Battle of Delhi (1764)

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Battle of Delhi (1764)
Part of Mughal-Jat Wars
DateOctober 1764 – February 1765
Location
Delhi
Result Peace Treaty
Belligerents
Kingdom of Bharatpur
Mercenaries
Dal Khalsa (Sikhs)
Maratha Confederacy		 Mughal Empire
Rohilla
Commanders and leaders
Jawahar Singh
Supported by
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
Malhar Rao Holkar		 Najib ad-Dawlah
Strength
30,000—35,000 troops
100 Canons[1]
15,000 Sikhs[2]
20,000 Marathas[3]		 30,000—35,000 troops
Imperial artillery of Delhi[4]

The Battle of Delhi (1764) was fought between the Jat ruler of Bharatpur and the Mughal rulers of Mughal Empire. Maharaja Jawahar Singh of Bharatpur invaded Delhi and laid siege to stronghold of Red Fort.[citation needed]

Background[edit]

On 25 December 1763, Najib-ad Daulah accidentally shot Jawahar Singh's father Maharaja Suraj Mal, leading to his demise. Maharaja Sawai Jawahar Singh started preparing to avenge the death of his father.[5]

Preparations[edit]

As Jawahir's troops arrived before Delhi, he initially held them back, waiting for the reinforcement of Malhar Rao Holkar before initiating the offensive. Once Malhar joined him, Jawahir advanced his camp to the bank of the Jamuna east of the old Fort Purana Qila. Meanwhile, Najib positioned his forces in the Buland Bagh, strategically placing a bridge of boats over the Jamuna to facilitate the supply of provisions from the Doab. Najib ad-Dawlah himself resided in the mansion formerly occupied by the wazir Qamr-ud-din Khan, while his troops settled by the riverside. They fortified their position by digging a ditch with an earthen rampart, reinforced with artillery, connecting the southeastern bastion of the city to the river, thus fortifying their defenses in preparation for the impending conflict.[6]

Battle[edit]

The initial skirmish on November 15th resulted in significant casualties on both sides, totaling a thousand.[7] Jawahar's attempt to rally Malhar's support for a joint assault on the Ruhela trenches near the fort of Feroz Shah Kotla was met with reluctance, as Malhar hesitated to advance further without clearing the Rohillas from the Old Fort. The following day, Jawahir altered his strategy, dispatching Balaram and a contingent of Jat horse to ford the Jamuna at Amlighat and attack Najib's defenses from the rear. However, the Jat horse's delay in plundering Patparganj alerted Najib's forces, leading to a fierce confrontation. Despite the valiant efforts of Jawahar's troops, they faced overwhelming opposition and were on the brink of annihilation until reinforcements, led by Umrao-gir Gosain, arrived in the nick of time. The battle raged until sunset, with Najib's forces eventually retreating to their camps and Jawahar's troops crossing back to the western bank under the cover of torchlight. The bravery of the Nagas saved Balaram's disgraced troops from utter defeat, marking a critical turning point in the conflict.[8]

Jawahar Bombards Delhi From The East Bank of Yamuna[edit]

On the 18th, the invading army successfully crossed over to the eastern bank of the Yamuna, strategically positioning cannons along the river to bombard Delhi from across the water. The absence of a protective wall along the city's eastern face left it vulnerable to the onslaught, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life. Shahdara, a vital grain storage area for Delhi, fell victim to plunder and devastation, further crippling the city's resources. Najib's troops retreated from their riverbank trenches to seek refuge within the city, while Najib himself took shelter in an underground room in the Buland Bagh. The bridge, crucial for supplies, was heavily guarded by Rohilla forces, ensuring its protection against enemy advances. Despite the ongoing bombardment, Jawahar sought alliances elsewhere, turning to the Sikhs for support due to his dwindling trust in his Maratha allies. The arrival of a formidable Sikh force near Delhi marked a significant shift in the dynamics of the conflict, as other factions like the Budha Dal wreaked havoc across the region, leaving Najib unable to defend his estates against the relentless onslaught of the Jats and Marathas.[9]

Jawahar's Sikh Allies Arrives And Their Attacks on Delhi[edit]

