Battle of Delhi (1757): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|1757 fought between the Maratha Empire and the Rohilla}}
{{Other uses|Battle of Delhi (disambiguation){{!}}Battle of Delhi}}
{{Other uses|Battle of Delhi (disambiguation){{!}}Battle of Delhi}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
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| image            =  
| image            =  
| caption          =  
| caption          =  
| partof            = Afghan-Maratha Conflicts
| partof            =  
| conflict          = Battle of Delhi, 1757
| conflict          = Battle of Delhi, 1757
| date              = 11 August 1757
| date              = 11 August 1757
| place            = [[Delhi]]
| place            = [[Delhi]], [[India]]
| result            = Maratha victory
| result            = Maratha victory
| combatant1        = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Maratha Empire]]
* Raghunath Rao appoints Antaji Mankeshwar as the Maratha governor of Delhi<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mehta |first=Jaswant Lal |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Advanced_Study_in_the_History_of_Modern.html?id=d1wUgKKzawoC#v=onepage&q=marathas%20delhi%201757&f=false |title=Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813 |publisher=New Dawn Press, Incorporated |year=2005 |isbn=9781932705546 |pages=232 |language=English |format=Hardcover}}</ref>
| combatant2        = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Rampur State.svg}} [[Rohilla|Rohilla Afghans]]<br> [[File:Flag of the Mughal Empire.png|25px]] [[Mughal Empire]]
| combatant1        = '''{{flag|Maratha Empire}}'''
| commander1        = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Raghunathrao]]<br> [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Malharrao Holkar]]<br>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Manaji Paygude<br>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Sakharam Bapu<br>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Dattaji Rao Scindia|Dattaji Shinde]]<br> [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Gharge-Desai (Deshmukh)|Gharge-Desai Deshmukh]]<br>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Antaji Mankeshwar
| combatant2        = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Rampur State.svg}} '''[[Kingdom of Rohilkhand]]'''
| commander2        = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Rampur State.svg}} [[File:Flag of the Mughal Empire.png|25px]][[Najib-ud-Daula]]<br>{{flagicon image|Flag of the Rampur State.svg}}[[Mian Qutb Shah]]<br>{{flagicon image|Flag of the Rampur State.svg}}Mulla Aman Khan
| commander1        = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] '''[[Raghunathrao]]'''<br> [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Malharrao Holkar]]<br>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Manaji Paygude<br>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Sakharam Bapu<br>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Dattaji Rao Scindia|Dattaji Shinde]]<br>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Antaji Mankeshwar <br> [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Ambaji Ingle
| commander2        = {{nowrap|{{flagicon image|Flag of the Rampur State.svg}} '''[[Najib ad-Dawlah|Najib-ud-Daula]]'''{{POW}}}}<br>{{nowrap|{{flagicon image|Flag of the Rampur State.svg}} [[Mian Qutb Shah]]{{POW}}}}<br>{{nowrap|{{flagicon image|Flag of the Rampur State.svg}} Mulla Aman Khan{{POW}}}}
| strength1        =  
| strength1        =  
| strength2        =  
| strength2        =  
| casualties1      =  
| casualties1      = Minimum
| casualties2      =  
| casualties2      = Heavy
| territory        = [[Delhi]] captured by the [[Marathas]]
| territory        = Marathas gains control over Delhi.
| campaignbox      =
}}
}}
The '''battle of Delhi in 1757''' also referred to as the '''Second battle of Delhi''', was a battle fought on 11 August 1757 between the [[Maratha Empire]] under the command of [[Raghunath Rao]] and the [[Rohilla|Rohillas]] under the command of [[Najib-ud-Daula]], who was under the [[Durrani Empire|Afghan]] suzerainty and simultaneously the "Pay Master" of what remained of the [[Mughal Army]]. The battle was waged by the [[Marathas]] for the control of [[Delhi]], the former Mughal capital which was now under the control of [[Rohilla]] chief [[Najib-ud-Daula]], as a consequence of the fourth invasion of [[Hindustan|India]] by [[Ahmad Shah Abdali]].<ref name="delhi">[https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&pg=PA229&dq=marathas+in+control+of+delhi&hl=en&sa=X&ei=aEgJUKCPB5DNrQeHhbHJCA&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=marathas%20in%20control%20of%20delhi&f=false Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813]</ref>
 
