Draft:Bajirao's March to Delhi
| Bajirao's March to Delhi | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mughal-Maratha War | |||||||||
 Bajirao I riding a horse into battle c.1720–1740 | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Maratha Empire |
 Mughal Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Bajirao Ranoji Scindia Malharrao Holkar Mastani Damaji Rao Gaekwad Indraji Kadam (WIA) Satwaji Jadhavrao Baji Bhivrao Ruprai Adaru Tukaji Pawar Jiwaji Manaji Paigude Govinda Rao Hari Pilaji Jadhavrao |
Ahmad Shah BahadurMuhammad KhanJai Singh II Sadat Khan Mansuri Ali Khan Mir Bakshi Khan Dowran VII Mir Hasan Koka † Shiv Singh †Qamruddin Khan Azimullah Roz Afzul Khan Amir Khan Muzaffar Khan | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 50,000 Cavalry |
12,000 cavalry led by Mansur Khan 50,000 men led by Sadat Khan 25,000 cavalry led by Khan Durran 12,000 men led by Muhammad Khan Bangash 8,000 men led by Mir Hasan Koka Total:10,07000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 1500+ killed and wounded | 8500+ killed and Wounded | ||||||||
Prelude
[edit]
Bundelkhand and Malwa Campaign
[edit]Bajirao assembled a formidable army of 50,000 horsemen and embarked on his campaign from Pune on November 12, 1736. By December, he had reached Bhopal, ruled by Yar Muhammad, whom he compelled to pay 500,000 rupees. Bajirao then advanced to Bhilsa, arriving on January 5, 1737. There, he confronted and defeated local leaders Malharji Holkar and Ranoji Scindia, capturing the Bhilsa fort on January 13. Subsequently, he moved into Bundelkhand and arrived in Orchha in February 1737. Pilaji Jadhav Rao reported that taxes were collected from Orchha, Narwar, and Datia, marking the conquest of Malwa and Bundelkhand.
Attack on Bhadawar and Ater
[edit]Sadat Khan had provided protection for Ater and Bhadawar, while Gopal Singh chose to confront the Marathas. He assembled an army of 7,000 soldiers, numerous horses, and 45 elephants. Meanwhile, Aniruddha Singh’s brother, having joined the Marathas, revealed a crucial secret that turned the tide in their favor. The Marathas split their forces: one contingent engaged Aniruddha while the other attacked Ater. The king was forced to flee to the safety of the Ater fort and sent urgent pleas for help to Sadat Khan.
Baji Bhivrao was tasked with crossing the Yamuna River and received assistance from Chhatrasal’s son, Hirde Sa. They secured the river crossings and boats, effectively preventing Sadat Khan from crossing. In a desperate move, Raja Gopal Singh left the fort and met Bajirao, who demanded a large ransom of 20 lakh rupees. Gopal Singh paid 15 lakh rupees in cash immediately, with the remainder to be settled later. The capture of Ater on February 18, 1737, finally galvanized the Mughal court, prompting them to begin serious preparations to confront the Marathas.
The expedition
[edit]At Ater, Bajirao found himself roughly 30 miles south of Agra. Two large Mughal armies, commanded by Khan Durran and Qamruddin Khan, were advancing towards Agra and appeared to be blocking the direct route to Delhi. Meanwhile, Sadat Khan's forces from the doab region were attempting to cross the Yamuna River to join the Mughal armies. To counter this, the Peshwa devised a plan to create a diversion by launching a surprise attack into the doab region. This tactic aimed to split the Mughal forces, thereby easing the Marathas path to Delhi.
Battle of Jalesar
[edit][[File:Malharrao_Holkar_in_Doab.jpg|thumb|Malhar rao Holkar in the Lower Doab]
On March 1, 1737, Malharrao Holkar, Satwaji Jadhavrao, and Baji Bhivrao led a swift-moving army of 10,000 lightly equipped cavalrymen. They crossed the Yamuna River at Rapri, about 30 miles northwest of Etawah, and began raiding cities in the doab region. Holkar first attacked Etawah, then proceeded to Shukohabad, Firozabad, and Itimadpur, plundering as he went. Lalji Khatri, the chief of Shukohabad, paid Holkar 1.5 lakh rupees and provided an elephant to save his city. At Itimadpur, Holkar came within a dozen miles of Agra, across the Yamuna River, before turning east and advancing into Jalesar.
During this period, Sadat Khan was stationed in Etawah. He quickly moved his forces eastward to confront Holkar's army. On March 12, 1737, at sunrise, Holkar’s forces met Sadat Khan’s vanguard led by Abul Mansur Khan (later known as Safdar Jung), which comprised 12,000 horsemen. Holkar attempted to encircle this force, but Mansur Khan retreated, leading Holkar to pursue him. This pursuit brought Holkar into direct conflict with Sadat Khan’s main army of 50,000 men. Realizing his forces were outnumbered, Holkar chose to retreat. The Mughal army pursued the Marathas, killing approximately 1,500 of them, including several leaders. In their hasty retreat, the Marathas lost their way and drowned in the Yamuna River. The remaining forces eventually reached Baji Rao’s camp at Kotila near Gwalior.
