Battles of Rana Sanga

[Pulakeshin]

Maharana Sangram Singh Sisodia (12 April 1482 – 30 January 1528) commonly known as Rana Sanga, was an Indian ruler of Mewar and head of a powerful Rajput confederacy in Rajputana during the 16th century.[1]

Rana Sanga succeeded his father, Rana Raimal, as king of Mewar in 1508. He fought against the Afghan Lodhi dynasty of Delhi Sultanate, and later against the Turkic Mughals of Ferghana.

Rana Sanga was a grandson of Rana Kumbha. Sanga became the ruler of Mewar after a battle for succession with his brothers.[2]

As ruler of Mewar he united the warring clans of Rajputana and formed a powerful confederacy, uniting the Rajputs after 300 years. The Rana expanded the boundaries of his Kingdom through war and diplomacy with the goal of forming an empire which was governed by a confederacy of ethnic Indian kings, irrespective of their religion.[3]

First taking the advantage of internal strife in the Delhi Sultanate, he expanded into North East Rajasthan after defeating Ibrahim Lodi in the Battle of Khatoli and Battle of Dholpur. Mewar attempted to vassalise Idar by reinstating Raimal onto the throne by defeating Bharmal who was supported by Gujarat. This led to a Mewar-Gujarat war and the Battles of Idar. He defeated the Gujarat Sultanate during Rana Sanga's invasion of Gujarat. Sangram Singh also defeated the joint forces of Gujarat and Malwa Sultanates in the Siege of Mandsaur and the Battle of Gagron.

Following the victory of Babur over the Lodhi Dynasty, Sangram Singh gathered a coalition of Rajputs from the kingdoms of Rajasthan. They were joined by Muslim Rajputs from Mewat and Afghans under Mahmud Lodhi, the son of Sikandar Lodhi of Delhi. This alliance fought against Babur in the Battle of Khanwa to expel Babur from India. Khanwa turned into a disaster for the Rana when Silhadi defected; the Mughal victory was decisive and turned out to become Rana Sangas first and last defeat.

Rana Sanga wanted to prepare another army and fight Babur. However, on 30 January 1528, Rana Sanga died in Chittor, apparently poisoned by his own chiefs who held his plans of renewing the fight with Babur to be suicidal.[4][page needed]

It is suggested that had there not been the cannons of Babur, Rana Sanga might have achieved a historic victory against Babur.[5] The historian Pradeep Barua notes that Babur's cannons had put an end to the outdated trends in Indian warfare.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rana_Sanga

 

[Pulakeshin]

Battle of Khatoli

The Battle of Khatoli was fought in 1518 between the Lodi dynasty under Ibrahim Lodi and the Kingdom of Mewar under Rana Sanga, during which the latter emerged victorious.

On the death of Sikander Lodi in 1518, his son Ibrahim Lodi succeeded him. He was engaged in putting down the revolts of his nobles, when news of Rana Sanga’s encroachments reached him. He prepared an army and marched against Mewar. The Maharana advanced to meet him and the two armies met near the village of Khatoli on the borders of Haravati (Haraoti). The Delhi army could not stand the onslaught of the Rajput’s, and after a fight lasting two pahars (five hours), the Sultan’s army gave way and fled, followed by the Sultan himself, leaving a Lodi prince prisoner in the hands of Sanga. The prince was released after a few days, on payment of a ransom. In this battle, the Maharana lost an arm by a sword cut, and an arrow made him lame for life.

Aftermath

The resources of Ibrahim were depleted by this war with Sanga so he could not renew the contest for some time. However, he sought vengeance on Maharana Sanga for the disastrous defeat inflicted by the latter at Khatoli. And when the rebellion of Islam Khan, which had assumed serious proportions, was suppressed, the Sultan prepared an army to attack Mewar, but was once again defeated in the Battle of Dholpur.

 

[Pulakeshin]

Battle of Dholpur

Ibrahim Lodi was smarting under his defeat at Battle of Khatoli. To avenge it, he made great preparations and moved against Rana Sanga. The Rajput armies were stretched because of wars with the Sultans of Malwa and Gujarat. Ibrahim Lodi was keen on taking advantage of this situation to crush the Rajputs. in hot action fought near Dholpur, the Rajputs, as in the earlier action, made a furious charge. "under its momentum, The Lodi army scattered like dead leaves caught in a gale". Ibrahim Lodi was once again humbled and Rana Sanga followed this victory by capturing most of present-day Rajasthan.

