Siege of Kalanjara (1203 CE) - Revision history

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-The Ghurids were unable to maintain control over [[Kalinjar Fort|Kalanjara]] for long. In 1204 CE, the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti]], led by [[Trailokyavarman]], son of [[Paramardivarman]], besieged [[Kalinjar Fort]] to recapture it from the [[Ghurid Empire]]. The campaign ended in a decisive [[Chandela|Chandela victory]], during which the [[Ghurid]] governor, Hazabar-ud-Din Hasan Arnal, was killed and the Ghurid garrison was destroyed in the Siege of 1204 CE. The recapture of Kalinjar ended Ghurid authority in [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti|Jejakabhukti country]], restored Chandela control over their ancestral stronghold, and marked a major political and military revival under Trailokyavarman, while dealing a significant setback to [[Qutb al-Din Aibak]]'s expansion in central India. The Chandelas had successfully reclaimed the very fortress that the Ghurids had triumphantly described as a “world-famous fort, strong as Alexander's walls.”{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=148}} R.K. dikshit states that, "the Muslim historians, who gtoat over the victory of the faithful against the infidel defenders of Kālañjara in A.D. 1203, maintain a sinister silence over its subsequent loss".{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=158}} [[Trailokyavarman]] also defeated the Ghurids in the Battle of Kakadadaha (modern-day Kakadwa) sometime before 1205.{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=158}} His inscriptions, dated from 1205 to 1241, confirm that his empire included areas such as Lalitpur, Chattarpur State, Panna State, Ajaigarh State, and Rewah State. In 1211-1212, he conquered [[Rewa (princely state)|Rewah]] in Baghelkhand and likely the entire Dahala-mandala (ie. Kalachuri Kingdom) from the Kalachuri ruler [[Trailokyamalla]].
+The Ghurids were unable to maintain control over [[Kalinjar Fort|Kalanjara]] for long. In 1204 CE, the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti]], led by [[Trailokyavarman]], son of [[Paramardivarman]], besieged [[Kalinjar Fort]] to recapture it from the [[Ghurid Empire]]. The campaign ended in a decisive [[Chandela|Chandela victory]], during which the [[Ghurid]] governor, Hazabar-ud-Din Hasan Arnal, was killed and the Ghurid garrison was destroyed in the Siege of 1204 CE. The recapture of Kalinjar ended Ghurid authority in [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti|Jejakabhukti country]], restored Chandela control over their ancestral stronghold, and marked a major political and military revival under Trailokyavarman, while dealing a significant setback to [[Qutb al-Din Aibak]]'s expansion in central India. The Chandelas had successfully reclaimed the very fortress that the Ghurids had triumphantly described as a “world-famous fort, strong as Alexander's walls.”{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=148}} R.K. dikshit states that, "the Muslim historians, who gtoat over the victory of the faithful against the infidel defenders of Kālañjara in A.D. 1203, maintain a sinister silence over its subsequent loss".{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=158}}
 == References ==

Vishvaksena at 00:56, 3 July 2026

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	\| notes = 50,000 Hindu male and female citizens were taken as slaves{{sfn\|R. K. Dikshit\|1976\|p=148}}<ref>{{Cite book \|last1=Raychaudhuri \|first1=Tapan \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L-s8AAAAIAAJ \|title=The Cambridge Economic History of India: Volume 1, C.1200-c.1750 \|last2=Habib \|first2=Irfan \|last3=Kumar \|first3=Dharma \|date=1982 \|publisher=CUP Archive \|isbn=978-0-521-22692-9 \|pages=90 \|language=en}}</ref>		\| notes = 50,000 Hindu male and female citizens were taken as slaves{{sfn\|R. K. Dikshit\|1976\|p=148}}<ref>{{Cite book \|last1=Raychaudhuri \|first1=Tapan \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L-s8AAAAIAAJ \|title=The Cambridge Economic History of India: Volume 1, C.1200-c.1750 \|last2=Habib \|first2=Irfan \|last3=Kumar \|first3=Dharma \|date=1982 \|publisher=CUP Archive \|isbn=978-0-521-22692-9 \|pages=90 \|language=en}}</ref>
	}}		}}