According to the Siyar-ul-Mutaqherin, Malhar Rao, a prominent general in Bajirao’s army, had raided the region from Etawah to Moty Bagh, leaving destruction in his wake. Sadat Khan, appearing unexpectedly, aggressively pursued the dispersed Marathas. His relentless attack drove them beyond Itimadabad, resulting in significant casualties and the capture of three of Holkar's generals. Malhar Rao Holkar, severely wounded, managed a narrow escape with a few followers, and after abandoning their loot, the main body of his troops fled toward the Yamuna, mistakenly crossing a part of the river without a ford and perishing.
After the skirmish, Sadat Khan crossed the Yamuna and reached Agra. The Siyar-ul-Mutaqherin notes that Sadat Khan even advanced to the north bank of the Chambal River, looking for the Maratha main army but finding none. He then returned to Agra and sent letters to the Nizam and Emperor, falsely claiming he had defeated the Marathas and driven them south of the Chambal River. Pleased with this news, the Emperor rewarded Sadat Khan with valuable gifts.
Just as Sadat Khan was preparing for further action, he received a message from Khan Dauran, who was on his way to join him and suggested waiting until they could combine their forces. Unsure at first, Sadat Khan eventually decided to halt his advance and moved west to meet Khan Dauran near Mathura three days later. Meanwhile, Qamruddin Khan and Bangash were stationed about 30 kilometers from Delhi, awaiting the arrival of the Marathas. When Khan Dauran arrived in Agra, he brought 25,000 horsemen, numerous cannons, and elephants. Muhammad Khan Bangash also joined with an additional 12,000 men, amassing nearly 90,000 troops around Agra, while Wazir Qamruddin Khan, just a day's march west of them, prepared to join the gathering forces.
Bajirao's Actions
[edit]At Kotila, near Gwalior, Bajirao evaluated his options. His safest bet was to retreat to the Deccan, as three large Mughal armies were obstructing his route to Delhi. Another option was to remain in the Chambal River ravines, near Ater or Gwalior, but this too was fraught with danger. The third and most audacious choice was to advance and launch an assault on Delhi itself.
In his letter to Chimaji Appa, Bajirao wrote: I am currently camped near Jainagar. I sent my heavy luggage and camp followers to Bundelkhand with Raja Jagatraj and have now become lightly equipped. I notified you of the arrival of the sardars following their clash with Sadat Khan, which you should have received. Sadat Khan crossed the Yamuna and took refuge in Agra. Although I would have confronted him there, his stronghold made it uncertain whether he could be defeated in such a fortified position. With Khan Dauran and Muhammad Khan Bangash approaching Agra, the situation would become even more complicated, and staying at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, with its numerous ravines, was not advisable.
Sadat Khan wrote to the Emperor, Khan Dauran, and Qamruddin Khan, boasting that he had annihilated our forces upon crossing the Yamuna. He claimed to have killed two thousand, drowned another two thousand, and defeated Malharrao Holkar and Vithoji Bule. He exaggerated his triumphs and the weakness of our army, declaring that he would soon push us beyond the Chambal. He was rewarded by the Emperor with robes, a pearl necklace, an elephant, and a turban for his representative. Sadat Khan consolidated his position and wrote scornfully to many amirs. I received updates from Dhondo Govind regularly. His claims of our army being defeated and lifeless were nothing more than games of deception.
However, you know how the Mughals operate: they boast much but accomplish little. To disprove the Emperor's misconceptions, we have two options: either defeat Sadat Khan decisively or attack Delhi and burn its suburbs to demonstrate our continued strength. Since Sadat Khan refuses to leave Agra, I have chosen to advance towards Delhi, set fire to its suburbs, and prove to the Emperor that the Marathas are still a formidable force.
The Dash to Delhi
[edit]
Bajirao's remarkable journey saw him cover nearly 200 kilometers in just four days and nights, skillfully evading Wazir, Sadat Khan, and multiple Mughal armies to reach Delhi. By March 23rd, the day of Ram Navami—a major Hindu festival celebrating Lord Rama's birth—Sadat Khan, Khan Dauran, and Bangash were still 140 kilometers away at Radha Kund near Mathura.
In Delhi, Bajirao made a dramatic entrance during the Ram Navami festival at the Kalika temple near the Khizrabad grove. The festival's festive atmosphere provided cover for Bajirao's men to loot goods, elephants, and camels. His sudden appearance was like a storm disrupting a calm day, causing immediate chaos in the fairs and markets around Tughlaqabad, south of the walled city of Delhi.
Panicked citizens had already fled to the city, spreading tales of Bajirao's intimidating presence. Pilgrims who had been robbed and mistreated by his men were the first to raise the alarm at the city gates. Their fearful cries about Bajirao's arrival were initially met with disbelief by the Emperor and his advisors. However, as detailed by the historian Ashob, the scene quickly transformed into one of shock and disorder.