Battle
When the Sultan's army reached the Maharana's territory the Maharana advanced with his Rajputs. As the two armies came in sight of each other near Dholpur,[3] Mian Makhan made dispositions for the battle. Said Khan Furat and Haji Khan were placed on the right, Daulat Khan commanded the center, Allahdad khan and Yusuf Khan were placed on the left. The Sultans army was fully prepared to give the Maharana a warm reception.

The Rajputs started the battle with a cavalry charge which was personally led by Rana Sanga, his cavalry with their accustomed valour, advanced and fell on the Sultans army, and in a short time put the enemy to flight. "Many brave and worthy men were made martyrs and the others were scattered".[4] The Rajputs pushed the Sultans army up to Bayana.[5]

Hussain Khan taunted his fellow nobles from Delhi: "It is a hundred pities that 30,000 horsemen should have been defeated by so few Hindus."

Aftermath
By this victory all that part of Malwa which had been usurped by Muhammad Shah (Sahib Khan), younger brother of Sultan Mahmud Khilji II of Mandu, during his rebellion against his brother, and had subsequently been taken possession of by Sultan Sikander Lodi, father of Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, now fell into the hands of the Maharana. Chanderi was one of the many places which fell into the hands of the Maharana,[6] who bestowed it on Medini Rai.[7]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dholpur

 

[Pulakeshin]

Rana Sanga's Invasion of Gujarat

In 1520 A.D. Rana Sanga led a coalition of Rajput armies to invade Gujarat. He defeated the Gujarat forces under the command of Nizam Khan and plundered the wealth of the Gujarat Sultanate. The Sultan of Gujarat was forced to flee to Muhammadabad.

 

[Pulakeshin]

Siege of Mandsaur

The Sultan of Gujarat left Muhammadabad (modern day Champaner) and returned to his capital after the Maharana had returned to Mewar after his campaign in Gujarat. He was grieved to see his treasuries looted and his palace destroyed and began to think of avenging his defeat. He set about preparing a large army, doubled the pay of the soldiers, and gave them a year's salary in advance.[3]

At last in Muharrum H. 927, December A.D. 1520, the Sultan sent Malik Ayaz with an army of 100,000 cavalry, 100 elephants against Mewar. Another army, consisting of 20,000 horse and 20 elephants was sent under Qiwam-ulmulk to co-operate with Malik Ayaz. Both these armies marched to Modasa. While they were encamped there, the Sultan, according to the Tabqati Akbari, sent reinforcements under Taj Khan and Nizamul-mulk. The Sultans army ravaged Dungarpur and advanced towards Banswara.[4]

After a skirmish between 200 horsemen under Shuja-ul-mulk and others, and some Rajputs in the hills, the Sultan's army advanced and invested the fort of Mandsaur in Malwa, then in the Maharana's possession. The governor of the fort, Asoka Mal, was killed but the fort did not fall. The Maharana left Chitor with a large army and arrived at the village of Nandsa, 12 cos (24 miles) from Mandsaur. In the meantime,- Sultan Mahmud Khilji of Malwa arrived from Mandu to assist the Gujarat forces to repay the debt he owed to Muzaffar Shah. The siege was pressed but no progress was made. The Maharana was reinforced by Medini Rai's army, and Raja Silhadi, the Tomar Chief of Raisen, joined the Maharana with ten thousand cavalry. The Mirati Sikandari says that "all the Rajas of the country round, went to the support of the Rana. Thus on both sides enormous forces were assembled. But the enterprise of Malik Ayaz did not advance in consequence of the ill-feeling entertained against him by the Amirs No progress was made in the siege of the fort."[5]

Aftermath
Malik Ayaz foreseeing the ruin of his forces in the prolongation of the struggle made peace and fell back on Khiljipur, and eventually retreated to Gujarat.[6]The Sultan is said to have received Malik Ayaz coldly when the latter waited on him at Chapaneri. The Mirati Sikandari says that not only was the Sultan very cold to Ayaz, but that all the people of Gujarat called him a coward.[7]

 

[Pulakeshin]

Battle of Gagron

Medini Rai was granted a fief by Rana Sanga. The Malwa Sultan encroached on it. To teach him a lesson, Rana Sanga marched against the Sultan. in the ensuing battle, the Muslim army was completely routed and Sultan Mahmud was taken prisoner. Rana Sanga treated him with honour and restored him his kingdom.

