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{{Short description|Military conflict}}
{{Short description|Part of Ghurid invasion of India}}
{{use Indian English|date=July 2023}}{{Copy edit|July 2023|date=July 2023}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Siege of Kalinjar
| conflict          = Siege of Kalinjar
| place            = [[Kalinjar Fort|Kalinjar]]
| location          = [[Kalinjar Fort|Kalinjar]], [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti]] (present day in [[Banda, Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| image            = E. view of the Fort at Kalinjar. May 1814.jpg
| image            = E. view of the Fort at Kalinjar. May 1814.jpg
| caption          = Kalinjar Fort as it appeared in 1814
| caption          = Kalinjar Fort in 1814.
| territory        = Kalinjar annexed to [[Ghurid Dynasty]]
| territory        = [[Kalinjar Fort|Kalinjar]] annexed to [[Ghurid Empire]]
| result            = [[Ghurid Dynasty|Ghurid]] victory
| result            = [[Ghurid Dynasty|Ghurid]] victory
| combatant1        = [[Ghurid Dynasty]]
| combatant1        = [[Ghurid Empire]]
| combatant2        = [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti]]
| combatant2        = [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti|Chandel Empire of Jejakabhukti]]
| commander1        = [[Qutb-ud-din Aibak]]<br>[[Iltutmish]]
| commander1        = [[Qutb-ud-din Aibak]]<br>[[Iltutmish]]
| commander2        = [[Paramardi]]{{surrendered}}
| strength1        = Unknown
| strength2        = Unknown
| commander2        = [[Paramardivarman]]{{Natural causes}}<br />Ajaya-Deva{{surrendered}}
| date              = 12 April 1203
| casualties1      = Unknown
| casualties2      = Unknown
| notes            = 50,000 inhabitants citizens were taken prisoners.{{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>
| coordinates      = {{coord|24.9997|N|80.4852|E|type:landmark|display=inline|name=Kalinjar Fort}}
| pushpin_map      = Uttar Pradesh#India
| pushpin_relief    = no
| pushpin_map_size  = 320
| pushpin_mark_size = 12
| pushpin_mark      = Big battle symbol.svg
| pushpin_label    = '''Siege of Kalinjar'''
}}
}}
The '''Siege of Kalinjar''' was a military expedition of [[Ghurid dynasty|Ghurid Empire]] under the command of [[Qutb ud-Din Aibak|Qutb-ud-din Aibak]] against the [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti]] that commenced in 1203 during which the Ghurids successfully captured [[Kalinjar Fort|Kalinjar]] after besieging it.<ref>{{Cite book |last=IAS |first=THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN BY C. M. MISHRA, DIRECTOR OF RUDRA'S |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=CiiqEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA81&dq=Aibak+Kalinjar&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5i-PT17GAAxVjVmwGHcmIAkUQ6AF6BAgMEAM |title=MPPSC MAINS PAPER 1: History, Culture & Literature of Madhya Pradesh |date=2023-01-29 |publisher=Rudra's IAS |pages=81 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Iqtidar Husain |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DJbmTL8svpwC&pg=PA185&dq=Aibak+Kalinjar&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5i-PT17GAAxVjVmwGHcmIAkUQ6AF6BAgHEAM |title=Indo-Persian Historiography Up to the Thirteenth Century |date=2010 |publisher=Primus Books |isbn=978-81-908918-0-6 |pages=185 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=provinces |first=North-western |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=j50IAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA451&dq=Aibak+Kalinjar&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5i-PT17GAAxVjVmwGHcmIAkUQ6AF6BAgJEAM |title=Statistical, descriptive and historical account of the North-western Provinces of India, ed. by E.T. Atkinson [and others]. |date=1874 |publisher=Printed at the North-western Provinces' Government Press |pages=451 |language=en}}</ref> The Ghurid forces defeated Chandelas and the Chandela ruler [[Paramardi]] surrendered Kalinjar to Ghurids.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Farooqui |first=Salma Ahmed |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=sxhAtCflwOMC&pg=PA54&dq=Aibak+Kalinjar&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5i-PT17GAAxVjVmwGHcmIAkUQ6AF6BAgLEAM |title=A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: Twelfth to the Mid-eighteenth Century |date=2011 |publisher=Pearson Education India |isbn=978-81-317-3202-1 |pages=53 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Srivastava |first=Ashok Kumar |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DBshAAAAMAAJ&q |title=The Life and Times of Kutb-ud-din Aibak |date=1972 |publisher=Govind Satish Prakashan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaurasia |first=Radhey Shyam |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=8XnaL7zPXPUC&pg=PA4&dq=Aibak+Kalinjar&hl=en&newbks |title=History of Medieval India: From 1000 A.D. to 1707 A.D. |date=2002 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-269-0123-4 |pages=4 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Srivastava |first=Ashok Kumar |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DBshAAAAMAAJ&q= |title=The Life and Times of Kutb-ud-din Aibak |date=1972 |publisher=Govind Satish Prakashan |pages=132 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kar |first=Hemendra Chandra |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=bsRGAAAAMAAJ&q= |title=Military History of India |date=1980 |publisher=Firma KLM |isbn=978-0-8364-1588-9 |pages=200 |language=en}}</ref>
 