What could Bajirao have to do at Kalka devi? It was some small raid of Mewati thieves and nothing more. Why had the traders been so careless and overconfident as to take their goods into a waste place? But doubts still lingered in the minds of the courtiers; and in the afternoon a man disguised as a mendicant was sent to Kalka Malcha, and Tal Katora to find out how things stood. The messenger returned before midnight. Appearing before the Emperor he took out of his beggar's wallet a handful of grain, mostly dry unground gram, a few scraps of raw half-baked bread devoid of salt and some pods of red pepper. These were the alms he had received in the Mahratta camp. He told them that in the morning by breakfast time there would be an attack on the city.
— Ashob
The city and the Emperor's court were in turmoil throughout the night. It was astounding that the Marathas had reached Delhi, given that two large armies were stationed south of the capital. This led many to speculate that these armies had been defeated, leaving the Emperor with little choice but to surrender. Sad-ud-din Khan, a seasoned artilleryman who had served under the Nizam, deemed it beneath the Emperor's dignity to personally confront the Marathas, whom he disparaged as "lowly" and "mere ploughmen." He suggested that instead of hiding behind the fort walls, the remaining 10,000 to 12,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers in the city should be sent out to fight the Marathas. Amir Khan, the Emperor's current favorite, was appointed to lead the troops.
A small reserve force was left behind to guard the Emperor and secure the boats on the Yamuna River in case an evacuation was necessary to protect the women. The main army assembled under Amir Khan’s command near the Misri Khan gate in the Paharganj area as night fell. More Mughal officers joined, and they established a defensive position with guns and strategic intervals from the city to Tal Katora. As dawn arrived, the Marathas had yet to attack.
Amid the confusion, a young and ambitious officer named Mir Hasan Koka Khan saw an opportunity to make a name for himself. He criticized the Emperor for hiding and marched out to join Amir Khan’s forces. Despite Amir Khan's warnings against a rash assault on the Marathas, the young and impulsive officers disregarded his counsel. They mustered around 7,000 to 8,000 men, insulted Amir Khan, and proceeded towards Rakabganj, where they were spotted by the vigilant Bajirao.
Clash with Hasan Koka
[edit]Sarvaji Jadhav managed to lure Mir Hasan Koka and his inexperienced soldiers about two miles away from Amir Khan's main force. With this opportunity, Bajirao launched a full-scale attack on the Mughal army with his entire force, resulting in a decisive defeat for the Mughals.
In Bajirao's own account of the battle, he describes how Sarvaji Jadhav engaged the Mughal forces, causing some initial skirmishes. Following this, Sarvaji sent a message prompting Bajirao to send his key commanders: Malharrao Holkar, Ranoji Scindia, Tukaji Pawar, Jiwaji Pawar, Yashwant Rao Pawar, Manaji Paigude, and Govind Hari. The attack was devastating for the Mughals—Raja Shiv Singh and ten to twelve courtiers were killed, Nawab Mir Hasan Khan Koka was injured, and at the Digarbad chowk, another 250 to 300 were killed, with around 400 wounded. Roz Afzul Khan, Amir Khan, and Muzaffar Khan fled to the city. The Marathas captured about 2,000 horses, and 5,000 to 6,000 of the enemy troops fled. Indraji Kadam, who was with Ranoji Scindia, lost two fingers to a bullet wound, but no other notable figures were killed or injured. After the battle, the Marathas set up camp by the lake, with about four ghatika of daylight remaining.
Sudden retreat
[edit]At the lake , Bajirao learned that Qamruddin Khan's army was nearing their position. Qamruddin, stationed just 100 kilometers from Delhi at Kaman Pahari, had recently moved from Malcha to Mehramnagar, which is located west of Delhi near the current airport. He then proceeded to Alla Vardi's rest stop in Gurgaon.
Meanwhile, the Emperor stayed up late in his court, anxiously waiting for confirmation that the enemy had departed. The messengers finally arrived with news that the Wazir, accompanied by his cousin Azimullah at the front and the Nizam's eldest son Ghaziuddin at the rear, were approaching the capital. This news brought a great sense of relief to the people of Delhi.
Battle of Badshahpur
[edit]At Badshahpur on March 31, 1737, the Wazir was reluctant to engage in battle as evening approached, given that he had only half of his troops and they were unprepared for combat. Despite this, his cousin Azimullah was eager for battle.
Azimullah pressed forward on his elephant, accompanied by flying artillery and a few troops. He gradually moved ahead of the Wazir and eventually managed to distance himself completely. Sending a message to the Wazir, he indicated that he was in close contact with the enemy and intended to launch an attack, urging the Wazir to follow with his full force. After a brief prayer, Azimullah advanced with the cry "God is great." The Marathas, under Bajirao, responded by mobilizing to meet the challenge. Champions from both sides clashed with weapons drawn, while the Wazir's general ordered the big kettledrums to play and his artillery and matchlockmen to engage. Bajirao countered with his own drums and trumpets, and the Marathas vanguard repeatedly attacked the advancing Muslim forces.
As night fell, the Wazir’s main army arrived at the front lines. Overwhelmed by the increasing number of enemy soldiers, the Marathas chose to retreat. They withdrew from the battlefield and traveled through the night towards Rajputana, eventually reaching Rewari and Kot Putli by dawn.