Mughals in Haryana: The First Battle of Panipat | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

Haryana's strategic significance in the medieval period

• Haryana, located between Lahore and Delhi, was a battleground for various invaders during the medieval period. Invaders coming from the west to capture Delhi had to go through Haryana and engage in battles. 
• This strategic significance of Haryana was likely the primary consideration of Babur before the first battle of Panipat. Babur's victory in this battle led to the establishment of the Mughal Empire.
• Ibrahim, the Sultan of Delhi from the Lodi dynasty, had a domineering personality that caused many Afghan nobles to become estranged from him. 
• These nobles were crucial to his power in India, and their growing distrust of him led to Daulat Khan, the Governor of Punjab, and Alam Khan, the brother of Sikandar Lodi, inviting Babur to invade India. This invitation presented Babur, who was an adventurer, with a golden opportunity.

The Invasion of Babur

• Daulat Khan along with several Afghan nobles such as Ghazi Khan, Ismail Jilwani, Sulaiman Shaikhzada, and Alam Khan invited Babur to invade India, giving him the perfect opportunity to capture Delhi and Agra. Alam Khan personally met with Babur in Kabul, and after they captured Sialkot, Lahore, and the adjacent areas, Babur began his Indian expedition in December 1525. 
• However, tensions arose when Alam Khan demanded Delhi as his reward for inviting the Mughals to India. This was not acceptable to Babur, so Alam Khan separated from the Mughals and moved towards Delhi with an army of 40,000 horsemen.
• Sultan Ibrahim was aware of Alam Khan's movements and decided to march towards Delhi with a huge army of 80,000 soldiers. Although Ibrahim faced reverses in the initial encounter, he eventually succeeded in defeating Alam Khan, forcing him to flee towards Panipat and Indri. 
• Many of Alam Khan's Afghan nobles deserted him, and he heard the news of Babur's advance and capture of Milwat while passing through Sirhind with Dilawar Khan. Mir Khalifa persuaded Alam Khan to join Babur, and later on, Daulat Khan and Dilawar Khan also joined Babur's army.
• Babur took the route via Sialkot, Lahore, Kalanaur, Milwat, Dun, Danur, Banur, Samana, and Sunam during his Indian expedition. He learned about Ibrahim's march towards Panipat and the movements of Hammid Khan, the shiqdar of Hisar-i-Firuza, at Sunam. Babur immediately dispatched his envoys Kitta Beg and Munim Ataka to Panipat and Hisar-i-Firuzah, respectively, to assess the enemies' position. 
• The invading army engaged the enemy at Hodal, where Humayun defeated Hammid Khan, and the Mughals occupied Hisar. From Ambala, the army marched to Shahbad and reached Karnal after advancing along the bank of the river Yamuna, with a short stay at Gharaunda. Finally, on April 12, 1526, Babur led his army to Panipat, where he was to meet Ibrahim Lodi in battle.

Babur's Military Tactics at the Battle of Panipat

• At the Battle of Panipat, Babur employed unique military tactics to ensure victory over Ibrahim Lodi's forces. He strategically positioned his armies, placing the town of Panipat with its suburbs on his right, and digging ditches and setting up branches on his left and elsewhere.
• Babur also utilized carts and mantelets as a form of protection. He ordered Ustad Aliquli to join the carts together in an Ottoman fashion, using ropes of raw hide instead of chains. Between every two carts, 5 or 6 mantelets were to be fixed, behind which the match lockmen could stand and fire. These tactics helped the Mughals hold their ground against the enemy and ultimately win the battle.
• Before the start of the battle, small groups of Mughal soldiers launched attacks on the enemy's camp. On the advice of his Indian allies, Babur also ordered a night attack, which was successful as the Mughal soldiers managed to get very close to the enemy's camp without being noticed. Humayun also led an advance with his troops but did not receive any response from the enemy.
• Babur received news on April 20th that the enemy was approaching in battle formation. His army, which consisted of 12,000 horsemen and various Afghan and Turk adventurers, was divided into four parts: vanguard, left wing, right wing, and center. 
• The Baburnama provides a list of the commanders for each wing of the army. Humayun, Khwaja Kalan, Sultan Muhammad Duldai, and Hindu Beg were placed on the right, while the left was led by SI. Mirza Mahdi Khwaja, Adil Sultan, Shah Mir Husain, and SI. Junaid, among others. 
• Chin-timur Sultan and Sulaiman Mirza were given special responsibility for the right of the center, and Khalifa Khwaja Mir-i-miran for the left. Khusrau and Abdul Aziz were in charge of the advance and the reserve, respectively. The turning party (tidghuma) at the point where the right and left wings met was also arranged accordingly.