The '''Siege of Kalinjar''' (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 [[Chandel Empire]]. 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 ==
== Background ==
Kalinjar was the political capital of Chandelas of Jejakabhukti.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Education |first=Pearson |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=ADFpDwAAQBAJ&pg=SA1-PA30&dq= |title=SSC topic-wise Previous Years Solved Papers General Awareness |publisher=Pearson Education India |isbn=978-93-5286-640-3 |pages=131 |language=en}}</ref> It was invaded by [[Prithviraj Chauhan]] of [[Chauhan Dynasty]] in 1183.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rathore |first=Virendra Singh |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=NvUBEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA48&dq= |title=Prithviraj Chauhan - a Light on the Mist in History |date=2020-09-29 |publisher=Virendra Singh Rathore |isbn=978-1-63640-019-8 |pages=48 |language=en}}</ref> After the death of Prithviraj after [[Second Battle of Tarain|second battle of Tarain]], Chandelas regained their superiority over Kalinjar. Chandela was ruled by Paramardi, the last major King of Chandelas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dole |first=Manoj |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=l1ukEAAAQBAJ&pg= |title=Great Kings in The World |publisher=Manoj Dole |pages=58 |language=en}}</ref>
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 [[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 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 historian [[Firishta]] states that Paramardivarman 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}}


Qutb-uddin Aibak led his expedition towards Kalinjar in 1202–1203. He defeated Chandela forces and occupied Kalinjar. Paramardi surrendered and promised to pay tribute but died before executing his agreements.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=WN6RGQK71RYC&pg=PA157-IA5&dq=Paramardi+surrender&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjNw-nD5LGAAxXGUGwGHemFD9IQ6AF6BAgGEAM |title=Journal |date=1896 |pages=158 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
== Aftermath ==
The Ghurids could not hold Kalanjara for long. Paramardi’s son, [[Trailokyavarman]], defeated them at Kakadadaha before 1205 and recovered all lost territories including Kalanjara. His inscriptions (1205–1241) show his kingdom covered Lalitpur, Chhatarpur, Panna, Ajaigarh, and Rewa regions. In 1211–1212, he conquered Rewa and much of the Dahala-mandala area from the [[Kalachuris of Tripuri|Kalachuris]]. Later Iltutmish's general Malik Nusrat-ud-din Tayasal invaded Kalanjara and plundered its towns but Trailokyavarman did not lose any territory. He was succeeded by his son [[Viravarman]], whose earliest known date is 1254 AD.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ramakrishnan|first=S.|url=http://archive.org/details/struggleforempir05bhar|title=History and Culture of the Indian People, Volume 05, The Struggle For Empire|date=2001|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|others=Public Resource|pages=59–60}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
{{reflist}}