Rana Sanga advanced with a large army from Chittor reinforced by the Rathors of Merta under Rao Viramdeva, and met Sultan Mahmud Khilji II, accompanied by the Gujarat auxiliaries under Asaf Khan. As soon as the battle started the Rajput Cavalry made a fierce charge and tore through the Gujarat Cavalry, the few remnants that survived fled in every direction that they could find. The Rajput cavalry after routing the Gujarat reinforcements turned towards the Malwa army. The Sultan's forces fought bravely but could not withstand the furious charge of the Rajput cavalry and sustained a complete defeat. Most of his officers were killed and the army was nearly annihilated. Asaf Khan's son was killed, and Asaf Khan himself sought safety in flight. Sultan Mahmud was taken prisoner, wounded and bleeding.[2]

Aftermath
Rana Sanga treated the Sultan with honour and restored him his kingdom but as a mark of subjection, the Sultan yielded to the Maharana as nazrana the jewelled crown and belt left as a family heirloom by Sultan Hoshang Shah, the first king of Malwa. The Maharana also kept at Chittor a son of the Sultan as hostage for his future good conduct.

"It is difficult to characterize this clemency of the Maharana as a piece of sound policy. though the historian Abul Fazal gives unstinted praise to the Maharana, and Nizam-Ud-din Ahmed, the bigoted author of Tabqati Akbari, extols this act as an act of unprecedented munificence and magnamity, yet judged by its political results, the act has proved injurious to the national cause of the Rajputs".

Ferishta's Illustration
Ferishta says: "The Sultan led prematurely to a battle in which the Gujrat auxiliary cavalry were destroyed by the Rajput horse, and Sultan himself wounded and taken prisoner. The conduct of Rana Sanga may illustrate the chivalrous character of the Rajputs. His Enemy Rana Sanga of Cheitur, caused him to be bought into his own tent, dressed his wounds, attended him in person, and showed him every mark of attention; and after his recovery, furnished him with an escort of one thousand Rajput horse, who conducted him back to Mandu, where he resumed the reins of government".

 

[Pulakeshin]

Battle of Khanwa

The Battle of Khanwa was fought near the village of Khanwa, in Bharatpur District of Rajasthan, on March 16, 1527. It was fought between the invading forces of the first Mughal Emperor Babur and the Rajput forces led by Rana Sanga of Mewar, after the Battle of Panipat. The victory in the battle consolidated the new Mughal dynasty in India.[4]

Until 1524, Baburs aim was to only expand his rule to Punjab, mainly to fulfill the legacy of his ancestor Timur, since it used to be part of his empire.[5] Major parts of north India were under the rule of Ibrahim Lodi of the Lodi dynasty, but the empire was crumbling and there were many defectors. He received invitations from Daulat Khan Lodi, Governor of Punjab and Ala-ud-Din, uncle of Ibrahim to invade the Delhi Sultanate. The Rajput ruler Rana Sanga upon knowing of Baburs invasion had also sent an ambassador to Babur at Kabul, offering to join in Babur's attack on Sultan Ibrahim Lodi. Sanga had offered to attack Agra while Babur would be attacking Delhi. Ibrahim Lodi was defeated in the First Battle of Panipat, Babur completely destroyed the Lodi army in the battle and killed the Sultan, while losing a few hundred in the conflict.[6] However, while Babur did attack Lodi and took over Delhi and Agra, Sanga made no move, apparently having changed his mind. Babur had resented this backsliding; in his autobiography, Babur accuses Rana Sanga of breach of the agreement. Historian Satish Chandra speculates that Sanga may have imagined a long, drawn-struggle taking place between Babur and Lodi, following which he would be able to take control of the regions he coveted. Alternatively, writes Chandra, Sanga may have thought that in the event of a Mughal victory, Babur would withdraw from Delhi and Agra, like Timur, once he had seized the treasures of these cities. Once he realized that Babur intended to stay on in India, Sanga proceeded to build a grand coalition that would either force Babur out of India or confine him to Afghanistan. In early 1527 Babur started receiving reports of Sanga's advance towards Agra.[7]

