| Battle Of Konkan 1453 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
| Bahamani Sultante | Maratha Soldiers | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Khalaf Hasan Basri☠️ | Shirke Raja | ||||
| Units involved | |||||
| 7000 Elite Shia Infantry and 3000 Arab Sunni Cavalry | Unknown | ||||
| Strength | |||||
| 10000 | Unknown but less | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 7000 | Very Few Soldiers | ||||
The Battle of Konkan was a battle which took place in 1453 AD between the Maratha forces of Shirke Raja and Shankar Raya of Singur against Army of the Bahamani Sultanate which resulted in defeat of the Latter.[1] This Battle resulted in Complete Rout of the Bahamani Forces which were 10000 Strong.[2]
Background[edit | edit source]
The Bahamani Sultan Ala-ud-Din Mujahid Shah decided to Conquer the Coastal Forts of Konkan in Western Maharashtra. He gave this task to his Grand Vazier Khalaf Hasan Basri also known as Malik-ut-Tujjar. The Bahamanis Put together a Force of 10000 which was the deadliest yet. The army Consisted of Sunni Arab Cavalry, Elite Shia Infantry.[3]
After Penetrating Konkan they captured Local Maratha King Shirke Raja And asked him to Convert to Islam save his Life. But Shirke asked them to first Eliminate the Local Rival Raja of Singur for safety of his Subjects and Land Holdings. Malik Agreed to this demand and Marched to Capture his Forts.[4]
At this Time Shirke Raja sent a Secret messenger to his ally Shankar Raya. They formulated a Plan to Eliminate the Bahamani Army in Dense forest of Western Ghats.
Battle[edit | edit source]
According to this Plan the Army was led by Shirke Raja along with Malik-ut-Tujjar. The Bahamanis had to Travel through Bad Weather, Alien Climatic Conditions and had to face other Natural Barriers. The Health of the Soldiers Deteriorated due to these Reasons.[5]
Shirke Using the Cover of Thick Forests and ill Health of Malik due to Weather conditions escaped by Sea and Regrouped with Shankar Raya to Attack the Bahamani Forces. [6]
At Night many Maratha Soldiers loyal to Shankar Raya who were in Hiding emerged with Daggers and Swords and started Slaughtering the Bahamanis. In the battle that followed the Bahamani Army was Utterly defeated, this was because of Speed and Surprise of the Combined Attack, and the Surviving Soldiers were put to Flight.[7]
Aftermath[edit | edit source]
7000 Bahamani Soldiers lost their lives, Even the Grand Vazier was Killed in this battle along with 500 Nobles from Medina and Karbala. Also A few Abyssinian and Deccan Nobles had to Lose their Lives. This was a Major Defeat for the Bahamanis as they lost Most of their Elite Force and Also their Most Skilled General.[8]
This Battle Ensured the Independence of the Konkani Maratha Kingdoms till the end of the 15th Century.[9]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Ferishta's History of Deccan Volume 1.p.125
- ↑ Ferishta's History of Deccan Volume 1.p.122
- ↑ Ferishta's History of Deccan Volume 1.p.122
- ↑ Ferishta's History of Deccan Volume 1.p.123
- ↑ Ferishta's History of Deccan Volume 1.p.124
- ↑ Ferishta's History of Deccan Volume 1.p.124
- ↑ Ferishta's History of Deccan Volume 1.p.125
- ↑ James Duff's History of the Maharattas.p.47
- ↑ Ferishta's History of Deccan Volume 1.p.125
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.281251