The Battle of Ghaghra was fought between Emperor Zahir ud-Din Muhammad Babur and the Eastern Afghan Confederates under Sultan Mahmud Lodi and Sultanate of Bengal, Nusrat Shah. The battle was fought in 1529.
Background
The first Battle of Panipat
was fought between Babur's forces and Ibrahim Lodi's troops on 21 April 1526.
Ibrahim Lodi, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate was defeated in the battle,
which paved the way for beginning of the Mughal era in India. Babur became the
ruler of Delhi and Agra.
After the battle Sultan
Mahmud Lodi, the brother of Ibrahim Lodi declared himself Sultan and continued
to resist Mughal forces. Later he joined Rana Sanga of Mewar and provided
10,000 Afghan soldiers to Rana Sanga against Babur in battle of Khanwa in 1527.
After the defeat of Rana Sanga in the battle, Sultan Mahmud Lodi fled eastwards
and found shelter under Sultan Nusrat Shah of Bengal.
Now, Sultan Mahmud Lodi established
himself in Bihar and gathered a large army. At the head of this force he
advanced on Banaras and proceeded beyond it as far as Chunar. He laid siege to
the fortress of Chunar, but as Babur proceeded against him and drove them into
Bengal.
Babur decided to put an end
to the threats from Sultan Mahmud Lodi. But Babur was at peace with Sultan
Nusrat Shah with whom Sultan Mahmud Lodi taken shelter. So Babur opened
negotiations with Sultan Nusrat Shah, but this never created a war.
Babur decided to bring them
to battle, he sent an ultimatum for a passage on the confluence of the Ganga
and its tributary to Sultan Nusrat Shah. But due to the negotiations of Babur
in past Sultan refused for a passage.
Babur declared a war against Sultan
Mahmud Lodi and Sultanate of Bengal, Nusrat Shah in 1529.
Battle
The forces of Emperor Babur
and the Eastern Afghan Confederates under Sultan Mahmud Lodi and Sultanate of
Bengal, Nusrat Shah met on the confluence of the Ganga and its tributary, the
Ghagara, on 6th May, 1529. A fierce battle was fought between them. Though,
boats and artillery were used by both sides the Afghans under Sultan Mahmud Lodi
and Sultan Nusrat Shah were defeated.
After the battle
This victory was decisive in
its consequences. Babur became the sovereign of Bihar, and the Afghan chiefs
joined him with their troops. Now Babur got full control from the Indus to
Bihar and from the Himalayas to Gwalior and Chanderi.
The Sultan of Bengal Nusrat
Shah accepted peace proposals of Babur.
Death of Babur
Later Babur died on December
26, 1530 at the age of 47 due to an unknown illness caused by heavy drinking and Hashish intoxication and was buried in Agra. He was succeeded by his
eldest son, Humayun.
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