Initial Skirmishes
After the First Battle of Panipat, Babur had recognized that his primary threat came from two allied quarters: Rana Sanga and the Afghans ruling eastern India at the time. In a council that Babur called, it was decided that the Afghans represented the bigger threat, and consequently Humayun was sent at the head of an army to fight the Afghans in the east. However, upon hearing of Rana Sanga's advancement on Agra, Humayun was hastily recalled. Military detachments were then sent by Babur to conquer Dholpur, Gwaliar and Bayana, strong forts forming the outer boundaries of Agra. The commanders of Dholpur and Gwalior surrendered their forts to Babur, accepting his generous terms. However, Nizam Khan, the commander of Bayana, opened negotiations with both Babur and Afghans. The force sent by Babur to Bayana was defeated and dispersed by Rana Sanga.[8]

Rajput-Afghan Alliance Against Babur
Rana Sanga had succeeded in building a formidable military alliance against Babur. He was joined by virtually all the leading Rajput kings from Rajasthan, including those from Harauti, Jalor, Sirohi, Dungarpur and Dhundhar. Rao Ganga of Marwar did not join personally but sent a contingent on his behalf led by his son Maldev Rathore. Rao Medini Rai of Chanderi in Malwa also joined the alliance. Further, Mahmud Lodi, the younger son of Sikandar Lodi, whom the Afghans had proclaimed their new sultan also joined the alliance with a force of 10,000 Afghans with him. Khanzada Hasan Khan Mewati, the ruler of Mewat, also joined the alliance with a force of 12,000. Babur denounced the Afghans who joined the alliance against him as kafirs and murtads (those who had apostatized from Islam). Chandra also argues that the alliance weaved together by Sanga represented a Rajput-Afghan alliance with the proclaimed mission of expelling Babur and restoring the Lodi empire.[9]

According to Babur, Rana Sanga's army consisted of 200,000 soldiers. However, according to Alexander Kinloch, this is an exaggeration as the Rajput army did not exceed 40,000 men during the campaign in Gujarat.[10] Even if this figure is exaggerated, Chandra comments that it is indisputable that Sanga's army greatly outnumbered Babur's forces.[11] The greater numbers and reported courage of the Rajputs served to instil fear in Babur's army. An astrologer added to the general unease by his foolish predictions. To raise the flagging morale of his soldiers, Babur gave a religious colour to the battle against Hindus. Babur proceeded to renounce future consumption of wine, broke his drinking cups, poured out all the stores of liquor on the ground and promulgated a pledge of total abstinence.[9] In his autobiography, Babur writes that:

It was a really good plan, and it had a favourable propagandistic effect on friend and foe.[12]

The battle
The Battle of Khanwa took place at Khanwa, near Fatehpur-Sikri, on 16 March 1527. Before the battle, Babur had carefully inspected the site. Like in Panipat, he strengthened his front by procuring carts that were fastened by iron chains (not leather straps, as at Panipat) in the Ottoman fashion. These were used for providing shelter to horses and for storing artillery. Gaps between the carts were used for horsemen to charge at the opponent at an opportune time. To lengthen the line, ropes made of rawhide were placed over wheeled wooden tripods. Behind the tripods, matchlock men were placed who could fire and, if required, advance. The flanks were given protection by digging ditches. In addition to the regular force, small contingents were kept apart on the left flank and in front for the tulghuma (flanking) tactic. Thus, a strong offensive-defensive formation had been prepared by Babur. Rana Sanga, fighting in a traditional way, attacked the Mughal army's flanks. He was prevented from breaking through by reinforcements dispatched by Babur. Once the advance of the Rajputs and their Afghan allies had been contained, Babur's flanking tactic came into play. The carts and matchlock men were ordered to advance, hemming in the Rajputs and their allies. At about this time Silhadi of Raisen deserted the Ranas army and went over to Babur's. Despite putting up a gallant fight, Rana Sanga and his allies suffered a disastrous defeat. Following his victory, Babur ordered a tower of enemy skulls to be erected, a practice formulated by Timur against his adversaries, irrespective of their religious beliefs. According to Chandra, the objective of constructing a tower of skulls was not just to record a great victory, but also to terrorize opponents. Earlier, the same tactic had been used by Babur against the Afghans of Bajaur.[11]

