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Last edited January 6, 2026
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Tag: Rollback
quick expanded details after review and improved wording for consistency
 
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{{Short description|1757 battle}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox military conflict
| image       =
| image             =  
| caption     =
| caption           =  
|partof     = Afghan-Maratha Conflicts
| partof           = the [[Indian campaign of Ahmad Shah Durrani|Afghan–Maratha conflicts]]
| conflict   = Battle of Narela
| conflict         = Battle of Narela
| date       = 16 January 1757
| date             = 16 January 1757
| place       = [[Narela]], Outskirts of [[Delhi]]
| place             = [[Narela]], Outskirts of Delhi
| result     = [[Maratha  Empire]] victory, Durrani forces retreat to Sonipat.
| result           = Durrani victory<ref>{{Cite book|last=Barua|first=Pradeep|title=The state at war in South Asia|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|year=2005|isbn=9780803213449|pages=55|language=English}}</ref>
| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg}}  [[Maratha Empire]]
| combatant1       = [[File:Seal of Ahmad Shah Durrani.svg|18px]] [[Durrani Empire]]
| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_Durrani_Empire.svg}} [[Durrani Empire]]
| combatant2       = {{flag|Maratha Empire}}
| commander1  = Antaji Mankeshwar
| commander1        = [[Sardar Jahan Khan]]
| commander2  = Rahim Khan
| commander2        = Antaji Mankeshwar
| strength1  = 3,400
| strength1        = Unknown
| strength2  = 5,000
| strength2        = 3,400 cavalry{{sfn|Barua|2005|p=55}}
| casualties1 = 100 killed.
| casualties1      = Unknown
| casualties2 = 200-300 killed.
| casualties2      = 100 men and horses<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Ganda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F_A8AAAAMAAJ|title=Ahmad Shah Durrani: Father of Modern Afghanistan|date=1959|publisher=Asia Publishing House|language=en|page=158}}</ref>
| campaignbox      = {{Indian Campaign of Ahmad Shah Durrani}}
}}
}}
The '''Battle of Narela''' took place on 16 January 1757, at [[Narela]], on the outskirts of Delhi, between the [[Maratha Army]] led by Antaji Mankeshwar and an advance column of [[Ahmad Shah Abdali]]'s army, in which the Maratha Army won.<ref name=ad>[[#Me|Mehta, p. 224]]</ref>
The '''Battle of Narela''' took place on 16 January 1757, at [[Narela]], on the outskirts of Delhi, between the [[Maratha Army]] led by Antaji Mankeshwar and an army of [[Ahmad Shah Abdali]].


==The battle==
==Background==
[[Ahmad Shah Durrani]], the emperor of Afghanistan was heading towards Delhi his yet another invasion. The Marathas had signed a treaty with the Mughal emperor in 1752 to give him protection from the foreign invader. The [[Peshwa|Maratha Peshwa]] had appointed [[Antaji Mankeshwar]] along with 50,000 strong Maratha force to guard the emperor. However, the Maratha troops were called back by the [[Peshwa]] for Deccan operations. As a result, most of the Maratha force left Delhi leaving behind some 3,400 troops under [[Antaji Mankeshwar]]. So, the small garrison of Marathas along with the forces of [[Imad-ul-Mulk]] and [[Najib-ud-daula]] had the responsibility to guard the Mughal capital from Durrani. By 14 January 1757, Durrani had reached [[Sonipat]] and decided to stay there. He sent Rahim Khan with 5,000 strong Afghan force to capture the regions around Delhi. Antaji was asked to move along with his contingent along the road towards [[Karnal]] to check the progress of the Afghan invader. The Marathas and Afghans collided in a fierce battle in [[Narela]], on the outskirts of Delhi. The Afghans were defeated and finally they retreated to Sonipat, where their emperor was staying.<ref name=ad/><ref>[[#Ba|Barua, p. 55]]</ref>
[[Ahmad Shah Durrani]], the emperor of Afghanistan was heading towards Delhi, for yet another invasion. The Marathas had signed a treaty with the [[Mughal emperors|Mughal Emperor]] in 1752 to give him protection from the foreign invader. The [[Peshwa|Maratha Peshwa]] had appointed Antaji Mankeshwar along with 50,000 strong Maratha force to guard the emperor. However, the Maratha troops were called back by the [[Peshwa]] for the [[Deccan]] operations. As a result, most of the Maratha force left Delhi leaving behind some 3,400 troops under [[Antaji Mankeshwar]].<ref name="Barua, p. 55">[[#Ba|Barua, p. 55]]</ref><ref name="ad">[[#Me|Mehta, p. 224]]</ref>
 
