Battle of Pānīpat (1526)
The Battle of Pānīpat, fought on April 21, 1526, was a significant conflict that marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India. Led by Bābur, a descendant of the famed conqueror Tamerlane, this battle was instigated by the political turmoil surrounding the Delhi throne, then held by Sultan Ibrāhīm Lodī. Bābur, with an army of approximately 15,000, strategically positioned his forces at Pānīpat, employing a defensive formation that included wagons and artillery to create a stronghold. In contrast, Sultan Ibrāhīm commanded a much larger force of around 30,000 to 40,000 troops but initially hesitated to attack.
After several days of tension and failed provocations, Ibrāhīm launched an assault. However, Bābur's adept use of artillery and cavalry maneuvers led to a devastating defeat for Ibrāhīm's army, resulting in considerable casualties, with estimates of up to 20,000 soldiers lost. Following this victory, Bābur advanced to Delhi and established the Mughal Dynasty, which would have a lasting impact on Indian history. The battle is not only remembered for its military tactics but also for its role in shaping the political landscape of the region.
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Battle of Pānīpat (1526)
Type of action: Ground battle in the conquests of Bābur
Date: April 21, 1526
Location: Pānīpat, near Delhi, India
Combatants: 15,000 Moguls vs. 30,000-40,000 Hindus
Principal commanders:Mogul, Bābur (1483–1530); Hindustani, Sultan Ibrāhīm Lodī
Result: Mogul victory
Claiming to be an heir to the great conqueror Tamerlane, Bābur invaded India at the request of rivals for the Hindustani throne in Delhi, held by Sultan Ibrāhīm Lodī.
In the spring of 1526, with about 15,000 men, Bābur established a defensive position at the town of Pānīpat, about one hundred miles north of Delhi. He roped together seven hundred wagons into a line, leaving gaps for cavalry forays. Behind the wagons, he placed artillery and matchlock muskets. He anchored his position with Pānīpat on his right and a gully on his left.
Sultan Ibrāhīm arrived from Delhi on April 12, with perhaps 30,000 to 40,000 combat troops. They deployed opposite Bābur’s Moguls but did not attack. After a week’s inactivity, Bābur tried to provoke an assault. On the night of April 19, he sent 5,000 men toward Ibrāhīm’s camp, but at dawn they withdrew in confusion. That encouraged Ibrāhīm to launch his attack on the morning of April 21.
Ibrāhīm’s units marched in echelon across Bābur’s front toward an increasingly small point of attack on the Mogul right. As the Hindustani troops hesitated before the town, trying to reorganize themselves and launch their assault, Bābur’s gunners opened fire. As Ibrāhīm’s troops were being massacred, Bābur launched two cavalry attacks that encircled the Hindustanis, striking them from the rear. He then sent infantry and cavalry through the gaps in his own line, resulting in Ibrāhīm’s army being crushed from three sides. Between 15,000 and 20,000 Hindustanis died.
Significance
Bābur marched into Delhi and crowned himself sultan, establishing the Mogul Dynasty in India.
Bibliography
Bābur. The Babur-nama in English. London: Luzac, 1921.
Foltz, Richard. Mughal Indian and Central Asia. Karachi, India: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Habib, Irfan, ed. Akbar and His India. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.
Lane-Poole, Stanley. Medieval India Under Mohammedan Rule. Reprint. 1903. New York: Krause, 1970.