Battle of Pilsud

Last updated

Battle of Pilsud
Date10 May 1715 [1]
Location
Result Jaipur Victory [1] [2] [3]
Belligerents
Flag of Jaipur.svg Jaipur state Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg  Maratha Kingdom
Afghan chieftains
Commanders and leaders
Flag of Jaipur.svg Jai Singh II
Flag of Jaipur.svg Chhatrasal Bundela
Flag of Jaipur.svg Budh Singh Hada
Flag of Jaipur.svg Dhiraj Singh Khichi
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Kanhoji Bhonsle
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Khanderao Dabhade
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Ganga Rao
Dilir Khan
Inayat Khan
Strength
10,000 Rajputs [1] [2] 42,000 Marathas [1] [2]
12,000 Afghans [1] [2]

The Battle of Pilsud was fought between Sawai Jai Singh and the Marathas under Kanhoji Bhonsle and Khanderao Dabhade.

Contents

Background

There were many troubles for Jai Singh II when he was the governor of Malwa, in order to deal with the turbulent bands of marauders, Jai Singh had maintained an army of 10,000 soldiers, which included the clansmen of Budh Singh Hada and Chatrasal Bundela. The army was well equipped and included a contingent of musketeers and artillery. Jai Singh had a good start in his governorship as there were no Maratha raids during the winters. Jai Singh took advantage of this and wiped out the local rebels and raiders. On 13 August 1714 the Emperor sent Jai Singh a Robe of Honour and said "you have not left any trace of the robbers; travellers can now pass in peace". Jai Singh also repelled the Afghan chieftain called Inayat, who was raiding Ujjain. On 25 March 1714 Jai Singh defeated Dilir Khan at Kashigaon and on 14 April he defeated Mohan Singh Umat and the Rohilla mercenaries. [1] In 1715 Jai Singh expelled the Maratha raider called Ganga and then marched towards Sironj, where he defeated the Afghans. The Afghans under Dilir Khan called the Marathas for help against Jai Singh II. The Jaipur raja upon getting to know about the large host of Marathas that were approaching, quickly attacked Dilir. On 2 April, he attacked the Afghan army of 12,000 men and defeated them. 2000 Afghans were killed in battle while the Jaipur army lost 500 men. [1] Jai Singh then turned towards the Afghan camp in Bhilsa and devastated it. [1] [2]

Battle

It was at this time that reports started coming about two large Maratha armies that had entered Malwa. Kanhoji Bhonsle and Khande Rao Dabhade with an army of 42,000 men had crossed the Narmada River on 1–2 April and had made their camps at Tilwara. [1] they pillaged within 4 miles of the provincial capital and looted and burnt the city of Depalpur. On 5 April the Marathas sent an army of 12,000 horsemen to Barwah and they marched around Indore and demanded chauth from the province of Kampel. [1] Upon knowing of these developments, Jai Singh quickly marched towards Ujjain and sent his deputy to secure his capital. On 8 May, the Jaipur Raja moved towards the Marathas, while the Maratha commanders, Kanho and Ganga were deciding how to cross Narmada with all the loot they had collected. Jai Singh force marched towards them crossing 38 miles and arrived before the Maratha camp on 10 May. The Marathas upon seeing the small Jaipur army became confident upon their numbers and advanced to fight them. The travel-worn Rajputs also advanced, Budh Singh Hada, Chatrasal Bundela, Dhiraj Singh Khichi and several minor Jagirdars were under the command of Jai Singh II. After a fight of four hours, the Marathas broke and started fleeing. [1] The Marathas fled six miles away from the field of battle into the mountains of Pilsud and were confidently marching in the mountainous region, thinking that they had escaped. However Jai Singh chased them the whole night and caught up to them on 11 May. Upon seeing the Jaipur army, the Marathas fled to the Narmada River and left all of their loot. [1] [2]

Aftermath

The Maratha army were forced to leave two months worth of loot, that they had acquired from Malwa and Khandesh. Jai allowed his men to keep the spoils of war. "everyone gained booty enough to feed him for years". [1] [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bajirao I</span> Prime minister of the Maratha Empire (reigned 1720–40)

Bajirao I was the 7th Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy. He after Shivaji, is considered to be the most charismatic and dynamic leader in Maratha history. He was just twenty years old and already had a reputation for rapid decisions and a passion for military adventure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maratha Confederacy</span> Indian political entity (1674–1818)

The Maratha Confederacy, also referred to as the Maratha Empire was an early modern polity in the Indian subcontinent comprising the realms of the Peshwa and four major independent Maratha states who were often subordinate to the former. It was formed in 1674 with the coronation of Shivaji of the House of Bhonsle as the Chhatrapati of the Marathas. The Maratha realm was recognised by Bahadur Shah I, the Mughal emperor, as a tributary state in 1707 after a prolonged rebellion. The Marathas continued to recognise the emperor as their nominal suzerain similar to other contemporary Indian entities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammad Shah</span> Mughal emperor from 1719 to 1748

Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Muḥammad Shah was the thirteenth Mughal emperor from 1719 to 1748. He was son of Khujista Akhtar, the fourth son of Bahadur Shah I. After being chosen by the Sayyid Brothers of Barha, he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, under their strict supervision.