	The '''Siege of Kalanjara (1202–1203 CE)''' was a important military campaign of the [[Ghurid dynasty\|Ghurid Empire]] under the leadership of [[Qutb ud-Din Aibak\|Qutb al-Din Aibak]] and [[Iltutmish]] against the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti\|Chandel Empire of Jejakabhukti]]. The Ghurids made large preparation and besieged [[Kalinjar Fort\|Kalinjar fort]], capital of the Chandela country with a huge army. The Chandela emperor [[Paramardivarman\|Paramardi Varman]] gave stiff resistance but later retreated into the fort. Severe water shortages forced him to begin peace terms with the [[Ghurids]], who agreed to accept tribute and withdraw. But, ruler died before the tribute was delivered. After his death, resistance continued for some time, but as the waters dried up, the general Ajayapala sought a peace treaty and surrendered the fort. As per the treaty, the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti\|Chandel Imperial family]], elites, [[Chandel (Rajput clan)\|Chandela soldiers]] and Chandel clan withdrew safely to [[Ajaigarh]]. Thus, [[Kalinjar Fort\|Kalinjar]] was captured on 12 April 1203, along with the seizure of considerable booty, horses, elephants, arms jewels, and 50,000 [[Hindu]] civilians were enslaved.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Srivastava \|first=Ashok Kumar \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DBshAAAAMAAJ \|title=The Life and Times of Kutb-ud-din Aibak \|date=1972 \|publisher=Govind Satish Prakashan \|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book \|last=Kar \|first=Hemendra Chandra \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bsRGAAAAMAAJ \|title=Military History of India \|date=1980 \|publisher=Firma KLM \|isbn=978-0-8364-1588-9 \|pages=200 \|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book \|last=Ojha \|first=Dhirendra Nath \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xINHAAAAMAAJ&q=Iltutmish+Kalinjar+aibak+1202 \|title=Aristocracy in Medieval India \|date=1993 \|publisher=Orient Publications \|isbn=978-81-85294-05-6 \|pages=19 \|language=en}}</ref>		The '''Siege of Kalanjara (1202–1203 CE)''' was a important military campaign of the [[Ghurid dynasty\|Ghurid Empire]] under the leadership of [[Qutb ud-Din Aibak\|Qutb al-Din Aibak]] and [[Iltutmish]] against the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti\|Chandel Empire of Jejakabhukti]]. The Ghurids made large preparation and besieged [[Kalinjar Fort\|Kalinjar fort]], capital of the Chandela country with a huge army. The Chandela emperor [[Paramardivarman\|Paramardi Varman]] gave stiff resistance but later retreated into the fort. Severe water shortages forced him to begin peace terms with the [[Ghurids]], who agreed to accept tribute and withdraw. But, ruler died before the tribute was delivered. After his death, resistance continued for some time, but as the waters dried up, the general Ajayapala sought a peace treaty and surrendered the fort. As per the treaty, the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti\|Chandel Imperial family]], elites, [[Chandel (Rajput clan)\|Chandela soldiers]] and Chandel clan withdrew safely to [[Ajaigarh]]. Thus, [[Kalinjar Fort\|Kalinjar]] was captured on 12 April 1203, along with the seizure of considerable booty, horses, elephants, arms jewels, and 50,000 [[Hindu]] civilians were enslaved.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Srivastava \|first=Ashok Kumar \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DBshAAAAMAAJ \|title=The Life and Times of Kutb-ud-din Aibak \|date=1972 \|publisher=Govind Satish Prakashan \|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book \|last=Kar \|first=Hemendra Chandra \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bsRGAAAAMAAJ \|title=Military History of India \|date=1980 \|publisher=Firma KLM \|isbn=978-0-8364-1588-9 \|pages=200 \|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book \|last=Ojha \|first=Dhirendra Nath \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xINHAAAAMAAJ&q=Iltutmish+Kalinjar+aibak+1202 \|title=Aristocracy in Medieval India \|date=1993 \|publisher=Orient Publications \|isbn=978-81-85294-05-6 \|pages=19 \|language=en}}</ref>

Vishvaksena: Created page with "{{Short description|Part of Ghurid invasion of India}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox military conflict | conflict = Siege of Kalanjara | place = Kalinjar, Chandela country (present day in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India | image = E. view of the Fort at Kalinjar. May 1814.jpg | caption = Kalinjar Fort..."

2026-07-03T00:52:45Z

Created page with "{{Short description|Part of Ghurid invasion of India}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox military conflict | conflict = Siege of Kalanjara | place = Kalinjar, Chandela country (present day in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India | image = E. view of the Fort at Kalinjar. May 1814.jpg | caption = Kalinjar Fort..."

