Battle of Kumher

Last updated

Battle of Kumher
Part of Maratha-Jat Wars
Date20 January 1754 – 18 May 1754
Location
Result Bharatpur victory [1]
Belligerents
Flag of Bharatpur1.png Kingdom of Bharatpur Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg  Maratha Confederacy
Flag of the Mughal Empire.png Mughal Empire
Flag of Jaipur.svg Jaipur State
Commanders and leaders
Flag of Bharatpur1.png Suraj Mal Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Raghunathrao
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Khanderao Holkar  
Flag of the Mughal Empire.png Imad-ul-Mulk
Flag of the Mughal Empire.png Amir Bakshi
Flag of Jaipur.svg Har Govind Natani
Strength
Unknown 80,000

The battle of Kumher was fought among Jats, Marathas and Mughals.

Battle

Kumher was founded by a Jat chieftain Kumbh. In 1754, when Suraj Mal was the king, the fort came under siege by Marathas, as peshwa Balaji Baji Rao's younger brother Raghunathrao (Supported by Scindias and Holkars) wanted to be subservient to them. However the siege did not succeed. In 1754, on behest of Mughal Emperor Alamgir II, Khanderao laid the siege of Kumher fort of Suraj Mal of Bharatpur, who had the sided with the Alamgir II's adversary Siraj ud-Daulah. [2] [3] [4] Soon after, Gaziuddin Khan, the Amir Bakshi or supreme commander of the Emperor's forces, allied with the Marathas, bringing with him a considerable force of royal troops estimated to be between twenty-five to thirty thousand strong. This alliance, combined with the remaining troops under the Har govind Natani of Jaipur, resulted in the complete encirclement of Kumbher by an overwhelming army of over 80,000 men. Notably, these soldiers were considered superior to any others present in the region at that time.Despite facing a formidable defense led by Suraj Mal against 80,000 men, including Malhar Rao Holkar and Imad-ul-Mulk, the besiegers were compelled to retreat. [5] [1] [6] [7]

At Kumher, Malhar Rao Holkar's son, Khande Rao, was killed by a Jat swivel-gun. Accounts vary: one suggests he was lured by a 'nautch' girl, another claims he was killed inspecting a battery. Sir Jadunath Sarkar suggests Khande Rao was shot while drunk inspecting trenches. Nine wives self-immolated on his pyre, except Ahilya Bai, pregnant then. Malhar Rao, grief-stricken, vowed revenge. Suraj Mal, unusually decent, sent condolences and robes. A temple marks Khande Rao's fall. [8] [7]

Following the retreat, the Jats, buoyed by their successes at Kumher, seized the opportunity to plunder the surrounding areas near the imperial capital. Subsequently, an understanding was brokered between Suraj Mal and Raghunath Rao. Suraj Mal pledged not to oppose the Marathas' incursions into North India, while Raghunath Rao agreed to accept the occupation of much of the territory of the Agra subah. This diplomatic arrangement greatly facilitated the territorial expansion of the Jat power.By 1758, these events had significantly altered the political landscape of the region, marking a crucial turning point in the power dynamics of North India. [1] [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balaji Baji Rao</span> 8th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire (1720–1761)

Balaji Baji Rao, often referred to as Nana Saheb I, was the 8th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire. He was appointed as Peshwa in 1740 upon the death of his father, the Peshwa Bajirao I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suraj Mal</span> Jat Maharaja of Bharatpur from 1755–1763

Maharaja Suraj Mal was a Jat ruler of Bharatpur in present-day state of Rajasthan. He is Known for his military prowess and administrative acumen, he established a prosperous kingdom in the region now encompassing parts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. Under him, the Jat rule covered the present-day districts of Agra, Alwar, Aligarh, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Etawa, Hathras, Mainpuri, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Mathura, and Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Nuh, Palwal, Faridabad, Kasganj, Mainpuri, Firozabad, Bulandshahr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chhatri</span> Elevated, dome-shaped pavilions in Indian architecture

Chhatri are semi-open, elevated, dome-shaped pavilions used as an element in Indo-Islamic architecture and Indian architecture. They are most commonly square, octagonal, and round. Originating as a canopy above tombs, they largely serve as decorative elements as opposed to functional elements. The earliest examples of chhatri being used in the Indian Subcontinent were found in the Shrine of Ibrahim in Bhadreswar, constructed between 1159 and 1175 AD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahilyabai Holkar</span> Ruler of Indore from 1767 to 1795

Ahilyabai Holkar, also spelled Ahalya Bai, was the Rani of Indore, within the Maratha Confederacy. She established Maheshwar as the seat of the Holkar Dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumher</span> Town in Rajasthan, India

Kumher is a historical town and land of Yaduvanshi Sinsinwars the initial name of this town was Kuber. It is located in Deeg District of Rajasthan, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malhar Rao Holkar</span> First Maharaja of Indore from 1731–1766

Malhar Rao Holkar was a noble subedar of the Maratha Empire, in present-day India. He was one of the early officers along with Ranoji Scindia to help spread the Maratha rule to northern states and was given the estate of Indore to rule by the Peshwas, during the reign of the Maratha emperor Shahu I. He was founder of the Holkar dynasty that ruled Malwa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jawahar Singh</span> Maharaja of Bharatpur from 1763–1768

