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{{Short description|War between Marathas and Jaipur}} | {{Short description|War between Marathas and Jaipur}} | ||
{{Copy edit|for=tone|date=October 2025}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2020}} | {{Use Indian English|date=September 2020}} | ||
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| image = | | image = | ||
| caption = | | caption = | ||
| date = 10 May 1715<ref name=JP/> | | date = 10 May 1715<ref name=JP>{{Cite book|first=Jadunath|last=Sarkar|title=History of Jaipur: C. 1503-1938|publisher=Orient Longman|year=1984|isbn=9788125003335|pages=163–166|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O0oPIo9TXKcC&q=Malwa|accessdate=2020-09-23}}</ref> | ||
| place = | | place = Pilsud, [[Barwani district]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] | ||
| coordinates = | | coordinates = | ||
| result = | | result = Rajput victory<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hooja |first=Rima |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qqd1RAAACAAJ |title=A History of Rajasthan |date=2006 |publisher=Rupa and Co. |isbn=978-81-291-1501-0 |quote="In May 1715, Jai Singh successfully repulsed the advance of a Maratha contingent, under the command of Kanhoji Bhonsle and Khande Rao Dhabare that was marching towards Malwa.."}}</ref><ref name=LK>{{Cite book|first=R.K.& S.R. |last=Gupta & Bakshi|title=Rajasthan Through the Ages vol. 4|publisher=Sarup & Sons|year=2008|isbn=9788176258418|pages=91, 92|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DLQeSBLpUwsC&dq=Kanhoji+Bhonsle&pg=PA92|accessdate=2020-09-23|quote=Nothing daunted, the travel worn Rajput army took up the challenge. Budh Singh had led the van. Chhatra Sai Bundela and Dhiraj Singh Khichi as well as amny local zamindars who had joined on the way fought under Jai Singh. After four hours of long struggle the Maratha Army broke and fled.}}</ref><ref name=VS>{{Cite book|first=V.S.|last=Bhatnagar|title=Life and times of Sawai Jai Singh|publisher=Impex India|year=1974|pages=116–117|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=plFuAAAAMAAJ|quote=}}</ref> | ||
| combatant1 = [[File:Flag of Jaipur.svg|25px|]] [[ | | combatant1 = [[File:Flag of Jaipur.svg|25px]] [[Kingdom of Amber]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Keay |first=John|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tarbo7OzEO8C|title=India: A History |date=2000|publisher=Grove Publication|page=360|isbn=0802137970|quote=."A year later Ajit Singh and Jai Singh Kacchwaha again rose in revolt and attacked the provincial capital of Ajmer. Such repeated defiance would once have invited the direst of reprisals but now elicited only further clemency. As Bahadur Shah hastened away to the Panjab to deal with the Sikhs, it began to look as if imperial indulgence of the rajputs, once founded on strength and dictated by policy, was now beset by doubt and dictate by circumstance. Ten years later, after further rajput defiance and more abject Mughal concessions, the Jaipur and Udaipur rajas were said to have 'all the country from 30 kos [about a hundred kilometres] of Delhi, when the native land of Jai Singh begins, to the shores of the sea at Surat" |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hooja |first=Rima |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qqd1RAAACAAJ |title=A History of Rajasthan |date=2006 |publisher=Rupa and Co. |isbn=978-81-291-1501-0 |quote="Marwar's Ajit Singh and Amber's Sawai Jai Singh were among the powerful Rajput rulers of the Rajasthan area who wielded considerable authority at the Imperial Mughal Court during much of this time. This was, albeit, with setbacks, that depended on their intra-personal relations with the often changing incumbents of the Imperial 'Peacock' Mughal throne and the strong, entrenched, coteries that held sway over the Mughal court."}}</ref> | ||
| combatant2 = | *[[Panna State|Bundelkhand]] | ||
| commander1 = [[Jai Singh II]]<br>[[Chhatrasal|Chhatrasal Bundela]]<br> Budh Singh Hada<br>Dhiraj Singh Khichi | *[[Bundi State|Bundi]] | ||
| commander2 = Kanhoji Bhonsle<br>[[Khanderao Dabhade]]<br>Ganga Rao<br>Dilir Khan<br>Inayat Khan | *[[Raghogarh State|Raghogarh]] | ||
| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg}} [[Maratha Confederacy]] | |||
* Afghan chieftains | |||
| commander1 = [[Jai Singh II]]<br>[[Chhatrasal|Chhatrasal Bundela]]<br>Budh Singh Hada<br>[[Dhiraj Singh (Khichi)|Dhiraj Singh Khichi]] | |||
| commander2 = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px|]] [[Bhonsles of Nagpur|Kanhoji Bhonsle]]<ref>"Kanhoji ruled for twenty years and paved the foundation of a solid rule in Berar"; Coinage of the Bhonsle Rajas of Nagpur by Prashant P. Kulkarni pg. 7 [https://books.google.com/books?id=51caAAAAYAAJ&q=kanhoji+parsoji]</ref><br>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px|]] [[Khanderao Dabhade]]<br>[[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px|]] Ganga Rao<br>Dilir Khan<br>Inayat Khan | |||
| strength1 = 10,000 Rajputs<ref name=JP/><ref name=LK/> | | strength1 = 10,000 Rajputs<ref name=JP/><ref name=LK/> | ||
| strength2 = 42,000 Marathas | | strength2 = 42,000 Marathas<ref name=JP/><ref name=LK/> | ||
| casualties1 = | | casualties1 = | ||
| casualties2 = | | casualties2 = | ||
| conflict = | | conflict = Battle of Pilsud | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''Battle of Pilsud''' was fought between [[Sawai Jai Singh]] and the Marathas under Kanhoji Bhonsle and [[Khanderao Dabhade]]. | The '''Battle of Pilsud''' was fought between [[Sawai Jai Singh]] and the Marathas under Kanhoji Bhonsle and [[Khanderao Dabhade]]. | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Jai Singh's assignment was exceptionally challenging. If he had only the Marathas to deal with, and the local population had been stable, he could have defended [[Malwa]] with relative ease. However, the situation was far more complex. Despite this, his first year in command demonstrated his effectiveness. His force of 10,000 seasoned soldiers, including well-equipped musketeers, artillery, and ample financial resources, helped restore some order. His reputation as an experienced commander from [[Aurangzeb]]'s wars had preceded him, and he had capable lieutenants such as Chhatrasal Bundela and Budh Singh Hada. By the end of 1714, he had suppressed much of the disorder in Malwa. The Marathas, likely distracted by internal conflicts, refrained from launching any major raids that winter, and the local rebels, after facing swift punishment, either surrendered or went into hiding. Recognizing his success, the Emperor sent him a robe of honor on 13 August accompanied by a letter of appreciation that read, "You have not left any trace of the robbers; travelers can now pass in peace."<ref name=JP/> | |||
Jai Singh had achieved this stability through relentless movement and decisive action. Just a week after reaching [[Ujjain]], he launched a campaign against the Afghan chief Inayet, who had been pillaging near the city with a band of 7,000 horsemen. Jai Singh dispatched Nandlal Choudhuri to confront him, forcing the Afghans to retreat towards [[Shahjahanpur|Shajahanpur]]. Later, Dilir Afghan was defeated near [[Kashigaon]] on 25 March 1714, and Mohan Singh, an Umat Rajput rebel aligned with Ruhela mercenaries, was killed on 14 April. In early May, Jai Singh sent a Bundela contingent under Chhatrasal's son to Khimlasa and Bhorasa, which prompted the Maratha camp south of the [[Narmada River|Narmada]] to abandon any plans of crossing into Malwa. Having dealt with these threats, he returned to Ujjain on 12 May.<ref name=JP/> | |||
However, Malwa's volatile nature meant that this peace was neither absolute nor permanent. By August, highway robberies were reported near Narwar, necessitating the establishment of a military outpost. Meanwhile, Puranmal Ahir led a rebellion in the Ahir region, blocking the Sironj-Kalabagh road and using his fortresses at Ranod and Ondhera to challenge the administration for several months.<ref name=JP/> | |||