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{{Short description|Part of Ghurid invasion of India}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Siege of Kalanjara
| place = [[Kalinjar Fort|Kalinjar]], [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti|Chandela country]] (present day in [[Banda, Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| image = E. view of the Fort at Kalinjar. May 1814.jpg
| caption = Kalinjar Fort in 1814.
| territory = *As per treaty, western empire along with Kalinjar, Kalpi and Mahoba was ceded to the [[Ghurid]]s, while Chandelas moved to their eastern empire.{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=148}}
| result = [[Ghurid Dynasty|Ghurid]] victory
| combatant1 = [[Ghurid Empire]]
| combatant2 = [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti|Chandel Empire of Jejakabhukti]]
| commander1 = [[Qutb-ud-din Aibak]]<br>[[Iltutmish]]
| strength1= unknown but huge army
| strength2= unknown but small army than Ghurids
| commander2 = [[Paramardivarman]]{{Natural causes}}<br />Ajaipala Bhardwaj{{surrendered}}
| date = 1202-12 april 1203 CE
| casualties1 = Unknown
| casualties2 = Unknown
| notes = 50,000 Hindu male and female citizens were taken as slaves{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=148}}<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Raychaudhuri |first1=Tapan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L-s8AAAAIAAJ |title=The Cambridge Economic History of India: Volume 1, C.1200-c.1750 |last2=Habib |first2=Irfan |last3=Kumar |first3=Dharma |date=1982 |publisher=CUP Archive |isbn=978-0-521-22692-9 |pages=90 |language=en}}</ref>
}}

The '''Siege of Kalanjara (1202–1203 CE)''' was a important military campaign of the [[Ghurid dynasty|Ghurid Empire]] under the leadership of [[Qutb ud-Din Aibak|Qutb al-Din Aibak]] and [[Iltutmish]] against the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti|Chandel Empire of Jejakabhukti]]. The Ghurids made large preparation and besieged [[Kalinjar Fort|Kalinjar fort]], capital of the Chandela country with a huge army. The Chandela emperor [[Paramardivarman|Paramardi Varman]] gave stiff resistance but later retreated into the fort. Severe water shortages forced him to begin peace terms with the [[Ghurids]], who agreed to accept tribute and withdraw. But, ruler died before the tribute was delivered. After his death, resistance continued for some time, but as the waters dried up, the general Ajayapala sought a peace treaty and surrendered the fort. As per the treaty, the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti|Chandel Imperial family]], elites, [[Chandel (Rajput clan)|Chandela soldiers]] and Chandel clan withdrew safely to [[Ajaigarh]]. Thus, [[Kalinjar Fort|Kalinjar]] was captured on 12 April 1203, along with the seizure of considerable booty, horses, elephants, arms jewels, and 50,000 [[Hindu]] civilians were enslaved.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Srivastava |first=Ashok Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DBshAAAAMAAJ |title=The Life and Times of Kutb-ud-din Aibak |date=1972 |publisher=Govind Satish Prakashan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kar |first=Hemendra Chandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bsRGAAAAMAAJ |title=Military History of India |date=1980 |publisher=Firma KLM |isbn=978-0-8364-1588-9 |pages=200 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ojha |first=Dhirendra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xINHAAAAMAAJ&q=Iltutmish+Kalinjar+aibak+1202 |title=Aristocracy in Medieval India |date=1993 |publisher=Orient Publications |isbn=978-81-85294-05-6 |pages=19 |language=en}}</ref>

== Background ==
Kalanjara served as the military capital of the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti]]. When Prithviraja III Chauhan was killed after [[Second Battle of Tarain]] against the [[Ghurids]] in 1192 and [[Chahamanas of Shakambhari|Chahamanas]] (Chauhans) and the [[Gahadavala]]s were defeated, the Ghurid governor of Delhi planned to invade the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti|Chandel Empire of Jejakabhukti]] and made large-scale preparations.{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=147}} A huge force led by [[Qutb al-Din Aibak]], and accompanied by strong generals such as [[Iltutmish]], besieged the Chandela fort of [[Kalanjara]] in 1202.{{sfn|Sisirkumar Mitra|1977|p=126}}

