Battle of Bhopal

Last updated
Battle of Bhopal
Part of Maratha–Nizam War
Date24 December 1737
Location
Result Maratha victory
Territorial
changes
Mughal Empire ceded territory of Malwa to the Marathas
Belligerents
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Maratha Confederacy Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Mughal Empire
 Flag of the State of Hyderabad (18th century-1900).svg Nizam of Hyderabad
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Baji Rao Flag of the State of Hyderabad (18th century-1900).svg Asaf Jah I
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Saadat Ali Khan
Strength
80,000 light cavalry [1] 70,000 with 120 cannons drawn by war-elephant corps, 3,000 Camel-drawn Zamburak gunnery [2] [1]
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Battle of Bhopal was fought on 24 December 1737 in Bhopal between the Maratha Empire and the combined army of the Nizam and several Mughal generals in which Marathas under Bajirao I were victorious. [3]

Contents

Background

As the Mughal Empire continued to weaken after Aurangzeb's death, the Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I invaded Mughal territories of Malwa and Gujarat. The Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah was alarmed by the Marathas' conquest. Initially, Maratha war-bands that entered the province from the south (Deccan) were constantly defeated and repulsed by Jai Singh II, the Subahdar of Malwa. [4] [5] In 1737, the Marathas invaded the northern frontiers of the Mughal Empire, reaching as far as the outskirts of Delhi, Bajirao was defeated by a Mughal army there and was marching back to Pune. [6]

Battle

The battle was fought between the Maratha Empire and Mughal forces led by the Nizam of Hyderabad near Bhopal in India in December 1737. The Marathas poisoned the water and the replenishment supplies of the besieged Mughal forces. Chimaji was sent with an army of 10,000 men to stop any reinforcements while Bajirao blockaded the city instead of directly attacking the Nizam. The Nizam sued for peace after he was denied reinforcements from Delhi. [1]

Aftermath

On 7 January 1738, a peace treaty known as Treaty of Bhopal was signed in Doraha near Bhopal and the Mughals agreed to pay 5,000,000 Rupees as war expenses to the Marathas. [7] [1] The Marathas were given the territory of Malwa. [1]

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References

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