'''Battle of Delhi (1757)''' was fought on 11 August 1757 between the [[Maratha Empire]] under the command of [[Raghunath Rao]] and the [[Rohilla|Rohillas]] under the command of [[Najib ad-Dawlah|Najib-ud-Daula]], who was under the [[Durrani Empire|Afghan]] suzerainty and simultaneously the "Pay Master" of what remained of the [[Mughal Army]]. The battle was waged by the Marathas for the control of [[Delhi]], the Mughal capital which was invaded by [[Rohilla]] chief [[Najib ad-Dawlah|Najib-ud-Daula]], as a consequence of the fourth invasion of [[Hindustan|India]] by [[Ahmad Shah Abdali]].<ref name="delhi">[https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&dq=marathas+in+control+of+delhi&pg=PA229 Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813]</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
[[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] invaded [[North India]] for the fourth time in early 1757. He entered Delhi in January 1757 and kept the Mughal emperor under arrest. On his return in April 1757, Abdali re-installed the Mughal emperor [[Alamgir II]] on Delhi throne as a titular head. However, the actual control of [[Delhi]] was given to [[Najib-ud-Daula]], who had promised to pay an annual tribute of 20 lakh rupees to [[Ahmad Shah Abdali|Abdali]]. Najib had also assisted Abdali in his fourth invasion and had already won the trust of the Afghan emperor. It can be said that he worked as the agent of [[Ahmad Shah Abdali|Abdali]] in Delhi court. So, [[Najib-ud-Daula|Najib]] was now the de facto ruler of Delhi with [[Alamgir II]] as a puppet emperor in his control.<ref name="delhi"/>
[[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] invaded [[North India]] for the fourth time in early 1757. He entered Delhi in January 1757 and kept the [[Mughal emperors|Mughal emperor]] under arrest. On his return in April 1757, Abdali re-installed the Mughal emperor [[Alamgir II]] on the Delhi throne as a titular head. However, the actual control of [[Delhi]] was given to [[Najib ad-Dawlah|Najib-ud-Daula]], who had promised to pay an annual tribute of two million rupees to [[Ahmad Shah Durrani|Abdali]]. Najib had also assisted Abdali in his fourth invasion and had already won the trust of the Afghan emperor. It can be said that he worked as the agent of [[Ahmad Shah Abdali|Abdali]] in Delhi court. So, [[Najib ad-Dawlah|Najib]] was now the de facto ruler of Delhi with [[Alamgir II]] as a puppet emperor in his control.<ref name="delhi"/>


The Mughal emperor and his ''wazir'' [[Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III|Imad-ul-Mulk]] were alarmed by all these developments and hence requested [[Maratha]]s to help them get rid of Abdali's agents in Delhi.<ref name="delhi"/><ref>[http://www.google.co.in/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=the+marathas+occupied+delhi+without+difficulty&btnG=#hl=en&tbm=bks&sclient=psy-ab&q=+At+this+very+moment+Ahmad+Shah+Abdali+invaded+India+the+fourth+time+in+1755+and+departed+from+Delhi+in+1757%2FShortly+after+this%2C+the+Marathas+were+invited+to+Delhi+and+the+Punjab+by+Imad.+&oq=+At+this+very+moment+Ahmad+Shah+Abdali+invaded+India+the+fourth+time+in+1755+and+departed+from+Delhi+in+1757%2FShortly+after+this%2C+the+Marathas+were+invited+to+Delhi+and+the+Punjab+by+Imad.+&gs_l=serp.3...25599.25599.0.26042.1.1.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.1...1c.qZeHMniebsw&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=bc2404c6dd39d4c5&biw=1024&bih=685 Indian History - Page C-27]</ref>
The Mughal emperor and his ''wazir'' [[Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III|Imad-ul-Mulk]] were alarmed by these developments. Being a vasal and paying tributary of Marathas, he requested the [[Maratha]]s to help them get rid of Abdali's agents in Delhi.<ref name="delhi"/><ref>[http://www.google.co.in/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=the+marathas+occupied+delhi+without+difficulty&btnG=#hl=en&tbm=bks&sclient=psy-ab&q=+At+this+very+moment+Ahmad+Shah+Abdali+invaded+India+the+fourth+time+in+1755+and+departed+from+Delhi+in+1757%2FShortly+after+this%2C+the+Marathas+were+invited+to+Delhi+and+the+Punjab+by+Imad.+&oq=+At+this+very+moment+Ahmad+Shah+Abdali+invaded+India+the+fourth+time+in+1755+and+departed+from+Delhi+in+1757%2FShortly+after+this%2C+the+Marathas+were+invited+to+Delhi+and+the+Punjab+by+Imad.+&gs_l=serp.3...25599.25599.0.26042.1.1.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.1...1c.qZeHMniebsw&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=bc2404c6dd39d4c5&biw=1024&bih=685 Indian History - Page C-27]</ref>
 