==Battle==
The small garrison of Marathas along with the forces of [[Imad-ul-Mulk]] and [[Najib-ud-daula]] had the responsibility to guard the Mughal capital from Durrani. Antaji was asked to move along with his contingent along the road towards [[Karnal]] to check the progress of the Afghan invader. The Marathas and Afghans collided in a fierce battle in [[Narela]], on the outskirts of Delhi.<ref name="Barua, p. 55"/><ref name="ad"/>


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
After his initial victory over the invader's advanced guard, [[Antaji Mankeshwar|Antaji]] was returning from Narela when his troops were intercepted by a huge army on the outskirts of Delhi in the night of 16–17 January.
Later at night, [[Antaji Mankeshwar|Antaji]] was returning from Narela when his troops were intercepted by a huge army on the outskirts of Delhi in the night of 16–17 January.
The Marathas were completely taken by surprise, but they fought desperately and hurriedly retreated towards [[Faridabad]], 30&nbsp;km from Delhi with a loss of about 1000 troops. The next day, it became known that the unidentified foe who had treacherously lead a surprise attack on the Marathas, the night before was [[Najib-ud-daula]], a courtier of the Mughal emperor. Najib betrayed the emperor and his wazir at the most critical time and moved out of Delhi with his 20,000 well equipped troops to join the invader's camp. As a result, the emperor got alone once again and Abdali successfully marched to the [[Red Fort]] unopposed and looted the capital city of Mughals.<ref name=ad/><ref>[[#Sa|Sarkar, p. 62]]</ref>
The Marathas were completely taken by surprise, but they fought desperately and hurriedly retreated towards [[Faridabad]], 30&nbsp;km from Delhi with heavy losses. The next day, it became known that the unidentified foe who had treacherously lead a surprise attack on the Marathas, the night before was [[Najib-ud-daula]], a courtier of the Mughal emperor. Najib betrayed the emperor and his [[Vizier|wazir]] at the most critical time and moved out of Delhi with his 20,000 well equipped troops to join the invader's camp. As a result, Abdali entered Delhi with Najib-ud-Daula on 28 January 1757, and taken to the [[Red Fort]] unopposed by the Mughal Emperor in humility. The Mughal Emperor was arrested and Najib was put in charge of the administration of Delhi.<ref name=ad/><ref>[[#Sa|Sarkar, p. 62]]</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite book |title=Advanced study in the history of modern India 1707-1813|author= Jaswant Lal Mehta|publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.|year=2005|isbn=1-932705-54-6 |page=225 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&q=Narela&pg=PA225 |ref=Me }}
* {{cite book|title=Advanced study in the history of modern India 1707-1813|author=Jaswant Lal Mehta|publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.|year=2005|isbn=1-932705-54-6|page=225|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&q=Narela&pg=PA225|ref=Me}}
*  Robinson, Howard; James Thomson Shotwell (1922). "Mogul Empire and the Marathas". The Development of the British Empire. Houghton Mifflin. p.&nbsp;134.
*  Robinson, Howard; James Thomson Shotwell (1922). "Mogul Empire and the Marathas". The Development of the British Empire. Houghton Mifflin. p.&nbsp;134.
*  {{cite book |title=The State at War in South Asia|chapter=Marathas at Panipat|author=Pradeep P. Barua|publisher=U of Nebraska Press|year=2005 |isbn=0803213441 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FIIQhuAOGaIC&q=Battle+of+Narela+1757&pg=PA55 |ref=Ba }}
*  {{cite book|title=The State at War in South Asia|chapter=Marathas at Panipat|author=Pradeep P. Barua|publisher=U of Nebraska Press|year=2005|isbn=0803213441|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FIIQhuAOGaIC&q=Battle+of+Narela+1757&pg=PA55|ref=Ba}}
* {{cite book |title=Fall of the Mughal Empire, Vol. 2|author=Jadunath Sarkar|author-link=Jadunath Sarkar|publisher= M. C. Sarkar |year=1966|ref= Sa}}
* {{cite book|title=Fall of the Mughal Empire, Vol. 2|author=Jadunath Sarkar|author-link=Jadunath Sarkar|publisher=M. C. Sarkar|year=1966|ref=Sa}}