Aftermath
The Battle of Khanwa demonstrated that Rajput bravery was not enough to counter Babur's superior generalship and organizational skills. Babur himself commented:

Swordsmen though some Hindustanis maybe, most of them are ignorant and unskilled in military move and stand, in soldierly counsel and procedure.

[13] Rana Sanga managed to evade capture and escape to Chittor, but the grand alliance he had built collapsed. Quoting Rushbrook Williams, Chandra writes:

The powerful confederacy which depended so largely for its unity upon the strength and reputation of Mewar, was shattered by a single defeat and ceased henceforth to be a dominant factor in the politics of Hindustan.

[11]

On 30 January 1528 Rana Sanga died in Chittor, apparently poisoned by his own chiefs, who held his plans of renewing the fight with Babur to be suicidal.[11]

It is suggested that had it not been for the cannon of Babur, Rana Sanga might have achieved victory. Pradeep Barua notes that Babur's cannon put an end to outdated trends in Indian warfare.[14]

 

[Pulakeshin]

Battles of Idar

The Battles of Idar were three major battles fought in the principality of Idar between the armies of the two princes of Idar, Bhar Mal who was supported by the Gujarat Sultanate under Muzaffar Shah II and Rai Mal who was supported by the Rajputs under Rana Sanga. The main reason for Rana Sangas involvement in these battles was to reinstate Rai Mal to his rightful throne and to weaken the growing power of the Gujarat Sultanate. In 1517 Rai Mal with the help of Rana Sanga was able to successfully defeat Muzzafar Shah II and retake his kingdom.

Background
When Sanga came to the throne, the Gujarat Sultanate was at the meridian of its power and prosperity under Muzaffar Shah II. It was through Idar that Sanga came into collision with the Sultan of Gujarat. Idar, was a small Rathor Rajput principality situated on the borders of Gujarat. Its ruler, Rao Bhan, died, leaving two sons, Suraj Mal and Bhim. Suraj Mal succeeded to the throne but died after a reign of 18 months, leaving a minor son Rai Mal, who became the Rao of Idar. He was, however, deposed by Bhim,[1] who usurped the throne. Rai Mal fled to Chittor for shelter. Bhim dying a few days after this, his son Bhar Mal, became Rao of Idar. Rai Mal on growing up to manhood claimed his patrimony with the assistance of Maharana Sanga,[2][3] in A.D. 1514 he regained Idar, expelling Bhar Mal, who appealed for help to Sultan Muzaffar Shah II of Gujarat Sultanate.[4]

Second Battle
The Sultan at this time was on the borders of Malwa watching developments in that country. When the envoys of Bhar Mal reached Muzaffar II,[6] he sent Nizam-ul-mulk with an army to reinstate Bhar Mal on the gadi of Idar. The Mirat-i-sikandari says that" in A.D. 1517, Rai Mal fought with the Gujarat armies and was sometimes defeated sometimes victorious."[7] Ferishta says that Rai Mal was defeated and that he retired to the hilly tract of Bijanagar. Nizam-ul-mulk after reinstating Bhar Mal on the gadi of Idar, went in pursuit of Rai Mal. Rai Mal issued from the hills and attacked the Gujarat army. In the battle that took place, Nizam-ul-mulk was severely defeated[8] and his best officers and soldiers were slain. The Sultan thereupon recalled Nizam-ul-mulk to Ahmadabad.[9]

Third Battle
In A.D. 1517, Rai Mal, assisted by the Maharana[10] re-entered the Idar territory. The Sultan of Gujarat sent his general Zahir-ul-mulk, with a large army against him. Zahir-ul-mulk was, however, attacked by Rai Mal and defeated with great slaughter.[11] Zahir-ul-mulk was killed at the head of his cavalry and the Sultan's army fled to Gujarat. The Sultan now sent Nasrat-ul-mulk, but he too failed to achieve any success against Rai Mal.