A contingent of 40,000 Maratha troops was dispatched for attacking [[Delhi]].<ref name="delhi"/>


==Battle==
==Battle==
The Marathas encamped opposite the [[Red Fort]] on the other side of [[Yamuna river]]. Najib gave the charge of 2,500 strong infantry to Qutub Shah and Mulla Aman Khan and himself commanded another infantry contingent of  5,000 troops and heavy artillery and which were deployed by him to prevent Marathas from entering the city. The battle started on 11 August and after two weeks of intense fighting, Najib surrendered and was arrested by Marathas. <ref name="delhi">[https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&pg=PA229&dq=marathas+in+control+of+delhi&hl=en&sa=X&ei=aEgJUKCPB5DNrQeHhbHJCA&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=marathas%20in%20control%20of%20delhi&f=false Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813]</ref>
The Marathas encamped opposite the [[Red Fort]] on the other side of [[Yamuna river]]. Najib gave the charge of 2,500 strong infantry to Qutub Shah and Mulla Aman Khan and himself commanded another infantry contingent of  5,000 elite Afghan troops and heavy artillery, which were deployed by him to prevent the Marathas from entering the city. The battle started on 11 August and after two weeks of intense fighting with heavy Afghan losses, [[Najib ad-Dawlah|Najib]] came of the fort with his associates to negotiate a settlement with [[Malhar Rao Holkar|Holkar]] but was surrounded and arrested by Marathas.<ref name="delhi" />


Maratha commander [[Raghunath Rao]] demanded immediate withdrawal of Najib from Delhi along with a tribute of 50 lakh rupees. He also promised that he would never return to Delhi and never threaten any Maratha fort.<ref name="delhi"/>
Maratha commander [[Raghunath Rao]] ordered immediate withdrawal of [[Najib ad-Dawlah|Najib]] from Delhi along with a tribute of 5 million rupees. Najib also promised that he would never return to Delhi and never threaten any Maratha fort.<ref name="delhi"/>


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
The [[Marathas]] had now become the de facto rulers of Delhi.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&pg=PA232&dq=maratha+had+become+the+de+facto+rulers+of+delhi&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Al4KULS4K4HqrQew6uDICA&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=maratha%20had%20become%20the%20de%20facto%20rulers%20of%20delhi&f=false History of Indian subcontinent]</ref> [[Raghunath Rao]] appointed Antaji Mankeshwar as Governor of Delhi province while [[Alamgir II]] was retained as titular head with no actual power.<ref name="delhi"/><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=1BY9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA564&dq=the+marathas+occupied+delhi+without+difficulty&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IVMKUIT3B8rWrQfr-KXICA&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=the%20marathas%20occupied%20delhi%20without%20difficulty&f=false The New Cambridge Modern History, Volume 4]</ref>
The Marathas had now become the de facto rulers of Delhi.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&dq=maratha+had+become+the+de+facto+rulers+of+delhi&pg=PA232 History of Indian subcontinent]</ref> Raghunathrao appointed Antaji Mankeshwar as the Governor of Delhi province, while [[Alamgir II]] was retained as titular head with no actual power.<ref name="delhi"/><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=1BY9AAAAIAAJ&dq=the+marathas+occupied+delhi+without+difficulty&pg=PA564 The New Cambridge Modern History, Volume 4]</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Battle of Delhi (disambiguation)]]
* [[Battle of Delhi (disambiguation)]]
* [[Battle of Plassey]] (1757)
* [[Battle of Plassey]] (1757)
* [[Maratha conquest of North-west India]]
* [[Battle of Karnal]]
* [[Battle of Karnal]]
* [[Decline of the Mughal Empire]]
** [[Sikh attacks on Delhi]]
** [[Maratha conquest of North-west India]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=UbdgaWR_xsUC&pg=SA10-PA13&dq=In+1757,+they+captured+Delhi+and+in+1758+they+conquered+Punjab+by+defeating+Timar+Shah+(Abdali's+son)&hl=en&sa=X&ei=oVYKUOTYMIjTrQfMmenICA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=In%201757%2C%20they%20captured%20Delhi%20and%20in%201758%20they%20conquered%20Punjab%20by%20defeating%20Timar%20Shah%20(Abdali's%20son)&f=false TVandana Thorpe]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=UbdgaWR_xsUC&dq=In+1757%2C+they+captured+Delhi+and+in+1758+they+conquered+Punjab+by+defeating+Timar+Shah+%28Abdali%27s+son%29&pg=SA10-PA13 TVandana Thorpe]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=MmXfBqefJh8C&pg=PR28&dq=marathas+delhi+1757&hl=en&sa=X&ei=u1gKUOSWOofxrQfAj7XICA&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAjgy#v=onepage&q=marathas%20delhi%201757&f=false y Walī Allāh al-Dihlawī, Marcia K.]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=MmXfBqefJh8C&dq=marathas+delhi+1757&pg=PR28 y Walī Allāh al-Dihlawī, Marcia K.]