Jai Singh's next challenge arose at Rampura, near the [[Mewar]] frontier, where a succession dispute had been raging since Aurangzeb's time. On 24 January 1715, Gopal Singh Chandrawat, the rightful heir, managed to reclaim Rampura from Badan Singh, the son of his dispossessed father, Ratan Singh--who had been converted to Islam by Aurangzeb and renamed Islam Khan. Jai Singh supported Gopal Singh's claim and soon mediated a settlement between the old chief and his grandson, as the Afghan mercenaries hired in this family feud were wreaking havoc on the small principality.<ref name=JP/> | |||
In order to deal with the turbulent bands of marauders, Jai Singh had maintained an army of 10,000 soldiers, which included the clansmen of Budh Singh Hada and Chatrasal Bundela. The army was well equipped and included a contingent of [[musketeer]]s and [[artillery]]. There were many troubles for Jai Singh II when he was the governor of [[Malwa]]. Jai Singh had a good start in his governorship as there were no Maratha raids during the winters. Jai Singh took advantage of this and wiped out the local rebels and raiders. On 13 August 1714 the Emperor sent Jai Singh a Robe of Honour and said "you have not left any trace of the robbers; travellers can now pass in peace". Jai Singh also repelled the Afghan chieftain called Inayat, who was raiding Ujjain. On 25 March 1714 Jai Singh defeated Dilir Khan at Kashigaon and on 14 April he defeated Mohan Singh Umat and the Rohilla mercenaries.<ref name=JP/> In 1715 Jai Singh expelled the [[Maratha]] raider called Ganga and then marched towards [[Sironj]], where he defeated the [[Afghans|Afghan]]s. The Afghans under Dilir Khan called the Marathas for help against Jai Singh II. The [[Kingdom of Amber|Amber]] raja upon getting to know about the large host of Marathas that were approaching, quickly attacked Dilir. On 2 April, he attacked the Afghan army of 12,000 men and defeated them. 2000 Afghans were killed in battle while the Amber army lost 500 men.<ref name=JP/> Jai Singh then turned towards the Afghan camp in [[Bhilsa]] and devastated it.<ref name=JP/><ref name=LK/> It was at this time that reports started coming about two large Maratha armies that had entered Malwa. Kanhoji Bhonsle and Khande Rao Dabhade with an army of 42,000 men had crossed the [[Narmada River]] on 1–2 April and had made their camps at Tilwara.<ref name=JP/> they pillaged within 4 miles of the provincial capital and looted and burnt the city of [[Depalpur, India|Depalpur]]. | |||
==Battle== | ==Battle== | ||
On 5 April the Marathas sent an army of 12,000 horsemen to Barwah and they marched around [[Indore]] and demanded chauth from the province of [[Kampel, Indore|Kampel]].<ref name=JP/> Upon knowing of these developments, Jai Singh quickly marched towards [[Ujjain]] and sent his deputy to secure his capital. On 8 May, the Amber Raja moved towards the Marathas, while the Maratha commanders, Kanho and Ganga were deciding how to cross Narmada with all the loot they had collected. Jai Singh force marched towards them crossing 38 miles and arrived before the Maratha camp on 10 May. The Marathas upon seeing the small Amber army became confident upon their numbers and advanced to fight them. The travel-worn Rajputs also advanced, Budh Singh Hada, Chatrasal Bundela, Dhiraj Singh Khichi and several minor [[Jagirdar]]s were under the command of Jai Singh II. After a fight of four hours, the Marathas broke and started fleeing.<ref name=JP/> The Marathas fled six miles away from the field of battle into the mountains of Pilsud and were confidently marching in the mountainous region, thinking that they had escaped. However Jai Singh chased them the whole night and caught up to them on 11 May. Upon seeing the Amber army, the Marathas fled to the Narmada River and left all of their loot.<ref name=JP/><ref name=LK/> | |||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
Latest revision as of 01:25, 7 February 2026
 | This article may require copy editing for tone. (October 2025) |
| Battle of Pilsud | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Jai Singh II Chhatrasal Bundela Budh Singh Hada Dhiraj Singh Khichi |
 Kanhoji Bhonsle[7] Khanderao Dabhade Ganga RaoDilir Khan Inayat Khan | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 10,000 Rajputs[3][5] | 42,000 Marathas[3][5] | ||||||
The Battle of Pilsud was fought between Sawai Jai Singh and the Marathas under Kanhoji Bhonsle and Khanderao Dabhade.
