Battle of Mardanpur

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Battle of Mardanpur
Part of the Maratha–Sikh Clashes
Date1794
Location
Mardanpur, Patiala
Result Sikh victory
Belligerents
Patiala flag.svg Patiala Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Maratha Confederacy
Commanders and leaders
Patiala flag.svg Bibi Sahib Kaur
Patiala flag.svg Sardar Tara Singh Ghaiba
Patiala flag.svg Raja Bhag Singh
Patiala flag.svg Jodh Singh
Patiala flag.svg Bhanga Singh
Patiala flag.svg Mehtab Singh
Patiala flag.svg Dip Singh
Patiala flag.svg Bir Singh
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Lakshmi Rao
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Ghanta Rao
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Anta Rao
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Lachhman Rao
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Ranjit Rao
Strength
7,000 [1] 12,000 [2]
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Battle of Mardanpur was fought between the Sikh forces of Patiala state led by Bibi Sahib Kaur and the Maratha forces led by Lakshmi Rao.

Contents

Background

In 1794, a large force led by Lakshmi Rao, Anta Rao and Lachhman Rao crossed the Yamuna and marched towards Patiala. [3] Raja Bhag Singh of Jhind, Jodh Singh of Kalsia, Bhanga Singh and Mehtab Singh of Thanesar and the Bhadaur sardars Dip Singh and Bir Singh agreed to join her while Sardar Tara Singh Ghaiba sent a detachment. These forces combined numbered around 7,000. They marched to meet the Marathas at Mardanpur. [4]

Battle

The Marathas had initially defeated the Sikh contingent, and the latter retreated to Rajpura. Sahib Kaur, following an impassioned speech, rallied the Sikhs to return to Patiala and once again fight the Marathas. The next day, the Sikhs attacked the advance guard of the Marathas, who were later reinforced by the remaining army. During the night, after both sides had retreated to their camps, the Sikhs made a surprise attack on Madho Rao who was busy performing the funerary rites of his dead soldiers, however, the Marathas successfully prevented the Sikhs from infiltrating their camp. Following another attack by the Sikhs before dawn, the Marathas retired to Karnal. [3]

References

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