Babur had wrested the throne of Delhi from Ibrahim Lodhi in the First Battle of Panipat on 21 April 1526. The easy victory over an enemy over twice his force gave him a foothold into India. Yet to truly establish the Mughal Empire in India he had to contend with the Rajputs under their charismatic chief Rana Sangha.
Rana Sangha
Rana Sanga, the one-eyed, one-limbed, Rana of Mewar was the victor of over 80 battles and had assembled a confederacy of Rajput Chiefs against the Mughal invader. In fact, in 1525, Rana Sangha had sent a letter to Babur, asking him to attack Ibrahim Lodhi and promised to attack Agra during the battle, but had reneged on his promise. After Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi at Panipat, he imagined that he would loot and depart, leaving Delhi up for the taking. Babur’s decision to stay in India led Rana Sangha to form a coalition of Rajput and Afghan Chiefs to evict the outsider.
In December 1526, he moved out of Mewar towards Agra, the seat of the Mughal Empire. The Rajput armies with over 7 major chiefs, 40 minor chieftains and 12,000 Afghans had a combined strength of 80,000 well trained and courageous fighters. Yet they depended on individual valor and skill and had no exposure to cannons and guns or the concepts of fire and maneuver which Babur had developed. Their rigid adherence to outdated concepts of war would cost them dear.
They crossed the Gambhir River and entered the Mughal Empire capturing the forts of Dholpur, Gwalior and Bayana. A large Mughal force that had been sent to relieve the siege of Bayana was comprehensively defeated. The Rajputs also got the better of their adversaries in most of the skirmishes that occurred. At that time, the bulk of the Mughal army, under Humayun, was in the East, quelling an uprising of Afghan chiefs. They were hastily recalled and on 11 Feb 1527, Babur moved out to contest the advancing Rajput armies. As they advanced from Agra towards Khanua, the Advance Guard of over 2000 was intercepted by a force of Rajput cavalry and virtually decimated. News of Rajput valour and their skill at arms percolated down and a sense of defeatism crept into the Mughal camp.
Seeing the flagging morale, Babur assembled his army and in an emotional speech, smashed his bejeweled goblets and wine caskets, vowing to never drink again. He also declared a ‘ jihad against the infidels.’ The call the desired effect. It galvanized his men out of their despondency and rejuvenated them for the battle ahead.
Babur now set about making preparations. Additional reinforcements came in from Kabul which beefed up his strength. He set up camp in the area of Fatehpur Sikri, in which he established a defensive perimeter with carts yoked together and linked with chains, with the gaps covered by the fire of his cannons. He also developed a new invention, a movable tripod. This was a triangular fortification on wheels which could allow his matchlock men and archers to fire behind its protection, and still move across the battlefield. In effect, he developed his camp to be a mobile defensive platform.
For over a month Babur remained in his camp. Surprisingly the Rajputs did little to attack thus allowing Babur to consolidate. Negotiations also began between the two sides conducted by Taur Silhadi of Raisen who was an important chief of the Rajput Confederacy. He had recently converted to Islam, and during the negotiations was convinced by Babur to change sides and defect during the battle. That month long period of inactivity also saw the differences between the perpetually warring Rajput chiefs come to the fore and signs of rift emerged in the alliance.
Finally on 17 March 1527, at the urgings of his Chiefs, Rana Sangha decided to attack Babur’s camp. Babur had deployed his guns in a form of all-round defense and had placed his infantry and archers in the center, with light cavalry in the flanks and 10,000 strong force of heavy cavalry as a reserve. The initial Rajput charge was met with a fusillade of fire – something they had never encountered before. The faceless rain of shot and pellets took a huge toll that valour and individual skill could do little against. The Rajput Center, led by Rana Sangha himself tried valiantly to close in with the enemy, but the elephants refused to attack in sheer terror of the cannon fire that had encountered for the first time. Rana Sangha, now ordered the left and right flank to attack as well and in spite of dreadful casualties, the Rajput ranks managed to close in. Taur Silhadi who had been entrusted with the important task of leading the Vanguard of the left flank, now abruptly left the battlefield with his entire contingent and deserted to the Mughal side – something that must have been agreed upon earlier. His departure left a yawing gap in the Rajput formation, and seeing his moment, Babur launched his tulugmas – his cavalry reserves – that scythed their way through the open flank and into the Rajput ranks.
Tapestry depicting the Battle
With Mughal Cavalry on their flanks and fire pouring in from the front, the Rajputs fought desperately to break out of the encircling ring that surrounded them. Babur now moved his movable fortifications and guns forward hemming them into a tight knot in which they could neither maneuver nor fight effectively. Rana Sangha, leading the attack, had been repeatedly wounded and collapsed in the howdah of his elephant. The unconscious Rana was carried away to safety while the Rajputs tried to fight their way out of the closing Mughal ranks. But it was no longer a coordinated battle. By around four in the afternoon the battle had been decided and it was all over.
Over 20-25000 lay dead on the battlefield and the Mughals followed up with the grisly practice of creating a mound of human heads on a hillock by the battlefield to commemorate their victory.
Rana Sangha and the remnants of his army withdrew towards Mewar. He pledged never to enter Chittor, his capital, till he attained victory. It was a promise he could not keep. Within a year he was dead, most probably poisoned by his own ministers in the incessant power play of politics which has been the curse of Indian rulers. With his passing, the Rajput chiefs which had been unified by his personality went back to their internal squabbling and infighting and the last major opposition to Mughal rule disappeared.
The Rajputs continued to hold on to their kingdoms but never presented a united front again. Babur consolidated his position with other victories and slowly expanded his empire laying the foundation for the three century long rule of the Mughal Empire over the Indian sub-continent.