Battle of Pratapgarh
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Battle of Pratapgad was a land battle that took place on November 10, 1659 at the fortPratapgarh the city of Satara, Maharashtra, India between the Maratha Chhatrapati Shivaji and the Afzal Khan of Adilshah. The Marathas defeated the Adilshahi forces. Adilshahi forces were 20000 strong against 10,000 light maratha cavalry and light infantry.
| Battle of Pratapgarh | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part of the Imperial Maratha Conquests | ||
| Date: November 10, 1659 | ||
| Place: Pratapgarh, Maharashtra, India | ||
| Outcome: Decisive victory for Marathas | ||
| Combatants | ||
| Maratha Empire | Adilshahi forces | |
| Commanders | ||
| Shivaji | Afzal Khan | |
| Strength | ||
| 10,000 | 25,000 | |
| Casualties | ||
| 1,734 | 5,000 | |
The battle is known for personal combat of Shivaji and Afzal Khan, followed by a classic jungle warfare in the forest of Javali near Mahabaleshwar.
Contents |
[edit] Background
Shivaji held a commendable position in 12 maval regions. The Bijapur court wanted to curb his activities. Hence Afzal Khan, a renowned general of Bijaur, who had previously killed Shivaji's brother in battle, was selected to lead an assault against Shivaji. He started from Bijapur in June 1659.
[edit] Battle
[edit] Composition of Adilshahi forces
Afzal Khan was assisted by other chieftains Sayyad Banda, Fazal Khan, Ambarkhan, Yakutkhan, Siddi Hilal, Musekhan, Pilaji Mohite, Prataprao More and many more commanders of note. It consisted of selected 12,000 cavalry of Adilshahi which was well known. In addition 10,000 infantry and 1500 musketeers were deployed apart from 85 elephants and 1200 camels. A small artillery of 80-90 canon was attached. Siddi of Janjira was ready from Konkan side. AdilShah was watching activities of Shahaji.
[edit] Compositions of Maratha forces
Shivaji was assisited by Kanhoji Jedhe along with other Deshmukhs of maval region namely Maral, Dhamale, Silimkar, Bandal, Dhor. Cavalry was commanded by Netaji Palkar. Moropant was in command of 3000 chosen infantry men, who were positioned in densely forested areas. Sambhaji Kavaji,Yesaji Kank,Jiva mahala and many other skilled military leaders were in charge of them. Netaji commanded the cavalry and was placed in a forward position in the vicinity of the fort. Moropant took the position in the jungle with his light infantry. Kanhoji Jedhe assisted Shivaji directly along with other commanders. Shahaji was ready in Banglore with his 10,000 or more force for a final battle in case Shivaji and his forces are routed by Khan.
[edit] Movement and clash of forces
Shivaji had encamped at Pratapgad Fort, which was strategically advantageous for mountainous infantry action. Afzal Khan tried to garner support of local militarily independent landlords of the mountainous region who nominally acknowledged the suzerainty of Adilshah. But the powerful baron Kanhoji Jedhe, as directed by Shahaji, helped Shivaji to counter these moves and attract their support.