{{MarathaEmpire}}
{{MarathaEmpire}}


{{coord missing|Delhi}}
{{coord missing|Delhi}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}


[[Category:18th century in Delhi]]
[[Category:18th century in Delhi]]

Latest revision as of 01:29, 6 January 2026


Battle of Narela
Part of the Afghan–Maratha conflicts
Date16 January 1757
Location
Narela, Outskirts of Delhi
Result Durrani victory[1]
Belligerents
Durrani Empire  Maratha Empire
Commanders and leaders
Sardar Jahan Khan Antaji Mankeshwar
Strength
Unknown 3,400 cavalry[2]
Casualties and losses
Unknown 100 men and horses[3]
Template:Indian Campaign of Ahmad Shah Durrani

The Battle of Narela took place on 16 January 1757, at Narela, on the outskirts of Delhi, between the Maratha Army led by Antaji Mankeshwar and an army of Ahmad Shah Abdali.

Background[edit | edit source]

Ahmad Shah Durrani, the emperor of Afghanistan was heading towards Delhi, for yet another invasion. The Marathas had signed a treaty with the Mughal Emperor in 1752 to give him protection from the foreign invader. The Maratha Peshwa had appointed Antaji Mankeshwar along with 50,000 strong Maratha force to guard the emperor. However, the Maratha troops were called back by the Peshwa for the Deccan operations. As a result, most of the Maratha force left Delhi leaving behind some 3,400 troops under Antaji Mankeshwar.[4][5]

Battle[edit | edit source]

The small garrison of Marathas along with the forces of Imad-ul-Mulk and Najib-ud-daula had the responsibility to guard the Mughal capital from Durrani. Antaji was asked to move along with his contingent along the road towards Karnal to check the progress of the Afghan invader. The Marathas and Afghans collided in a fierce battle in Narela, on the outskirts of Delhi.[4][5]

Aftermath[edit | edit source]

Later at night, Antaji was returning from Narela when his troops were intercepted by a huge army on the outskirts of Delhi in the night of 16–17 January. The Marathas were completely taken by surprise, but they fought desperately and hurriedly retreated towards Faridabad, 30 km from Delhi with heavy losses. The next day, it became known that the unidentified foe who had treacherously lead a surprise attack on the Marathas, the night before was Najib-ud-daula, a courtier of the Mughal emperor. Najib betrayed the emperor and his wazir at the most critical time and moved out of Delhi with his 20,000 well equipped troops to join the invader's camp. As a result, Abdali entered Delhi with Najib-ud-Daula on 28 January 1757, and taken to the Red Fort unopposed by the Mughal Emperor in humility. The Mughal Emperor was arrested and Najib was put in charge of the administration of Delhi.[5][6]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Barua, Pradeep (2005). The state at war in South Asia. University of Nebraska Press. p. 55. ISBN 9780803213449.
  2. Barua 2005, p. 55.
  3. Singh, Ganda (1959). Ahmad Shah Durrani: Father of Modern Afghanistan. Asia Publishing House. p. 158.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Barua, p. 55
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Mehta, p. 224
  6. Sarkar, p. 62