The first battle of Panipat was fought between Babur's forces and Ibrahim Lodi's troops on 21 April 1526. Ibrahim Lodi, the last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate was defeated in the battle, which paved the way for beginning of the Mughal era in India.
Background:
Timur, the founder of Timurid dynasty ruled the Afghanistan and western Pakistan over the
years. Later on it passes to the Delhi sultans. Babur aimed to bring back Punjab
under his control, since it used to be part of his ancestor Timur's legacy. At
that time many of North Indian territories are under the charge of Sultan Sikindhar. After
the death of Sultan Sikindhar, fresh revolts ensued between Afghan nobles and
Lodi for charge of Delhi. When the crisis was extreme, Allah-u-din approached
Babur to help him in placing him on throne of Delhi. At the same time Daulat
Khan invited Babur to invade India and cut down the Ibrahim Lodi.
Babur found
disunity among them and taking it as advantage he agreed with Daulat Khan and
marched his army towards Lahore.
In the year 1524 Babur with the help of Daulat Khan fought against
Ibrahim Lodi,however Ibrahim Lodi routed his army. Babur realized that it was
not as easy as he thought to step into Delhi.
Battle:
On 21 April 1526, Babur with his 15000 men mounted at Panipat,
which was fifty miles away from Delhi. Ibrahim Lodi on other side
positioned with around 100000 soldiers. The day is getting hotter, the land is in
thirst for blood and the sword is waiting for corpse. Everyone knows that battle
is going to be a bloodiest ever.
Babur Strategies:
Babur having heard the size of Ibrahim Lodi army, he stepped
fore ward with his strategic moves. Babur wanted Ibrahim Lodi to be offensive. He
then divided his army into parts using a tactic called Tulghuma, which means
dividing whole army into Right part, Left part and Center part. Babur further subdivided
his Right and Left units into Rear and Forward units. Babur’s men surrounded
whole army of Ibrahim Lodi. Central unit of Babur’s men were provided with
chained carts(araba). The presence of chained carts confused Ibrahim Lodi
army. Once Babur men surrounded Lodis army, than they started attacking from all
sides with musket fire, cannon fire and cavalry. Babur’s army with the help of
two experienced Ottoman gunners used the
gunpowder against Lodi’s army. Lodi was surprised to see guns in battle for the
first time and his army has no answer for them. It took nearly three hours for
Ibrahim Lodi to know the strategy used by Babur and in three hours most of his
army was killed.
Babur with his war tactics defeated Ibrahim Lodi. Ibrahim Lodi died
on 21 April 1526.Thus Sulthan’s rule ended in India which resulted in
establishment of Mughal dynasty in India.
0 Comments