Maratha Empire- Third Battle of Panipat

The battle was fought in Panipat (in Haryana), approximately 97 kilometres from Delhi, between invading Afghan troops and Maratha forces. The Afghans were commanded by their monarch, Ahmed Shah Durrani, with assistance from the Doab’s Rohilla Afghans and Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh. The Marathas, on the other hand, were unable to gain the allegiance of the Sikhs, Jats, or Rajputs.

Durrani’s soldiers overcame the Marathas, who were vastly outnumbered. The conflict lasted many days, with significant deaths on both sides.

Sadashivrao Bhau was the Maratha camp’s commander-in-chief. Vishwasrao (the son of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao), Malharrao Holkar, and Mahadji Shinde were all significant leaders on the Maratha side.

Sadashivrao Bhau and Vishwasrao, along with tens of thousands of Marathas, were slaughtered in the conflict. Many women and children from the losing side were captured and sold as slaves.

The Peshwa died of shock as a result of this crushing setback.

Durrani did not remain in India after the war and returned to his capital. He directed that the leaders of India, including Robert Clive of the East India Company, recognise Mughal Shah Alam II as Emperor.

Despite the fact that the Maratha uprising was quelled, they retook Delhi within 10 years.

Third Battle of Panipat

• On January 14th 1761, the Marathas and the Afghan army (also known as Ahmad Shah Abdali) fought the Third Battle of Panipat. Throughout the Battle of Panipat, the Afghan Army was supported by the famous Indian allies— the Doab region Afghan, the Rohilla (Najib-ud-Daulah), and the Shuja-ud-Daula (Nawab of Awadh) and Sadashiv Rao Bhau led the Maratha army who was third in authority followed by the Maratha King, Chhatrapati, and the Prime Minister of Maratha, Peshwa
• The Ahmad Shah Durrani’s forces destroyed various Maratha flanks
• During the Third Battle of Panipat, the two rival armies fought face to face, for more than two months. Alongside, there were skirmishes and minor battles. The Afghan cavalry dominated the Maratha’s environs camp and cut off its communication as also food supply
• Vishwas Rao was shot dead. Soon after this, Sadashiv Rao Bhau also lost his life. Great leaders like Jankoji Sindhia, Tukoji Sindhia and Ibrahim khan Gardi also died on the battlefield. Mahadaji Sindhia also succumbed to his injuries
• Because of the kindness and hospitality of Surajmal, about 50,000 men and women were saved

Reasons for the defeat of the Marathas

• One key reason for the Marathas’ failure was that the Afghans had a significant numerical advantage
• SadashivRao had just 45,000 men on the battlefield and 15,000 Pindaris as backup, despite the fact that about 60,000 Afghans and their Indian allies were there, who were reinforced by another 80,000 warriors
• The Afghans were more trained and disciplined, as well as more organised
• Abdali had superior weapons, using “the most effective mobile artillery known in that period”
• SadashivRao was a significantly better military commander and strategist than Abdali
• After Sadashiv Rao postponed the battle for two and a half months, defeat appeared almost inescapable
• Politically, Marathas were unable to enlist the assistance of Rajputs and Jats owing to their treatment of these princes. Najib-ud-Daula and Shuja-ud-Daula were also a threat that the Marathas were unable to eliminate
• On the other hand, half of Abdali’s army was made up of warriors supplied by his Indian friends, the courageous Rajputs and Jats, who did not fight on the Maratha side

Aftermath

• Abdali’s efforts to reach an agreement with the Peshwa and Suraj mal failed, and he also failed to defeat the Sikhs in Punjab in the years that followed
• Peshwa Madhav Rao I reigned over a rebirth of Maratha dominance in north India (1761-72)
• After Panipat, Najeeb-ud-daula (1770) governed Delhi as Abdali’s agent. However, following his death, the Marathas returned the Mughal ruler Shah Alam II to his predecessors’ capital (1772)
• Mahadji Sindhia conquered Delhi in 1788, and the English annexed it in 1803 from his successor Daulat Rao Sindhia
• The Marathas were able to overcome the Nizam and Haider Ali in the south
• Peshwa Balaji baji Rao was unable to withstand the huge tragedy that occurred at Panipat. Six months after the fight, he died in June 1761
• “It was very terrible for the Maratha people,” said kashiraj pandit, who saw the third battle of Panipat (1761)

Conclusion

In the 18th century, Maratha dominance was on the increase, and they controlled various provinces spanning from the Indus in the north to the southern sections of the subcontinent. Because the Mughal Emperor was simply a nominal ruler, they also had sovereignty over Delhi. In 1747, Ahmed Shah Durrani (also known as Ahmed Shah Abdali) created the Durrani Empire in Afghanistan. He also ruled over Punjab and Sindh, including Lahore.