Despite these challenges, a new plan of campaign emerged, with the Jat, Maratha, and Sikh armies strategically positioned around Delhi. The Sikhs, tasked with disrupting the enemy's provisions from the north and west, engaged in daily skirmishes with Najib's forces near the city's walls. However, lacking artillery, they were unable to mount a direct assault on the fort. The situation escalated on January 25th, 1765, when a fierce battle erupted between Najib's troops and the Sikhs, aided by Jats, near the Horse market. Despite significant casualties on both sides, the outcome remained inconclusive.[10][11][12]

Peace Negotiations Between Jats and Najib[edit]

The prolonged siege of Delhi persisted until the first week of February, with the city remaining impregnable to direct assault but succumbing to famine within its walls. While scarcity gripped the beleaguered city, the Jat and Maratha armies outside flourished in abundance, exacerbating the plight of the starving populace. Many inhabitants resorted to leaving the city in search of sustenance, seeking refuge and provisions in the camps of the besieging forces or migrating elsewhere.[13] Despite mounting pressure from his own troops to launch a sortie, Najib steadfastly held his ground, knowing that internal strife posed a greater threat than the external siege. Secret alliances and betrayals further complicated the situation, as Malhar, Imad-ul-mulk, and even Suraj Mal's old captains were implicated in clandestine dealings against Jawahir's interests. Recognizing the futility of his position and faced with internal dissent, Jawahir initiated peace negotiations on February 4th, culminating in a swift resolution by the 9th.[14] The reconciliation between Najib and Imad, symbolized by Najib's visit to Delhi's Jami Masjid on the sacred day of Ramzan, marked the end of hostilities, with Malhar receiving honors and Najib extending gestures of goodwill towards his erstwhile adversaries.[15]

Aftermath[edit]

On February 16th, Jawahir's departure from Delhi marked the end of a costly and fruitless campaign, during which he expended vast 160 Lakhs of money without achieving any tangible success.[16] The hastening of peace negotiations was compounded by Malhar's urgent desire to distance himself from the vicinity of Delhi, especially upon learning of Ahmad Shah Abdali's imminent incursion into the Punjab to aid Najib. Fearing the repercussions of Abdali's intervention, Malhar and Imad swiftly relocated their families to the middle Doab for safety, before departing themselves on February 25th. The sudden departure of the Sikhs upon hearing of Abdali's arrival near Lahore went off all at once with out asking a leave of jawahar.[17]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jadunath, Sarkar Sir (1934). Fall Of The Mughal Empire Vol II 1754--1771. p. 458.
  2. ^ Jadunath, Sarkar Sir (1934). Fall Of The Mughal Empire Vol II 1754--1771. p. 458.
  3. ^ Jadunath, Sarkar Sir (1934). Fall Of The Mughal Empire Vol II 1754--1771. p. 458.
  4. ^ Jadunath, Sarkar Sir (1934). Fall Of The Mughal Empire Vol II 1754--1771. p. 458.
  5. ^ Misra, S. C. (1981). Sindhia-Holkar Rivalry in Rajasthan. Sundeep Prakashan.
  6. ^ Sarkar Sir Jadunath (1934). Fall Of The Mughal Empire Vol Ii 1754--1771. p. 460-461.
  7. ^ Qanungo Kalikaranjan (1925). History Of Jats. p. 175.
  8. ^ Sarkar Sir Jadunath (1934). Fall Of The Mughal Empire Vol Ii 1754--1771. p. 461-463.
  9. ^ Sarkar Sir Jadunath (1934). Fall Of The Mughal Empire Vol Ii 1754--1771. p. 463-464.
  10. ^ Qanungo Kalikaranjan (1925). History Of Jats. p. 176.
  11. ^ Sarkar Sir Jadunath (1934). Fall Of The Mughal Empire Vol Ii 1754--1771. p. 464-466.
  12. ^ Hari Ram Gupta (1944). History Of The Sikhs Vol I. p. 210.
  13. ^ "History Of Jats : Qanungo Kalikaranjan : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming". Internet Archive. 30 May 2024. p. 176. {{cite web}}: Text "access-" ignored (help)
  14. ^ Husain Sayyad Nuruddin (1952). An Account Of Najibuddaulah. p. 81.
  15. ^ Sarkar Sir Jadunath (1934). Fall Of The Mughal Empire Vol Ii 1754--1771. p. 466-468.
  16. ^ Qanungo Kalikaranjan (1925). History Of Jats. p. 177-178.
  17. ^ Sarkar Sir Jadunath (1934). Fall Of The Mughal Empire Vol Ii 1754--1771. p. 468.
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