Battle of Pānīpat (1399)
The Battle of Pānīpat, fought on December 17, 1399, was a significant conflict between the forces of Tamerlane, a Central Asian conqueror, and Muḥammad ibn Tughluq, the Sultan of Delhi. Tamerlane aimed to capture the wealth of Delhi, also citing the city's treatment of non-Muslims as a motive for his campaign. Prior to this decisive battle, Tamerlane strategically positioned his infantry to absorb the initial impact of the fight while keeping his cavalry in reserve to exploit the enemy's disarray. The battle resulted in a devastating defeat for Tughluq’s forces, with thousands of Indian soldiers killed. This engagement marked a period of extensive violence and destruction in India, with Tamerlane's conquests leaving long-lasting impacts on the region. Following the battle, Delhi struggled to recover for over a century, illustrating the profound consequences of Tamerlane's campaign. The battle not only shaped the political landscape of the time but also had enduring effects on the cultural and economic fabric of India.
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Battle of Pānīpat (1399)
Type of action: Ground battle in Tamerlane’s invasion of India
Date: December 17, 1399
Location: Pānīpat, near Delhi
Combatants: Mongols vs. Moguls
Principal commanders:Mongols, Tamerlane (1336–1405); Moguls, Muhammad ibn Tughluq
Result: The expansion of Mongol dominion over Hindu India
Tamerlane’s goal was to seize the riches of Delhi, the Mogul capital, although his public motive was the city’s extreme generosity to non-Muslims. Before besieging Delhi, he launched a battle against Pānīpat, allowing his infantry to take the first shock of combat and restraining his cavalry until the enemy was in total disorder.
Tamerlane’s advance guard and right wing, under his grandson Pir-Muhammad, marched into the Punjab to seize Multan in the spring of 1398. The left wing, under another grandson, Muhammad Sultan, marched by way of Lahore. Tamerlane, with a small, special force, crossed the Hindu Kush before turning south to join the main body east of the Indus. After killing and plundering, he advanced on Delhi, engaging in the bloody battle against Muḥammad ibn Tughluq at Pānīpat on December 17, 1399, in which he slew thousands of Indian soldiers.
Significance
Tamerlane’s trail of bloodshed, plunder, and atrocity destroyed vast areas of India. Delhi did not rise from its ruins for more than a century.
Bibliography
Ahmad ibn Muhammad, ibn Arab’shah. Timur the Great Amir. Lahore, India: Progressive Books, 1976.
Bérinstain, Valerie. India and the Mughal Dynasty. New York: Abrams, 1998.
Hookham, Hilda. Tamburlane the Conqueror. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1962.
Joveyn, Ala-ed-Dīn ʾAta-Malik. The History of the World Conqueror. 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1958.