== Siege ==
''Taj-ul-Maasir'', written by the Delhi chronicler [[Hasan Nizami]], states that Parmar ([[Paramardivarman]]) initially offered stiff resistance, but then retreated into the fort.{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=147}} Severe water shortages forced him to begin peace terms with the [[Ghurids]] and promised promised to pay a tribute, but naturally died before he could execute this agreement. His [[dewan]] Aj Deo (Ajaya-Deva) continued to resist the Ghurids after his death. But dewan was finally forced to surrender Kalinjar fort as the water reservoirs within the fort dried up during a drought. As per the treaty, the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti|Chandel Imperial family]], elites, [[Chandel (Rajput clan)|Chandela soldiers]] and Chandel clan withdrew safely to [[Ajaigarh]].{{sfn|Nizami|1992|p=170}} ''Taj-ul-Masir'' further states that after the Ghurid's victory, [[Kalinjar Fort|Kalinjar]] was captured on 12 April 1203, they seized considerable booty, horses, elephants, arms jewels, and 50,000 Hindu male and female civilians were enslaved. Qutb al-Din Aibak appointed Hazabbar-ud-Din Hasan Arnal as the governor of Kalanjara, and also captured [[Mahoba]].{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=148}}

The 16th century Muslim historian Firishta states that Paramardi varman was assassinated by his own minister, who disagreed with the king's decision to surrender to the Delhi forces.{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=148}}

Firishta as well as Fakhruddin Mubarakshah state that the fall of Kalanjara happened in the [[Hijri year]] 599 (1202–1203 CE). According to ''Taj-ul-Masir'', Kalanjara fell on 20th of [[Rajab]], in the Hijri year 599, on Monday. However, this date corresponds to 12 April 1203, which was a Friday. Based on different interpretations of the historical sources, different scholars date the fall of Kalanjara to either 1202 or 1203.{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=149}}

== Aftermath ==

{{Infobox military conflict
| partof = Ghurid-Chandela wars
| conflict = Siege of Kalinjar 1204 CE
| place = [[Kalinjar Fort]] (present day in [[Banda, Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]])
| image =
| caption =
| territory = *[[Kalinjar|Kalanjara]] recaptured by [[Chandelas]]
| result = [[Chandela|Chandel]] victory
| combatant1 = [[Ghurid Empire]]
| combatant2 = [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti|Chandel Empire of Jejakabhukti]]
| commander1 = Hazabbar-ud-Din Hasan Arnal{{KIA}}
| commander2 = [[Trailokyavarman]]
| strength1 = Unknown, but huge
| strength2 = Unknown, but lesser than Ghurids
| date = 1204 CE
| casualties1 = Massive massacre{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=159}}
| casualties2 = Unknown
| notes =
}}
The Ghurids were unable to maintain control over [[Kalinjar Fort|Kalanjara]] for long. In 1204 CE, the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti]], led by [[Trailokyavarman]], son of [[Paramardivarman]], besieged [[Kalinjar Fort]] to recapture it from the [[Ghurid Empire]]. The campaign ended in a decisive [[Chandela|Chandela victory]], during which the [[Ghurid]] governor, Hazabar-ud-Din Hasan Arnal, was killed and the Ghurid garrison was destroyed in the Siege of 1204 CE. The recapture of Kalinjar ended Ghurid authority in [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti|Jejakabhukti country]], restored Chandela control over their ancestral stronghold, and marked a major political and military revival under Trailokyavarman, while dealing a significant setback to [[Qutb al-Din Aibak]]'s expansion in central India. The Chandelas had successfully reclaimed the very fortress that the Ghurids had triumphantly described as a “world-famous fort, strong as Alexander's walls.”{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=148}} R.K. dikshit states that, "the Muslim historians, who gtoat over the victory of the faithful against the infidel defenders of Kālañjara in A.D. 1203, maintain a sinister silence over its subsequent loss".{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=158}} [[Trailokyavarman]] also defeated the Ghurids in the Battle of Kakadadaha (modern-day Kakadwa) sometime before 1205.{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=158}} His inscriptions, dated from 1205 to 1241, confirm that his empire included areas such as Lalitpur, Chattarpur State, Panna State, Ajaigarh State, and Rewah State. In 1211-1212, he conquered [[Rewa (princely state)|Rewah]] in Baghelkhand and likely the entire Dahala-mandala (ie. Kalachuri Kingdom) from the Kalachuri ruler [[Trailokyamalla]].

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a9j9ZJGJOV0C&pg=PA130 |title=The Candellas of Jejākabhukti |author=R. K. Dikshit |publisher=Abhinav |year=1976 |isbn=9788170170464 }}
* {{Cite journal |last=Rezavi |first=Syed Ali Nadeem |date=2002 |title=The Medieval Fort of Kalinjar and Its History |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44158195 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=63 |pages=1233–1259 |issn=2249-1937}}
{{refend}}

{{coord missing|India}}

[[Category:Battles of the Middle Ages|Ghurids]]
[[Category:13th century in India]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Ghurid dynasty]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Rajputs]]
[[Category:Battles involving Turkic peoples]]
[[Category:1203 in Asia]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1203]]