Background[edit | edit source]
Jai Singh's assignment was exceptionally challenging. If he had only the Marathas to deal with, and the local population had been stable, he could have defended Malwa with relative ease. However, the situation was far more complex. Despite this, his first year in command demonstrated his effectiveness. His force of 10,000 seasoned soldiers, including well-equipped musketeers, artillery, and ample financial resources, helped restore some order. His reputation as an experienced commander from Aurangzeb's wars had preceded him, and he had capable lieutenants such as Chhatrasal Bundela and Budh Singh Hada. By the end of 1714, he had suppressed much of the disorder in Malwa. The Marathas, likely distracted by internal conflicts, refrained from launching any major raids that winter, and the local rebels, after facing swift punishment, either surrendered or went into hiding. Recognizing his success, the Emperor sent him a robe of honor on 13 August accompanied by a letter of appreciation that read, "You have not left any trace of the robbers; travelers can now pass in peace."[3]
Jai Singh had achieved this stability through relentless movement and decisive action. Just a week after reaching Ujjain, he launched a campaign against the Afghan chief Inayet, who had been pillaging near the city with a band of 7,000 horsemen. Jai Singh dispatched Nandlal Choudhuri to confront him, forcing the Afghans to retreat towards Shajahanpur. Later, Dilir Afghan was defeated near Kashigaon on 25 March 1714, and Mohan Singh, an Umat Rajput rebel aligned with Ruhela mercenaries, was killed on 14 April. In early May, Jai Singh sent a Bundela contingent under Chhatrasal's son to Khimlasa and Bhorasa, which prompted the Maratha camp south of the Narmada to abandon any plans of crossing into Malwa. Having dealt with these threats, he returned to Ujjain on 12 May.[3]
However, Malwa's volatile nature meant that this peace was neither absolute nor permanent. By August, highway robberies were reported near Narwar, necessitating the establishment of a military outpost. Meanwhile, Puranmal Ahir led a rebellion in the Ahir region, blocking the Sironj-Kalabagh road and using his fortresses at Ranod and Ondhera to challenge the administration for several months.[3]
Jai Singh's next challenge arose at Rampura, near the Mewar frontier, where a succession dispute had been raging since Aurangzeb's time. On 24 January 1715, Gopal Singh Chandrawat, the rightful heir, managed to reclaim Rampura from Badan Singh, the son of his dispossessed father, Ratan Singh--who had been converted to Islam by Aurangzeb and renamed Islam Khan. Jai Singh supported Gopal Singh's claim and soon mediated a settlement between the old chief and his grandson, as the Afghan mercenaries hired in this family feud were wreaking havoc on the small principality.[3]
In order to deal with the turbulent bands of marauders, Jai Singh had maintained an army of 10,000 soldiers, which included the clansmen of Budh Singh Hada and Chatrasal Bundela. The army was well equipped and included a contingent of musketeers and artillery. There were many troubles for Jai Singh II when he was the governor of Malwa. Jai Singh had a good start in his governorship as there were no Maratha raids during the winters. Jai Singh took advantage of this and wiped out the local rebels and raiders. On 13 August 1714 the Emperor sent Jai Singh a Robe of Honour and said "you have not left any trace of the robbers; travellers can now pass in peace". Jai Singh also repelled the Afghan chieftain called Inayat, who was raiding Ujjain. On 25 March 1714 Jai Singh defeated Dilir Khan at Kashigaon and on 14 April he defeated Mohan Singh Umat and the Rohilla mercenaries.[3] In 1715 Jai Singh expelled the Maratha raider called Ganga and then marched towards Sironj, where he defeated the Afghans. The Afghans under Dilir Khan called the Marathas for help against Jai Singh II. The Amber raja upon getting to know about the large host of Marathas that were approaching, quickly attacked Dilir. On 2 April, he attacked the Afghan army of 12,000 men and defeated them. 2000 Afghans were killed in battle while the Amber army lost 500 men.[3] Jai Singh then turned towards the Afghan camp in Bhilsa and devastated it.[3][5] It was at this time that reports started coming about two large Maratha armies that had entered Malwa. Kanhoji Bhonsle and Khande Rao Dabhade with an army of 42,000 men had crossed the Narmada River on 1–2 April and had made their camps at Tilwara.[3] they pillaged within 4 miles of the provincial capital and looted and burnt the city of Depalpur.