Aftermath
Idar was won over by Rai mal with the help of Rana Sanga but Muzaffar Shah once again took Idar in 1520 leading to Rana Sanga's invasion of Gujarat in which Rana Sanga effectively weakened the Sultanates power by plundering its treasuries and by reinstating Rai mal as the Rao of Idar.

 

[Pulakeshin]

Judging by the tactics employed by Rana Sangha, which were very simple actually, you can't blame him for the defeat in Khanwa. The fierce charge was actually quite successful in the previous battles against Lodi and the Gujarat Sultanates. So it was kind of a tried and tested method which had very high success rate. The Afghans I feel were not very skilled in the tactics they employed as well but Babur employed really good tactics. He had fought a number of battles in present day Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. He had won some and lost some as well. Babur wanted to form his own empire in Samarkand (present day Uzbekistan), he held Samarkand for a few years I think but was defeated eventually. He tried to regain Samarkand and was defeated again and then had a small kingdom based in Kabul. He then started launching attacks in Northern India. So in short, Babur had experienced defeats as well as losses and thus was quite experienced. Rana Sangha on the other hand had won all battles preceding the Battle of Khanwa and I think that maybe he might have got overconfident and thus we saw the customary Rajput charge on the enemy. Babur could have studied him well before the battle as a few commanders from the Lodi dynasty might have defected to him and those commanders could have been present when the Lodis had lost to the Rajputs under Rana Sangha.

 

[AUSTERLITZ]

Afghans and rajputs actually fought in a similar manner in close shock combat with sword and spears heavy cavalry.This is why both were defeated by turkic mughals,along with the gunpowder factor.Rajputs defeated the arabs who tried to go melee with the rajputs .But the turkic sultanates and the mughals with massed horse archers and turco-mongol composite bow was a major problem for the rajputs.Not just for rajputs but for pretty much everyone,as genghis khan proved.Indians didn't have crossbows,open north indian plains offered no cover,horses were vastly inferior,wooden stirrups compared to turkic iron ones,indian bamboo longbow can't be fired from horseback(only by infantry or obsolete chariots)-recurve bow was very rare.
If you see the battles of ghazni and ghori,ghazni won all his battles in same way - divides his army into groups of mobile horse archers who do hit and run attacks relentlessly,when enemy army demoralized charge the weakened centre with massed heavy cavalry held back in centre and rout them.Ghori in 2 battles at first tarain and against naikidevi solanki tried to head on and was defeated in both.Then in 2nd tarain and against jaichand he resorted to the same horse archer horde tactic of ghazni and won both.

 

[Pulakeshin]

Afghans and rajputs actually fought in a similar manner in close shock combat with sword and spears heavy cavalry.This is why both were defeated by turkic mughals,along with the gunpowder factor.Rajputs defeated the arabs who tried to go melee with the rajputs .But the turkic sultanates and the mughals with massed horse archers and turco-mongol composite bow was a major problem for the rajputs.Not just for rajputs but for pretty much everyone,as genghis khan proved.Indians didn't have crossbows,open north indian plains offered no cover,horses were vastly inferior,wooden stirrups compared to turkic iron ones,indian bamboo longbow can't be fired from horseback(only by infantry or obsolete chariots)-recurve bow was very rare.
If you see the battles of ghazni and ghori,ghazni won all his battles in same way - divides his army into groups of mobile horse archers who do hit and run attacks relentlessly,when enemy army demoralized charge the weakened centre with massed heavy cavalry held back in centre and rout them.Ghori in 2 battles at first tarain and against naikidevi solanki tried to head on and was defeated in both.Then in 2nd tarain and against jaichand he resorted to the same horse archer horde tactic of ghazni and won both.

Great insights. Is there a reason behind why Rajputs didn't adopt the new technologies and tactics that they faced in the battles?

In present times, Indian Army should make good use of upcoming technologies like AI, drones, robots, etc. What we learn from history is that if you don't adapt to changing times, you will yourself more likely on the losing side.

 

[Chimaji Appa]

Good posts.