Battle of Salher

Battle of Salher
Part of Imperial Maratha Conquests
DateFebruary 1672
LocationSalher, Maharashtra, India
Result Decisive Maratha victory
Belligerents
Maratha Empire Mughal Empire (supported by Rajputs, Rohillas, and Pathans)
Commanders and leaders
Sardar Prataprao Gujar (Senapati)
Sardar Moropant Pingle (Peshwa)

Diler Khan (Mughal Viceroy of Deccan)
Bahadur Khan (Governor of Gujarat)[1]


Ikhas Khan
Bahlol Khan
Strength
25,000 (composing mostly infantry and cavalry) 50,000 (composing infantry, cavalry, war elephants, war camels, and artillery)
Casualties and losses
10,000 10,000

The Battle of Salher was a battle fought between the Maratha Empire and the Mughal Empire in 1672 CE. This battle is considered to be one of the bloodiest and significant in Indian medieval history. It has been touted by some as a very important landmark in the history of medieval India, since it is one of the very few whereby an Indian Hindu army defeated a Mughal one in an open battlefield conflict.[2]

Background

Emperor Shivaji turned his attention to Salher circa January 1671, personally leading his troops numbering 20,000 and scaling the fortress. Fatullah Khan, the commandant of the fort, fell fighting. The Mughals tried to recapture Salher circa January 1672 which resulted in the bloody Battle of Salher.[3]

Battle

Shivaji sent two of his military officers – Sardar Moropant Pingle (who served as Peshwa or First Minister) and Sardar Prataprao Gujar (who served as Senapati or Army Chief) to fight when Salher was besieged in 1672. [4] The Mughals, along with their co-belligerents (Rajputs, Pathans, and Rohillas) fought with artillery-swivels carried on elephants and camels. A great battle raged for an entire day and men were killed by the thousands (around 10,000 men on both sides fell dead). [5] The Maratha light cavalry proved better as compared to the apparent superiority of the Mughal military machine and the imperial Mughal armies were given a crushing defeat by the Maratha forces.[6][7] The Maratha forces captured 6,000 horses, as many camels, 125 elephants, and the entire Mughal supply train.[8] Ikhlas Khan and Bahlol Khan were captured and taken as prisoners of war

Outcome

Around a dozen Maratha sardars distinguished themselves in the battle by personal acts of valor and the two commanders (Sardar Moropant Pingle and Sardar Prataprao Gujar) were rewarded handsomely. The Maratha victory sent a strong signal that Shivaji was now was the most prominent Hindu chieftain in India. [9] Although not as a direct outcome of the battle, a couple of years later in 1674, Shivaji was crowned as an Emperor (or Chhatrapati) of his realm.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jaswant Lal Mehta (1981). Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India: 1526-1707. Sterling.
  2. ↑ Y.G. Bhave (2000). From the Death of Shivaji to the Death of Aurangzeb. Northern Book Centre.
  3. ↑ H.S. Sardesai (2002). Shivaji, the Great Maratha, Volume 2. Cosmo Publications.
  4. ↑ Verinder Grover (1996). Mahadev Govind Ranade, Volume 3. Deep & Deep Publications.
  5. ↑ H.S. Sardesai (2002). Shivaji, the Great Maratha, Volume 2. Cosmo Publications.
  6. ↑ Y.G. Bhave (2000). From the Death of Shivaji to the Death of Aurangzeb. Northern Book Centre.
  7. ↑ Jaswant Lal Mehta (1981). Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India: 1526-1707. Sterling.
  8. ↑ Pradeep Barua (2005). The State at War in South Asia. University of Nebraska.
  9. ↑ Pradeep Barua (2005). The State at War in South Asia. University of Nebraska.

Bibliography

Coordinates: 21°10′N 72°50′E / 21.167°N 72.833°E / 21.167; 72.833

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