losses

10,000 killed or wounded 6,000 captured

1,847 killed or wounded

Siege of Delhi

Part of the Indian rebellion of 1857

Date 8 June – 21 September 1857

Location Delhi, Mughal Empire

Result Decisive British-EIC victory

Belligerents

Mughal Empire Indian Rebels

United Kingdom United Kingdom East India Company Native irregulars Civilian volunteers

Commanders and leaders

Emperor Bahadur Shah II Mughal Prince Mirza Mughal Bakht Khan

Archdale Wilson (United Kingdom) John Nicholson (East India Company)

Strength

12,000 sepoys, 30,000 irregulars, 100 guns

8,000 infantry 2,000 cavalry 2,200 Kashmiri irregulars 42 field guns 60 siege guns

Casualties and losses

5,000 killed and wounded 1,254 killed 4,493 wounded