[edit] Combat of Shivaji and Afzal Khan
Shivaji and Afzal Khan arranged a meeting at a shamiyana at the foothills of the fort Pratapgarh (Fortress of Valor). It was agreed that the two would meet unarmed, but were to bring with them ten personal bodyguards each, who were to remain at a distance of one 'arrow-shot' away. Nevertheless, Afzal Khan, as was his reputation for cunning, hid a 'katyar' (a small but very sharp dagger) in his coat. Shivaji pre-empted skullduggery on Khan's part (Khan had got Shivaji's elder brother killed and later conspired to get his father, Shahaji, arrested.) and came prepared. Amongst Shivaji's weapons was a small but effective weapon called wagh nakhi which literally means 'the claws of the tiger'. It consisted of an iron finger-grip with four razor claws which could be concealed in the clenched fist. As the two men entered the tent fixed for meeting, the 6-feet-tall overconfident Khan, having little difficulty hiding his swagger, lounged forward pretending of giving an open-armed hug, grabbed the 5'7" Shivaji in his left arm, swiftly drew the hidden dagger and stabbed Shivaji in his back. But, being prepared, Shivaji was wearing iron gear under his coat and was saved. Thus strikingly made aware of Khan's real intentions, Shivaji opened his fist and disembowelled the Khan with one swift stroke of his "wagh nakhi". Stunned by this sudden turn of events Khan rushed outside shouting for help. Krishanaji Bhaskar Kulkarni, Khan's emissary tried to give battle, Shivaji warned him ;but when he went offensive, Shivaji cut him into pieces. Meanwhile Khan's bodyguard, Sayyad Banda, (each had agreed for one guard be placed immediately outside the tent), pounced on Shivaji on hearing Khan's cries. Before he could strike again, Shivaji's bodyguard, Jiva Mahala, who too rushed inside hearing the pandemonium, slashed him with his sabre. (The pithy Marathi phrase: 'Hota Jiva Mhanun Vachala Shiva’ - 'As there was Jiva, so lived Shiva' - owes its origin to this miraculous act). Afzal Khan managed to hold his gushing entrails and hurtled, faint and bleeding, outside the shamiyana and threw himself into his palanquin. The bearers hastily lifted their charge and began moving rapidly away down the slope when Sambhaji Kavji Kondhalkar, Shivaji's lieutenant and one of the distant guards, went in pursuit, and decapitated the Khan permanently.
Shivaji sped up the slope towards the fortress and his lieutenants ordered a concluding bugle to be sounded. It was a pre-determined signal to his infantry, which had been strategically placed in the densely covered valley, to commence battle, and save the Swaraj (freedom) which was in its infancy .
The severed head of Khan was sent to Rajgarh to be shown to Jijabai. She had long wanted vengeance for the deliberate maltreatment of Shahaji (Shivaji's father) in his captivity by Afzal Khan, and for getting her elder son, Sambhaji, killed through treachery.
[edit] Hand to hand combat of the forces
Maratha troops under Kanhoji Jedhe attacked 1500 muskeeters and routed them at the foothill of the fort. Then in a rapid march, a section of Adilshahi forces was attacked. It was commanded by Musekhan, who was wounded and had run away from the field. Moropant led the infantry on the left flank of the Adilshahi troops. The artillery was made effective. Ragho Atre attacked the cavalry and before they could mount, were wiped out. The cavalry under Netaji Palkar marched towards Vai in hot pursuit of Adilshahi forces stationed over there.
[edit] Treatment to captives
It was policy of Shivaji not to illtreat the defeated army .Neither their women were molested or nor they were sold like slaves. In pursuiant of this he honored wounded commanders and sent back the captive without their slaughter.
[edit] Honour
Shivaji had always honoured those who fought valiantly. On this occasion sword of honour was given to Kanhoji Jedhe. The relatives of the killed soldiers were recruited. Families without any male left behind were awarded with pension. Heroes of the war were showered with medals, kada (a kind of bracelet) and horses.
[edit] Outcome
Khan's death dealt to the Bijapur Sultan's rule a severe blow from which it never recovered until it was eventually eclipsed by the tyrannical Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
The Maratha's Swarajya on the other hand flourished and blossomed into a muscular Maratha Empire which later spread till Attock near present-day Afghanistan, the seeds of which were laid in this small but breathtaking event amidst the mountainous jungles of Maharashtra.
[edit] Casulities
In the overall combat Adilshahi lost 5000 troops, almost same number of troops were wounded.3,000 were imprisoned. Remaining run away. Marathas lost 1734 and 420 soldiers were wounded
[edit] QUOTES
These maharathi chieftains who had defeated the roving bands of Scythians, gold hungry hordes of Malik Kafur and destructive Bahamnani Mahmud Gawan! Again rose on the occasion and crushed the looting bandwagon of Bijapuri soldiers. Then they had given a response to the call by the legendary king Shalivahan and now they responded to the call by another legendary king Shivaji. Both were born, brought up and rose in the mountains of Sahyadris.Till today both these Maharathi kings are remembered through out the region. Incidentally both started a new era.
[edit] References
- Grant Duff - History of Marathas
- S.D.Samant - Vedh Mahamanvacha
- Capt. Modak G.V.-Battle of Pratapgarh
- Major Joshi Mukund-Battle of Pratapgarh- a new perspective
- Commandant Kasar D.B. - Rigveda to Raigarh making of Shivaji the great
- Balkrishna-Shivaji the great