Inferiority of the Afghan Army under Ibrahim's Command Compared to the Mughals

• The Afghan army, which was estimated to have around 100,000 men and 1000 elephants, was mainly composed of mercenaries who were much less disciplined, trained, and courageous compared to the Mughals. Their supreme commander, Ibrahim, was no match for Jahiruddin Babur in terms of organization, planning, and military strategy. 
• Babur criticized Ibrahim for being ruled by greed and having an insatiable desire to accumulate wealth, which made it difficult for him to motivate his soldiers. Babur also noted that Ibrahim did not provide adequate resources for military operations and failed to perfect any tactics for fighting, moving or standing. 
• When asked by Darwish-i-muhammad Sarban how Ibrahim could possibly succeed with such precautions, Babur scoffed at the comparison of Ibrahim to the Auzbeg Khans and Sultans, pointing out that Ibrahim lacked their expertise in military operations and planned movements under arms.
• At the beginning of the battle, Ibrahim's army advanced towards Babur's right wing, but they were surprised and weakened by the reinforced front line defenses, which included Abdul-aziz on the right reserve. Babur launched a second attack, with turning parties firing arrows at the enemy's rear, right, and left forces. 
• His right and left wings engaged the advancing enemy forces. The Afghan army had planned to concentrate their attack on Babur's right wing in order to cut off his connection with the city and break through the center. However, Babur repeatedly sent fresh troops to the wing, thwarting the enemy's plan. The match-lock of Ustad Ali Quli Khan and the cannons of Mustafa inflicted severe damage on the Afghan forces, causing widespread havoc.
• According to Babunidmd, the battle's concluding moment is depicted as follows: Babur's army surrounded the enemy on their right, left, center, and turning parties, relentlessly shooting arrows at them and engaging in combat. 
• Although the enemy made a couple of small charges against Babur's right and left wings, they were unable to advance due to the constant barrage of arrows from Babur's men. The enemy's right and left forces were so densely packed that they couldn't move forward against Babur's army, nor could they find a way to escape.

The Sultan's Last Stand

• During the battle, many of the Sultan's soldiers were killed, and he himself was standing with some of his men nearby when Mahmud Khan approached him and suggested that he leave the battlefield. Mahmud Khan believed that the Sultan should prioritize his safety so that he could regroup and launch another attack against the Mughals in the future. 
• The Sultan acknowledged Mahmud Khan's advice but insisted that it would be a disgrace for a king to flee from the battlefield. He pointed out that many of his nobles, companions, well-wishers, and friends had already sacrificed their lives for the cause, and his horses were covered in blood up to their chests. 
• He also expressed his disillusionment with life, given that he was no longer able to govern the empire as he pleased and fortune had favored the Mughals. In the end, the Sultan, along with his 5,000 brave horsemen, rushed into the thick of the battle and fought fiercely against the Mughals, killing many of them. Despite his valiant efforts, the Sultan was ultimately martyred towards the end of the day.
• According to the Tarikh-i’Salatin-i-Afghana, the Afghan soldiers were demoralized due to Ibrahim's ill treatment and the disapproval of his amirs, despite being numerically superior to Babur's forces. Nonetheless, the battle was intense and more desperate than any other. 
• The astrologers had predicted Ibrahim's defeat. The text also states that Ibrahim died where his tomb now stands, and Babur, despite his low opinion of Ibrahim's military capabilities, lifted his head and paid homage to his bravery. 
• He ordered for brocade and sweetmeats to be prepared and instructed Dilawar Khan and Khalifa to bathe the corpse and bury it on the spot. It shows that although Babur did not think much of Ibrahim as a military strategist, he still respected his adversary's valor and courage in his final moments.
• Sher Shah, before his death, expressed his regret for his past actions and wished to honor the memory of Ibrahim Lodi and the Chagtai Sultans who were killed by him. He wanted to build two monuments in their memory with such grand architecture that everyone, regardless of being a friend or foe, would admire and respect it. The purpose was to keep their names respected and honored until the end of time.
• The first battle of Panipat, fought in 1526, was a pivotal battle just like the second battle of Tarain in 1192. It not only determined the outcome of the first Afghan empire, but also led to the transfer of Haryana to the Mughals for many centuries to follow.
• Babur's stay at Panipat for approximately seven days is recorded in the Tarikh-i’Salatin-i-Afghana. During this time, he acquired Ibrahim Lodi's treasury, which included 1,500 elephants, 27,000 horses, and other military equipment. Additionally, he won the favor of notable figures in the town by treating them generously. 
• Sultan Muhammad Aughuli, who had served excellently in the battle, was appointed as Governor of Panipat with 10,000 horsemen under his command, and one crop's revenue was given for their upkeep. Babur's contributions to the town included constructing a tomb in Ibrahim Lodi's memory, a mosque, a tank, and a garden known as Kabuli Bagh. 
• Babur then traveled to Sonipat, where he received submission from the businessmen, soldiers, and village elders and rewarded them accordingly. After this, Babur camped near the fort of Indrapat for over a month because it was a pleasant location.