Battle[edit | edit source]
On 5 April the Marathas sent an army of 12,000 horsemen to Barwah and they marched around Indore and demanded chauth from the province of Kampel.[3] Upon knowing of these developments, Jai Singh quickly marched towards Ujjain and sent his deputy to secure his capital. On 8 May, the Amber Raja moved towards the Marathas, while the Maratha commanders, Kanho and Ganga were deciding how to cross Narmada with all the loot they had collected. Jai Singh force marched towards them crossing 38 miles and arrived before the Maratha camp on 10 May. The Marathas upon seeing the small Amber army became confident upon their numbers and advanced to fight them. The travel-worn Rajputs also advanced, Budh Singh Hada, Chatrasal Bundela, Dhiraj Singh Khichi and several minor Jagirdars were under the command of Jai Singh II. After a fight of four hours, the Marathas broke and started fleeing.[3] The Marathas fled six miles away from the field of battle into the mountains of Pilsud and were confidently marching in the mountainous region, thinking that they had escaped. However Jai Singh chased them the whole night and caught up to them on 11 May. Upon seeing the Amber army, the Marathas fled to the Narmada River and left all of their loot.[3][5]
Aftermath[edit | edit source]
The Maratha army were forced to leave two months worth of loot, that they had acquired from Malwa and Khandesh. Jai allowed his men to keep the spoils of war. "everyone gained booty enough to feed him for years". The emperor praised Jai Singh for his achievement and the local jagirdars confessed that no imperial officer had inflicted such a great victory in Malwa against the Marathas.[3][5]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Keay, John (2000). India: A History. Grove Publication. p. 360. ISBN 0802137970.
."A year later Ajit Singh and Jai Singh Kacchwaha again rose in revolt and attacked the provincial capital of Ajmer. Such repeated defiance would once have invited the direst of reprisals but now elicited only further clemency. As Bahadur Shah hastened away to the Panjab to deal with the Sikhs, it began to look as if imperial indulgence of the rajputs, once founded on strength and dictated by policy, was now beset by doubt and dictate by circumstance. Ten years later, after further rajput defiance and more abject Mughal concessions, the Jaipur and Udaipur rajas were said to have 'all the country from 30 kos [about a hundred kilometres] of Delhi, when the native land of Jai Singh begins, to the shores of the sea at Surat"
- ↑ Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa and Co. ISBN 978-81-291-1501-0.
Marwar's Ajit Singh and Amber's Sawai Jai Singh were among the powerful Rajput rulers of the Rajasthan area who wielded considerable authority at the Imperial Mughal Court during much of this time. This was, albeit, with setbacks, that depended on their intra-personal relations with the often changing incumbents of the Imperial 'Peacock' Mughal throne and the strong, entrenched, coteries that held sway over the Mughal court.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 Sarkar, Jadunath (1984). History of Jaipur: C. 1503-1938. Orient Longman. pp. 163–166. ISBN 9788125003335. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ↑ Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa and Co. ISBN 978-81-291-1501-0.
In May 1715, Jai Singh successfully repulsed the advance of a Maratha contingent, under the command of Kanhoji Bhonsle and Khande Rao Dhabare that was marching towards Malwa..
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Gupta & Bakshi, R.K.& S.R. (2008). Rajasthan Through the Ages vol. 4. Sarup & Sons. pp. 91, 92. ISBN 9788176258418. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
Nothing daunted, the travel worn Rajput army took up the challenge. Budh Singh had led the van. Chhatra Sai Bundela and Dhiraj Singh Khichi as well as amny local zamindars who had joined on the way fought under Jai Singh. After four hours of long struggle the Maratha Army broke and fled.
- ↑ Bhatnagar, V.S. (1974). Life and times of Sawai Jai Singh. Impex India. pp. 116–117.
- ↑ "Kanhoji ruled for twenty years and paved the foundation of a solid rule in Berar"; Coinage of the Bhonsle Rajas of Nagpur by Prashant P. Kulkarni pg. 7 [1]
{{#related:Battle of Gangwana}} {{#related:Battle of Lalsot}} {{#related:Jai Singh II}}