{{coord missing|India}}
== 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}}


[[Category:Battles by former country|Ghurids]]
[[Category:Battles of the Middle Ages|Ghurids]]
[[Category:Battles of the Middle Ages|Ghurids]]
[[Category:Battles involving Iran|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:1203 conflicts]]

Revision as of 17:29, 16 September 2026

Siege of Kalinjar

Kalinjar Fort in 1814.
Date12 April 1203
Location
{{{place}}}
24°59′59″N 80°29′07″E / 24.9997°N 80.4852°E / 24.9997; 80.4852 (Kalinjar Fort)
Result Ghurid victory
Territorial
changes
Kalinjar annexed to Ghurid Empire
Belligerents
Ghurid Empire Chandel Empire of Jejakabhukti
Commanders and leaders
Qutb-ud-din Aibak
Iltutmish
ParamardivarmanTemplate:Natural causes
Ajaya-DevaTemplate:Surrendered
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
50,000 inhabitants citizens were taken prisoners.[1][2]

The Siege of Kalinjar (1203 CE) was a important military campaign of the Ghurid Empire under the leadership of Qutb al-Din Aibak and Iltutmish against the Chandel Empire. The Ghurids made large preparation and besieged Kalinjar fort, capital of the Chandela country with a huge army. The Chandela emperor 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 Chandel Imperial family, elites, Chandela soldiers and Chandel clan withdrew safely to Ajaigarh. Thus, 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.[3][4][5]

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 (Chauhans) and the Gahadavalas were defeated, the Ghurid governor of Delhi planned to invade the Chandel Empire of Jejakabhukti and made large-scale preparations.[6] 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.[7]

Siege

Taj-ul-Maasir, written by the Delhi chronicler Hasan Nizami, states that Paramardivarman initially offered stiff resistance, but then retreated into the fort.[6] Severe water shortages forced him to begin peace terms with the Ghurids and 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 Chandel Imperial family, elites, Chandela soldiers and Chandel clan withdrew safely to Ajaigarh.[8] Taj-ul-Masir further states that after the Ghurid's victory, 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.[1]

The 16th century historian Firishta states that Paramardivarman was assassinated by his own minister, who disagreed with the king's decision to surrender to the Delhi forces.[1]

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.[9]

Aftermath

The Ghurids could not hold Kalanjara for long. Paramardi’s son, Trailokyavarman, defeated them at Kakadadaha before 1205 and recovered all lost territories including Kalanjara. His inscriptions (1205–1241) show his kingdom covered Lalitpur, Chhatarpur, Panna, Ajaigarh, and Rewa regions. In 1211–1212, he conquered Rewa and much of the Dahala-mandala area from the Kalachuris. Later Iltutmish's general Malik Nusrat-ud-din Tayasal invaded Kalanjara and plundered its towns but Trailokyavarman did not lose any territory. He was succeeded by his son Viravarman, whose earliest known date is 1254 AD.[10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 148.
  2. ↑ Raychaudhuri, Tapan; Habib, Irfan; Kumar, Dharma (1982). The Cambridge Economic History of India: Volume 1, C.1200-c.1750. CUP Archive. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-521-22692-9.
  3. ↑ Srivastava, Ashok Kumar (1972). The Life and Times of Kutb-ud-din Aibak. Govind Satish Prakashan.
  4. ↑ Kar, Hemendra Chandra (1980). Military History of India. Firma KLM. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-8364-1588-9.
  5. ↑ Ojha, Dhirendra Nath (1993). Aristocracy in Medieval India. Orient Publications. p. 19. ISBN 978-81-85294-05-6.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 147.
  7. ↑ Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 126.
  8. ↑ Nizami 1992, p. 170.
  9. ↑ R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 149.
  10. ↑ Ramakrishnan, S. (2001). History and Culture of the Indian People, Volume 05, The Struggle For Empire. Public Resource. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. pp. 59–60.

Bibliography