Afghan Resistance to Mughal Rule in Haryana

• After the establishment of Mughal rule in Haryana, there were challenges to their authority. Hamid Khan Saranghkhani led a rebellion of Afghans in the vicinity of Hisar-Firuzah, numbering around 3000 to 4000. 
• To quell the disturbance, Babur sent several of his lieutenants including Chin-timur Sultan, Ahmadi ParwanchU Abul Path Turkman, Malik Dad Kararani and Mujahid Khan of Multan on November 21, 1526. The Mughal forces attacked suddenly and fiercely near Hisar, causing the Afghans to give way. Many fled and the remaining were put to death. As a result, Hisar was completely subdued by the Mughals. 
• Hasan Khan Mewati, the ruler of Mewat, led a rebellion after the first battle of Panipat. His son, Nahar Khan, had fought alongside Ibrahim Lodi and was captured by Babur. Some of Babur's advisors suggested releasing Nahar Khan as a way to win over Hasan Khan, but this did not work. Instead, Hasan Khan joined Rana Sanga in causing more trouble. 
• Babur regretted this tactical mistake in his memoirs and blamed the former Sultans for their inability to control Mewat and bring it under their authority. 
• Ahmad Yadgir's Tarikh-i’Salatin-i-Afghana shows that the conflict was not solely between Hindus and Muslims but rather a collective national endeavor against a common foe of the country. The evidence for this can be found in the following excerpt from Yadgir's writings.
• According to the Tarikh-i’Salatin-i-Afghana, Rana Sanga, who was a strong leader at the time, sent a message to Hasan Khan Mewati stating that the Mughals had invaded Hindustan, killed Sultan Ibrahim, and taken control of the country. 
• He believed that the Mughals would send an army against them and proposed that they join forces to resist the enemy. Hasan Khan agreed to Rana Sanga's proposal. This indicates that the conflict was not just between Hindus and Muslims, but a collective national effort against a common enemy of the country.

Babur's Generosity towards Mewatis

• After Rana Sanga and Hasan Khan Mewati joined forces against Babur, Hasan Khan fought valiantly against the Mughal invader with his 12,000 troops in the battle of Khanwa on March 17, 1527, as he had promised. However, when Hasan Khan's son, Nahar Khan, requested peace after the battle, Babur displayed magnanimity by forgiving him and restoring him to favour. 
• In recognition of Nahar Khan's support, Babur granted him a Jagir of several lakhs worth of land. Additionally, Babur gave Chin-Timur Tijara town, which was the seat of power of the Mewatis, and provided an allowance of 50 laks for its maintenance.
• The people of Kaithal, led by a Rajput named Mohan Mundahir, also rebelled against Babur's rule. The Tarikh-i-Salatin-i-Afghana provides detailed information on Babur's punitive expedition against Mohan, which was sent from Sirhind after a complaint from the Qazi of Samana. 
• Although this passage is not present in Babur's own memoirs, it is considered to be a contemporary source due to its precise details. According to Beveridge, it is possible that this source was the missing continuation of Babur's diary. The royal library that held the diary had undergone changes under Humayun's reign, making it difficult to determine the accuracy of this claim.
• On his return journey from Lahore, Babur received a report in Sirhind about Mohan Mundahir's assault on the Qazi of Samana's lands. This attack involved burning, looting, and the killing of the Qazi's son. In response, Babur directed Aliquli of Hamadan to lead 3000 horses towards Mohan's village in the Kaithal tehsil of Kurukshetra district. 
• However, the intense cold weather conditions made it difficult for the soldiers to fight, and even the archers had difficulty pulling their bows. Despite their best efforts, the brave villagers led by Mohan proved difficult to defeat.
• Upon hearing about this setback, Babur sent Tarsam Bahadur and Naurang Beg with a reinforcement of 6000 horses and many elephants to Mohan's village. Arriving at night, they strategized and divided themselves into three divisions, with one group attacking the enemy from the west side of the village.
• As planned, one division of the Mughal forces attacked the village, but the villagers quickly responded with a counter-attack. In an attempt to deceive the villagers, the Mughal forces pretended to retreat and ran away, leading the Mundahirs to pursue them about two miles away from their village. This provided Tarsam Bahadur with the opportunity to attack the remaining villagers and set the village on fire.
• The horrific sight of their burning village caused the Mundahirs to return, but they were soon trapped by the Mughals. Known for their cruelty, the Mughals punished the Mundahirs severely. They took around 1000 men, women, and children as prisoners and killed some of them, creating a pile of their heads. The leader of the Mundahirs, Mohan, was captured and later buried up to his waist before being executed with arrows.
• According to reports, after his time in Sirhind, Babur spent around two months hunting in the vicinity of Delhi. It has been suggested, as noted by Beveridge, that he may have gone hunting in Nardak, located in Kurukshetra, which was a preferred location for Timurids and could have been a follow-up to the punitive expedition in Kaithal.
• To ensure effective governance, Babur divided Haryana into four sarkars, which were Sirhind, Hisar-i-Firuzah, Delhi, and Miwat. Additionally, he assigned his trusted officers Ahsan Taimur and Bughra Sultan to manage the jagir of Narnaul and Samsabad, respectively.