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

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandsaur</span> City in Madhya Pradesh, India

Mandsaur is a city and a municipality in Mandsaur district located on the border of Mewar and Malwa regions of Madhya Pradesh, a state in Central India. It is the administrative headquarters of Mandsaur District. The ancient Pashupatinath Temple is located in Mandsaur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawai Jai Singh</span> Maharaja of Amber (1688–1743)

Sawai Jai Singh II, was the 29th Kachwaha Rajput ruler of the Kingdom of Amber, who later founded the fortified city of Jaipur and made it his capital. He became the ruler of Amber at the age of 11, after the death of his father, Mirza Raja Bishan Singh, on 31 December 1699.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shahu I</span> Chhatrapati of the Marathas from 1707–1749

Shahu I was the fifth Chhatrapati of the Maratha Confederacy founded by his grandfather, Shivaji I. He was born into the Bhonsle family, and was the son of Sambhaji I and Yesubai. At a young age, he was taken into custody at the Siege of Raigad by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, and held captive. He was released from captivity after the death of Aurangzeb in the hope of engineering an internecine struggle among the Maratha factions of Tarabai and Shahu. Shahu emerged victorious in the bloody Battle of Khed and was crowned as Chhatrapati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madho Singh I</span> Maharaja of Amber (1728–1768)

Sawai Madho Singh I was the Kachwaha Rajput ruler of the Kingdom of Jaipur. He was the younger son of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and younger half brother of Sawai Ishwari Singh. He became ruler of Jaipur after his brother Sawai Ishwari Singh died in 1750.

<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">Kingdom of Amber</span> Princely state in northwest India (1028–1949)

The Kingdom of Amber, also known as Kingdom of Dhundhar, and Jaipur State, was located in the north-eastern historic Dhundhar region of Rajputana and was ruled by the Kachwaha Rajput clan. It was established by Dulha Rai, possibly the last ruler of the Kachchhapaghata dynasty of Gwalior who migrated to Dausa and started his kingdom there with the support of Chahamanas of Shakambhari in the 12th century. Mostly through 12th to 15th century, the kingdom faced stagnation, sources were scarce. Under its ruler, Raja Chandrasen of Amber became a Sisodia vassal and fought in the Battle of Khanwa under Raja Prithviraj Kachhwaha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jai Singh I</span> Maharaja of Amber (1611–1667)

Mirza Raja Jai Singh I was the senior most general and a high ranking mansabdar at the imperial court of Mughal Empire as well as the Kachwaha ruler of the Kingdom of Amber. His predecessor was his grand uncle, Mirza Raja Bhau Singh, the younger son of Mirza Raja Man Singh I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raghoji I of Nagpur</span> King of Nagpur from 1739–1755

Raghoji I was a Maratha general of the Bhonsle clan who established the Nagpur Kingdom in much of east-central India during the reign of Chhatrapati Shahu I. His successors ruled the kingdom until 1853.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Marwar</span> Kingdom in Rajasthan, India, 1243 to 1818

Kingdom of Marwar, also known as the Jodhpur State under the British, was a kingdom in the Marwar region from 1243 to 1818 and a princely state under British rule from 1818 to 1947. It was established in Pali by Rao Siha, possibly a migrant Gahadavala noble, in 1243. His successors continued to struggle against regional powers for domination and 9 out of 15 rulers till 1438 died in combat. In 1395, its capital was changed to Mandore by Rao Chunda of Mandore and to Jodhpur in 1459 by Rao Jodha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malwa Subah</span>

The Malwa Subah was one of the original twelve Subahs (provinces) of the Mughal Empire, including Gondwana, from 1568-1743. Its seat was Ujjain. It shared borders with the autonomous and tributary chiefdoms in the east, as well as Berar, Kandesh, Ahmadnagar (Deccan), Gujarat, Ajmer, Agra, and Allahabad subahs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailana State</span> Princely state of India

Sailana State was an 11 gun salute princely state in India, part of the Malwa Agency of Central India during the British Raj. The state enjoyed an estimated revenue of Rs.5,00,000.

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 leadership. In the battle, Madho Singh defeated ishwari Singh in a 6-day engagement with help of Marathas and Kingdom of Bundi.

The Battle of Rajamahal was a military engagement fought in 1747 in Jaipur, India. The battle was fought between the forces of Sawai Maharaja Ishwari Singh and Maharana Jagat Singh, who wanted to make his nephew Madho Singh the Maharaja of Jaipur or secure a Jagir for him, he built an alliance with the Maratha's under Khanderao Holkar and the Hada clan of Bundi and Kota. The battle resulted in a decisive victory for Ishwari Singh's forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajput Rebellion (1708–1710)</span> Rajput Rebellion 1708–1710

The Rajput rebellion began in 1708, due to the harsh treatment of the Rajput Rajas by the Mughal emperor. It erupted into a two-year rebellion that forced the Mughal emperor to sue for peace, give them gifts, and restore the Rajput holdings which had been annexed by the previous Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Balapur</span> 18th century battle in India

The Battle of Balapur marked a civil conflict among Mughal leaders, triggered by the uprising of the Sayyid Brothers. This uprising led to a decline in the status of other Mughal leaders.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Sarkar, Jadunath (1984). History of Jaipur: C. 1503-1938. Orient Longman. pp. 163–166. ISBN   9788125003335 . Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gupta & Bakshi, R.K.& S.R. (2008). Rajasthan Through the Ages vol. 4. Sarup & Sons. pp. 91, 92. ISBN   9788176258418 . Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  3. Bhatnagar, V.S. (1974). Life and times of Sawai Jai Singh. Impex India. pp. 116–117.