Battle of Kakor (1759)

The Battle of Kakor (Kakkor) was fought between the Maratha empire led by the veteran Gandadhar Tantiya ordered by Malhar Rao Holkar and the Rajput Kingdom of Jaipur under Sawai Madho Singh in present-day Kakor, Uniara, Tonk district of Rajasthan which resulted in a decisive Jaipur victory.

Battle of Kakkor
Date 1759 A.D. Location Kakor, Uniara, Tonk district, Rajasthan Result Decisive Rajput victory. Gangadhar Tantiya, unable to face the Kachchawa might, fled the battlefield. Jankoji Rao Scindia 3 year long siege of fortress of Ranthambore failed.
Belligerents
Kingdom of Jaipur	Maratha empire
Commanders and leaders
Sawai Madho Singh	Malhar Rao Holkar Gangadhar Tantiya(Chandrachud)
Casualties and losses
Jodh Singhji of Choumu Ram Singhji Thakur Gulab Singhji of Bagru Sawai Singhji Rathor Udawat, son of Achal Singhji of Hathod Shyam Singhji, son of Samarth Singhji and grandson of Bijai Singhji of Masuda Nirbhey Singhji, son of Zorawar Singhji Nathawat of Jaitpura Doulat Singhji, uncle of Kesari Singhji, son of Bharat Singhji Nathawat Salim Singhji, son of Sawai singhji Nathawat-Kishnawat Kanak Singhji Nathawat, son of Makhan Singhji and grandson of Ishri Singhji Junior members of the family of Thakur Arjun Singhji, son of Nar Singhdasji Nathawat of Jaitpura Nar Singhdasji, son of Padam Singhji Nathawat of Udaipuria, who represented his brother Jodh Singhji, son of Rai Singhji of Jasoda Younger brother of Surajmalji, son of Fateh Singhji Nathawat of Jaisinghpura	413 dead

Background

When Jankoji Rao Scindia laid siege on the fortress of Ranthambore, Mahtaji and Mirzaji, the commanders incharge of the fortress where strongly determined to lose the fort to the Marathas. Eventually they lost hopes as the Mughal emperor did not send any help to protect the fortress from falling into Maratha hands.
Thakur Anup Singh Khangarot (brother of Pahar Singh Khangarot of Dudu), using his political genius and tact, started negotiations with Mahtaji and Mirzaji in order to get hold of the fortress of Ranthambore under the control of Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh ji of Jaipur.
He was successful in getting hold of the fortress which resulted in making the Marathas uncomfortable.

This step of Maharaja of Jaipur totally angered Peshwa Balaji Bajirao. The Peshwa asked Malhar Rao Holkar to lay siege on the fortress of Ranthambore and capture it from the Maharaja of Jaipur. Malhar Rao ordered the veteran Gangadhar Tantiya to lay siege on the fortress.

Battle

In the year of 1759 AD, in order to lay siege on the fortress of Ranthambore, the Marathas under Gangadhar Tantiya (chandra-chud) marched towards the fortress and set their camp at Kakor. This is where Tantiya and his forces came under a fierce attack by the Rajput forces of Jaipur state under Thakur Jodh Singhji Nathawat of Choumu, Rawal Ram Singji of Samod and Thakur Gulab Singhji Chaturbhujot of Bagru.

The Rajput forces of Jaipur aggressively slaughtered more than 400 Maratha warriors in a few hours. Marathas could not withstand this charge of the Rajputs and after a few hours, they fled the field leaving the dead bodies of their fellow men behind on the battlefield.

Result

The Marathas were badly defeated in the battle by the Kachchawa Rajputs of Jaipur.