https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Battle_of_Taraori_%281759%29Battle of Taraori (1759) - Revision history2026-11-08T00:13:22ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Taraori_(1759)&diff=490186&oldid=prevKuldeep Singh Deep at 09:03, 25 December 20252025-12-25T09:03:00Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Maratha-Afghan battle}}<br />
{{Infobox military conflict<br />
| conflict = Battle of Taraori (1759)<br />
| partof = the [[Indian campaign of Ahmad Shah Durrani|Afghan–Maratha conflicts]]<br />
| date = 24 December 1759<br />
| place = [[Taraori]], [[Karnal district]]<br />
| result = Durrani victory<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mikaberidze |first=Alexander |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y6fOEAAAQBAJ |title=Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: 2 volumes [2 volumes] |date=2011-07-22 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-1-59884-337-8 |language=en|page=43}}</ref><br />
| combatant1 = [[File:Seal of Ahmad Shah Durrani.svg|18px]] [[Durrani Empire]]<br />
| combatant2 = {{flag|Maratha Empire}}<br>[[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] [[Mughal Empire]]<br />
| commander1 = [[File:Seal of Ahmad Shah Durrani.svg|18px]] '''[[Ahmad Shah Durrani]]'''<br>[[Jahan Khan (Afghan general)|Sardar Jahan Khan]]<br>Shah Pasand Khan<br />
| commander2 = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Dattaji Rao Scindia]]<br> [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] [[Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III|Imad-ul-Mulk]]<br />
| strength1 = >5,000 men<br />
| strength2 = Unknown<br />
| casualties1 = Unknown<br />
| casualties2 = 400 killed<br />
}}<br />
{{Indian Campaign of Ahmad Shah Durrani}}<br />
The '''Battle of Taraori''' in 1759 was a military engagement between the [[Durrani Empire|Durrani]] Empire and [[Maratha Empire]] and the Mughals in the fields of [[Taraori]], in which the Afghans were victorious.<br />
==Prelude==<br />
After [[Maratha conquest of North-west India|losing]] territories in northwest India, [[Ahmed Shah Durrani]] sought to avenge that defeat, reclaim his lost land, and punish the Marathas. In October, he invaded India<ref>Jaswant Lal Mehta, <br />
Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813, p. 263 [https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&dq=Battle+of+Taroari+1759&pg=PA266]</ref> at the invitation of figures from the Mughal Empire, including [[Shah Waliullah Dehlawi]], [[Madho Singh I]] and [[Vijay Singh of Marwar]]. Durrani, alongside his commander Jahan Khan, left Kandahar with a combined force of 60,000 troops.<ref>Jaswant Lal Mehta, p. 264</ref> On October 25th, the Afghans crossed the [[Indus River]]. Their arrival panicked the Marathas, who swiftly evacuated [[Multan]], allowing it to fall without resistance. [[Peshawar]] was also abandoned. Jahan Khan defeated the Marathas near [[Rohtas Fort]].<ref>Jaswant Lal Mehta, p. 264</ref> Another Maratha detachment near [[Lahore]] met a similar fate, forcing them to retreat to [[Batala]].<ref>Jaswant Lal Mehta, p. 265</ref> The Sikhs in Lahore fiercely resisted the Afghan advance but were ultimately defeated, leading to the capture of the city. [[Sirhind]], too, was deserted and captured by the Afghans on November 27th.<ref>Jaswant Lal Mehta, p. 266</ref><br />
==Battle==<br />
Abdali had reached [[Ambala]] and was kept informed of Maratha movements. The Maratha commander [[Dattaji Rao Scindia]] crossed the [[Yamuna]] river in order to block the passage to [[Delhi]]. Abdali, therefore, marched to battle the Marathas and oust them from Delhi, meanwhile, the Mughal vizier, Imad-ul-Mulk had also moved from Delhi with his troops and joined the Marathas at [[Karnal]]; the two armies collided in [[Taraori]] on 24 December,<ref>Jaswant Lal Mehta, p. 266</ref> and the combined Mughal-Marathas initially gained the upper hand as they routed the Afghans and chased them, Abdali, who was in close contact with his advanced guard, sent his general Shah Pasand Khan with a reinforcement of 5000 suddenly intercepted the pursuers, at this moment, the Mughal soldiers disengaged and deserted the battlefield, the Afghans launched their counterattack and poured the Marathas with Musket fire,<ref>Jaswant Lal Mehta, p. 266</ref> two additional detachments to cover their flanks, the marathas fought despretaley, after having broke their formations and surrounded from three sides, the front and the flanks and overwhelmed by superior numbers, the marathas guards were annihilated,<ref>Jaswant Lal Mehta, p. 267</ref> leaving 400 killed on the battlefield.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=UkDi6rVbckoC&dq=Taraori+(1760)&pg=PA39 Jaswant Lal Mehta, p. 30]</ref><br />
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==Aftermath==<br />
Although [[Ahmad Shah Durrani|Abdali]] was victorious, he withdrew under the cover of night to avoid taking another unnecessary action, he crossed the Yamuna River and continued his march to Delhi, however, he would encounter another Maratha army and engage with them in the [[Battle of Barari Ghat]].<ref>Jaswant Lal Mehta, p. 267</ref><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
{{Mughal Empire}}<br />
{{MarathaEmpire}}<br />
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{{coord missing|India}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Battles involving the Maratha Empire]]<br />
[[Category:Battles involving the Mughal Empire]]<br />
[[Category:Conflicts in 1759]]<br />
[[Category:Battles involving the Durrani Empire]]<br />
[[Category:18th-century battles]]<br />
[[Category:1759 in India]]<br />
[[Category:1750s in the Durrani Empire]]<br />
[[Category:1750s in the Mughal Empire]]</div>Kuldeep Singh Deep