Battle at Bhagalpur (1745)
| Battle at Bhagalpur | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Maratha invasions of Bengal | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Bengal Subah | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Alivardi Khan Dost Mohammad Khan |
 Raghuji Bhonsle[3] | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 600 Cavalrymen | 6,000 Cavalrymen | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Heavy | ||||||||
  Battle at Bhagalpur Location within Bihar  Battle at Bhagalpur Battle at Bhagalpur (India) | |||||||||
The Battle at Bhagalpur[4] was a military expedition launched by Raghuji against the Bihar territory of the Nawab.
Prelude
[edit]In September 1745, Raghoji attacked Bihar. This strong team of Marathas and Afghans was a big challenge for Alivardi. Also, his main Afghan generals, Shamshir Khan and Sardar Khan, were not loyal to him. They betrayed him during the battle against the Marathas at the Sone River in November.[5]
Battle
[edit]Instead, when Alivardi was away from Murshidabad, the Marathas led by Raghoji quickly rode their light horses to attack and destroy the city. Alivardi rushed back to Murshidabad, but on the way, Raghoji and his 6,000 men ambushed Alivardi near Bhagalpur. Despite being outnumbered, Alivardi bravely fought back with his 600 men and managed to drive the Marathas away.Alivardi was helped by his own officer named Dost Mohammad Khan, who surrounded Raghoji in a way that forced him to leave the area.[6][7][8]
To avoid facing the Bengal army again, Raghuji decided to take a different route through the hills and jungles of Santhal Parganas and Birbhum on his way to Murshidabad.[9]
Aftermath
[edit]After suffering a defeat at Bhagalpur, Raghuji crossed Murshidabad and reached Katwa, where he faced a crushing defeat at the hands of Nawab and was forced to retreat back to his state.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Mishra, Shree Govind (1970). History of Bihar, 1740-1772. Munshiram Manoharlal. p. 46. ISBN 978-81-215-0382-2.-Bhagalpur on the stream of Champanala , a battle was fought between the Nawab and Raghuji . Raghuji was defeated .
- ^ Beames, John (2004). Essays on Orissan History and Literature. Prafulla. p. 20. ISBN 978-81-901589-2-3.Bhagalpur , effected a junction with Ali Vardi Khan at Murshidabad and bore down on Raghoji . The latter having no mind to come to open blows with the Minister of his nominal sovereign , retreated but was overtaken and defeated
- ^ Mishra, Shree Govind (1970). History of Bihar, 1740-1772. Munshiram Manoharlal. p. 46. ISBN 978-81-215-0382-2.
- ^ Kumar, Purushottam (1991). Mutinies and Rebellions in Chotanagpur, 1831-1857. Janaki Prakashan.1745. There was a running battle with Alivardi , and there was again a Battle at Bhagalpur .
- ^ Congress, Indian History (1959). Proceedings - Indian History Congress. p. 386.
- ^ Beames, John (2004). Essays on Orissan History and Literature. Prafulla. p. 20. ISBN 978-81-901589-2-3.
- ^ GANGULI, SAMIR (2023-09-30). THE ZAMINDARS AND NAWABS OF BENGAL. Blue Rose Publishers. p. 285.
- ^ Sahu, N. K. (1980). A History of Orissa. Bharatiya Publishing House. p. 302.
- ^ Society, Bombay Historical (1930). Journal.