Maharaja Jawahar Singh was a Jat ruler of the Bharatpur State. He succeeded to the throne when his father Suraj Mal died in 1763.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lohagarh Fort</span> Fort at Bharatpur District of Rajasthan

Lohagarh Fort is a fort located at Bharatpur in Rajasthan, India. It stands as a testament to the strength and ingenuity of the Jat rulers of Bharatpur, particularly Maharaja Suraj Mal, who commissioned its construction in 1732. The British army attempted 13 times to conquer this fort but they could not penetrate the fort even once out of 13 times. The inaccessible Lohagarh fort could withstand repeated attacks of British forces led by Lord Lake during The Siege of Bharatpur in 1805 when they laid siege for over six weeks yet failed in all four attempts to storm the fortress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yashwantrao Holkar</span> Maharaja of Indore from 1799 to 1811

Chakrāvarti Yashwant Rao Holkar (1776–1811) also known as Jaswantrao Holkar belonging to the Holkar dynasty of the Maratha Confederacy was the Maharaja of the Indore. He was a gifted military leader and educated in accountancy as well as literate in Persian and Marathi and Urdu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bharatpur State</span> Hindu Jat Kingdom

Bharatpur State, which is also known as the Jat State of Bharatpur historically known as the Kingdom of Bharatpur, was a Hindu Kingdom in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. It was ruled by the Sinsinwar clan of the Hindu Jats. At the time of reign of king Suraj Mal (1755–1763) revenue of the state was 17,500,000 rupees per annual. The major architecture of this state include Lohagarh Fort and Deeg Palace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III</span> Grand vizier of the Mughal Empire allied with the Maratha Empire

Feroze Jung III or Nizam Shahabuddin Muhammad Feroz Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi also known by his sobriquet Imad-ul-Mulk, was the grand vizier of the Mughal Empire when it was under Maratha suzerainty, making them the de facto rulers.

<i>The Great Maratha</i> Indian historical television drama

The Great Maratha is an Indian historical drama television series directed by Sanjay Khan and produced by Numero Uno International Limited. The drama aired on DD National. The series is based on the life of Mahadaji Shinde. The show comprised 47 episodes. The music was composed by Mohammed Zahur Khayyam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Male Rao Holkar</span> Maharaja of Indore from 1766–1767

Shrimant Subhedar Male Rao Holkar II Bahadur, belonging to the Holkar dynasty of the Marathas was the Maharaja of Indore. He was the only son of Khande Rao Holkar Bahadur, and his mother was Ahilya Bai Holkar.

Khanderao Holkar was the only son of Malhar Rao Holkar, the founder of the Holkar dynasty of Indore, and Gautama Bai. He was the husband of Ahilyabai Holkar. He served as a Maratha Sardar and fought several campaigns on behest of the Maratha empire.

The Battle of Bagru was a military engagement fought between multiple Indian kingdoms in 1748 near the town of Bagru, Jaipur, India. The battle was fought during a succession crisis following the death of Jai Singh II, which left Jaipur without effective Madho Singh defeated ishwari Singh in a 6 day with help of Marathas and kingdom of bundi.

The Safdarjung's rebellion took place on 10 March 1753.

Marathas under Raghunath Rao and Malhar Rao Holkar laid siege to the fort of Barwara. The fort was successfully defended by the garrison. After which the Marathas agreed to a smaller sum than what was initially demanded.

The Battle of Dholpur was fought between Maharaja Jawahar Singh of Bharatpur kingdom and Malhar Rao Holkar on 13 and 14 March 1766 A.D. near the city of Dholpur

The Battle of Sarai-Sobhachand was fought between the Jat ruler of Bharatpur kingdom- Maharaja Surajmal and his rival Mughal empire's Mir Bakshi Salabat Jung in 1750.

References

  1. 1 2 3 A Comprehensive History of India: 1712-1772, edited by A. C. Banerjee and D. K. Ghase. People's Publishing House. 1978. p. 496.
  2. Entwistle, A. W. (1987). Braj: Centre of Krishna Pilgrimage (illustrated ed.). E. Forsten. p. 554. ISBN   978-9-069-8-00165. ISSN   0924-8846.
  3. Gupta, Pratik (2014). Maratha Generals and Personalities: A gist of great personalities of Marathas. Pratik gupta. p. 190.
  4. Dabas, Bal Kishan (2001). The Political and Social History of the Jats. Sanjay Prakashan. p. 291. ISBN   978-8-174-5-30455.
  5. 1 2 Dwivedi, Girish Chandra; Prasad, Ishwari (1989). The Jats, Their Role in the Mughal Empire. Arnold Publishers. p. 169. ISBN   978-81-7031-150-8.
  6. Natwar Singh (1981). Maharaja Surajmal (Natwar Singh). pp. 50–51.
  7. 1 2 Gupta, Hari Ram (2021-06-13). Marathas And Panipat. Panjab University, 1961. p. 22.
  8. Natwar Singh (1981). Maharaja Surajmal (Natwar Singh). p. 53.

27°18′53″N77°22′45″E / 27.3148°N 77.3792°E / 27.3148; 77.3792