{{Maratha Empire}}
{{Maratha Empire}}

Latest revision as of 17:03, 7 September 2025


Battle of Delhi, 1757
Date11 August 1757
Location
Result

Maratha victory

  • Raghunath Rao appoints Antaji Mankeshwar as the Maratha governor of Delhi[1]
Territorial
changes
Marathas gains control over Delhi.
Belligerents
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maratha Empire Kingdom of Rohilkhand
Commanders and leaders
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raghunathrao
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Malharrao Holkar
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Manaji Paygude
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sakharam Bapu
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Dattaji Shinde
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Antaji Mankeshwar
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ambaji Ingle
Najib-ud-DaulaTemplate:POW
Mian Qutb ShahTemplate:POW
Mulla Aman KhanTemplate:POW
Casualties and losses
Minimum Heavy

Battle of Delhi (1757) was fought on 11 August 1757 between the Maratha Empire under the command of Raghunath Rao and the Rohillas under the command of Najib-ud-Daula, who was under the Afghan suzerainty and simultaneously the "Pay Master" of what remained of the Mughal Army. The battle was waged by the Marathas for the control of Delhi, the Mughal capital which was invaded by Rohilla chief Najib-ud-Daula, as a consequence of the fourth invasion of India by Ahmad Shah Abdali.[2]

Background[edit | edit source]

Ahmad Shah Durrani invaded North India for the fourth time in early 1757. He entered Delhi in January 1757 and kept the Mughal emperor under arrest. On his return in April 1757, Abdali re-installed the Mughal emperor Alamgir II on the Delhi throne as a titular head. However, the actual control of Delhi was given to Najib-ud-Daula, who had promised to pay an annual tribute of two million rupees to Abdali. Najib had also assisted Abdali in his fourth invasion and had already won the trust of the Afghan emperor. It can be said that he worked as the agent of Abdali in Delhi court. So, Najib was now the de facto ruler of Delhi with Alamgir II as a puppet emperor in his control.[2]

The Mughal emperor and his wazir Imad-ul-Mulk were alarmed by these developments. Being a vasal and paying tributary of Marathas, he requested the Marathas to help them get rid of Abdali's agents in Delhi.[2][3]

Battle[edit | edit source]

The Marathas encamped opposite the Red Fort on the other side of Yamuna river. Najib gave the charge of 2,500 strong infantry to Qutub Shah and Mulla Aman Khan and himself commanded another infantry contingent of 5,000 elite Afghan troops and heavy artillery, which were deployed by him to prevent the Marathas from entering the city. The battle started on 11 August and after two weeks of intense fighting with heavy Afghan losses, Najib came of the fort with his associates to negotiate a settlement with Holkar but was surrounded and arrested by Marathas.[2]

Maratha commander Raghunath Rao ordered immediate withdrawal of Najib from Delhi along with a tribute of 5 million rupees. Najib also promised that he would never return to Delhi and never threaten any Maratha fort.[2]

Aftermath[edit | edit source]

The Marathas had now become the de facto rulers of Delhi.[4] Raghunathrao appointed Antaji Mankeshwar as the Governor of Delhi province, while Alamgir II was retained as titular head with no actual power.[2][5]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Mehta, Jaswant Lal (2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813 (Hardcover). New Dawn Press, Incorporated. p. 232. ISBN 9781932705546.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813
  3. Indian History - Page C-27
  4. History of Indian subcontinent
  5. The New Cambridge Modern History, Volume 4

Template:Maratha Empire