Legacy of Marathas is unbeatable.

[asaffronladoftherisingsun]

(The same place where 568 yrs ago 1st nd 2nd battle of Tarain was faught between Prathvijraj Chauhan nd Mohammad Ghori)

Marathas were extremely resilient and foresighted.

It was n 10 Jan 1760 Dattaji Scindia laid down his life Kutub Shah asked him "well patel: will you fight again against us"? "Yes " replied the Dattaji. " If i survive i will fight again. This in the same month on 3 Jan Bhau defeated Nizam in south and signed treaty of udgir

When news of Dattaji reached pune, Peshwa ordered his cousin bhau accompanied by peshwa's son Vishwasrao to march to delhi He reached gwalior in july captured Red fort (delhi) in august nd kunjpura in october (fort North of Delhi where Abdali stored his ammunition and loot)

To be continued.

 

[asaffronladoftherisingsun]

After capturing fort of Kunjpura all of them decided to visit Kurukshetra (45km north) when they got they news that Abdali has crossed yamuna at shallow bank near Bhagpat/ 2 km south of Sonipat on this side of yamuna. Bhau returned panipat.

After 2 months of small skirmishes there was distress of finance, famine like situation death of Govindpant Bundela near meerut deteriorate the situation. Communication to pune was cut-off by abdali, Peshwa who supposed to be in Central India with 50,000 soldiers was busy in Pune.

After failed peace-parley 13 Jan 1761: Bhausaheb, Jankoji Scindia, Holkar, Gardi, & Gaekwad gathered late night n decided on a strategy After a small meal at 4 am on 14 Jan, the Marathas moved out of camp. After 4 yrs of cat n mise play they were facing each other

Apart from army there was around 1,75,000 non-combatants (pilgrims n women who came North to visit pilgrimage centers like haridwar,Kurukshetra etc.

It was decided that non-combatants will remain behind army. Left wing of maratha army would use artillery and damage the Right wing of Abdali they from yamuna side they will go to Delhi. It will reinforce their supply and wait for Peshwa's reinforcement and then fight abdali causing full slaughter of jihadis. Marathas artillery expertise were top tier.

To be continued.

 

[asaffronladoftherisingsun]

Battle started at 9am with Gardi's artillery causing considerable damage to right wing of abdali. Marathas recklessly spammed their artillery.

At same time bhau and Vishwas attacked the front of Abdali this attack was so strong that Afghan soldiers started fleeing and breaking their ranks nd Attai khan was killed.

Nothing was going on right wing of marathas as there was 5kms distance between scindia and nazib Khan's forces. But vithal Shiv dev and damaji Gaikwad breaking their rank proved a turning point in the battle instead of protecting gardis they came in front.

This rash behaviour of Vithal shivdev n damaji Gaikwad created a huge distance between maratha center and Gardi both were unprotected and it was turning point. Then abdali thrown his reserve forces which surrounded gardi and whole paltan of gardi was slaughtered.

To be continued.

 

[asaffronladoftherisingsun]

Bhau was surrounded from right then nazib khan which split them into 2. One part of moved to center one to west. Mahadji and holkar were almost cut-off from battle then shah pasand khan movement towards center opened the road to delhi that was blocked for 3 months.

As a result bhau was surrounded from 3 sides still fierce battle was going on then a bullet hit Vishwas rao ( son of peshwa and nominal commander in chief, fatal blow befell him. This news spread like wildfire nd dampened the moral of the army.

In fierce battle jankoji got wounded nd captured, Tukoji died in battle. After death of Vishwas rao, bhau faught bravely nd died around 4 PM. Others who died in battle or few days later Shamsher bahadur (son of bajirao-Mastani) Antaji mankeshwar Yaswant pawar Satvoji Jadav

Even Though bhau lost but his and maratha bravery displayed on center is unparalleled in history. It exposed the myth that normally Afghans are more stronger than Marathas. Old myth was disproved when Huzurat Sena clash with abdali's center and kept fighting till evening

To be continued.

 

[asaffronladoftherisingsun]

Panipat vs Waterloo 3rd battle of panipat most destructive war of 18th century. Waterloo considered as important war of 19th century. Attack led by bhau was no less fierce than led by Michel ney with 10-12k cavalry.