Battle of Bundelkhand

1729 Maratha–Mughal battle

Battle of Jaitpur

Part of Decline of the Mughal Empire
| Date| March 1729

|

Location|

Jaitpur, Bundelkhand

Result|  Maratha–Rajput victory
Territorial
changes|  Mughals lost control over Bundelkhand and Chhatrasal gifted one-third of the kingdom to the Maratha Empire.[1]
Belligerents
Panna State
Maratha Empire|  Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Chhatrasal
Peshwa Bajirao I
Chimaji Appa|  Muhammad Khan Bangash
Qaim Khan Bangash
Strength

Total: 35,000 troops

* 25,000 Maratha cavalry
* 10,000 Rajput cavalry

Total: 50,000 troops[2]

* 20,000 under Muhammad Bangash
* 30,000 under Qaim Bangash

Casualties and losses
Unknown|

* Unknown number of dead and wounded
* 3,000 horses and 13 elephants captured[3]

The Battle of Jaitpur was fought between the Maratha Empire under Peshwa Baji Rao I, on behalf of Chhatrasal Bundela, the ruler of Bundelkhand; and the Mughal Empire under Muhammad Khan Bangash in March 1729. Bangash attacked the state of Bundelkhand in December 1728. Being too old to fight, as well as heavily outnumbered, Chhatrasal appealed to Baji Rao for assistance - under whose leadership the Maratha with 25,000 horsemen with the Bundela troops defeated the Muhammad khan Bangash.[4][5]

## Background

[edit]

In Bundelkhand, Chhatrasal had rebelled against the Mughal Empire and established an independent kingdom. In December 1728, a Mughal force led by Muhammad Khan Bangash attacked him and besieged his fort and family. Although Chhatrasal repeatedly sought Baji Rao's assistance, he was busy in Malwa at the time. He compared his dire situation to that of Gajendra Moksha. In his letter to Baji Rao, Chhatrasal wrote the following words:[6]

> Know you, that I am in the same sad plight in which the famous elephant was when caught by the crocodile. My valiant race is on point of extinction. Come and save my honour, O Baji Rao.

## Battle

[edit]

After marching to Jaitpur, Bajirao surrounded Muhammad Khan Bangash and cut off his supplies as well as communication lines to Delhi and Allahabad. Bangash launched a counterattack against Baji Rao, but could not pierce his defences. Qaim Khan, son of Muhammad Khan Bangash, learned of his father's predicament and approached with fresh troops. His army was attacked by Bajirao's forces, and he was defeated. Bangash then sought forgiveness and surrendered, signing an agreement and promise that he would never suppress the independence of Bundelkhand again.[7][8]

## Aftermath

[edit]

Chhatrasal's position as ruler of Bundelkhand was restored. He gifted one-third of his state to the Peshwa[9] and gave him his daughter from a concubine named Ruhani Bai, Mastani. Before Chhatrasal's death in December 1731, he ceded one-third of his territories to the Marathas.[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Sardesai, H. S. (2002). "Chapter-65: SHIVAJI-INSPIRATION BEHIND BUNDELA FREEDOM STRUGGLE". Shivaji, the Great Maratha. Cosmo Publications. p. 1093\. ISBN 9788177552881.
2. ^ Sardesai, Govind Sakharam, ed. (1946). New Cambridge History of Marathas Vol 2. p. 107.
3. ^ Sardesai, Govind Sakharam, ed. (1946). New Cambridge History of Marathas Vol 2. p. 107.
4. ^ SUVRATSUT (2018-01-09). Baji Rao I The Great Peshwa.
5. ^ Jaques, Tony (2006-11-30). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A Guide to 8,500 Battles from Antiquity through the Twenty-first Century [3 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 483\. ISBN 978-0-313-02799-4.
6. ^ "From Medieval to Modern", A History of Christianity in India, Cambridge University Press, pp. 50–67, 1984-02-09, doi:10.1017/cbo9780511520556.006, ISBN 978-0-521-24351-3, retrieved 2023-12-11
7. ^ Mehta, Jaswant Lal (2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. New Dawn Press, Incorporated. pp. 107–108\. ISBN 9781932705546.
8. ^ a b G.S. Chhabra (1 January 2005). Advance Study in the History of Modern India (Volume-1: 1707–1803). Lotus Press. pp. 19–28\. ISBN 978-81-89093-06-8.
9. ^ Sardesai, H. S. (2002). "Chapter-65: SHIVAJI-INSPIRATION BEHIND BUNDELA FREEDOM STRUGGLE". Shivaji, the Great Maratha. Cosmo Publications. p. 1093\. ISBN 9788177552881.

* v
* t
* e

Maratha Empire

Chhatrapatis (Kings)|

* Shivaji
* Sambhaji
* Rajaram I
* Tarabai
* Shahu I
* Rajaram II
* Shahu II
* Pratap Singh

Peshwas (Prime ministers)|

* Moropant Trimbak Pingle
* Moreshvar Pingale
* Ramchandra Pant Amatya
* Bahiroji Pingale
* Balaji Vishwanath
* Baji Rao I
* Balaji Baji Rao
* Madhavrao Ballal
* Narayan Rao
* Raghunathrao
* Sawai Madhavrao
* Baji Rao II
* Amrut Rao
* Nana Sahib
* Bhat family

Amatya & Pratinidhi (Councilors and viceroys)|

* Ramchandra Pant Amatya
* Pralhad Niraji
* Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi (hereditary)
* Shripatrao Pant Pratinidhi
* Jagjivanrao Pant Pratinidhi

Women|

* Ahilyabai Holkar
* Anandibai
* Gopikabai
* Jankibai
* Jijabai
* Kashibai
* Lakshmibai
* Mastani
* Parvatibai
* Putalabai
* Ramabai
* Saibai
* Sakvarbai
* Soyarabai
* Umabai Dabhade
* Baka Bai
* Tulsi Bai Holkar

Maratha Empire|

* Bhonsle of Nagpur
* Gaekwad of Baroda
* Scindia of Gwalior
* Holkar of Indore
* Patwardhan dynasty

Battles|

* Pratapgarh
* Kolhapur
* Pavan Khind
* Umberkhind
* Chakan
* Surat
* Purandar
* Sinhagad
* Salher
* Kalyan
* Bhupalgarh
* Bijapur
* Jinji
* Satara
* Khelna
* Torna
* Palkhed
* Malwa
* Mandsaur
* Bhopal
* Vasai
* 1st Trichinopoly
* Katwa (1st)
* 2nd Trichinopoly
* Katwa (2nd)
* Invasions of Bengal
* Narela
* 2nd Delhi
* North-west India
* Peshawar
* 3rd Panipat
* Alegaon
* Rakshasbhuvan
* Capture of Delhi
* Pachgaon
* Saunshi
* Wadgaon
* Adoni
* Badami
* Savanur
* Gajendragad
* Bahadur Benda
* Lalsot
* Chaksana
* Patan
* Kharda
* Poona
* 3rd Delhi
* Assaye
* Laswari
* Farrukhabad
* Bharatpur
* Khadki
* Koregaon
* Mahidpur

Wars|

* Maratha-Mughal War of 27 years
* Maratha–Mysore War
* First Anglo-Maratha War
* Second Anglo-Maratha War
* Third Anglo-Maratha War

Adversaries|

* Adil Shahi
* Qutb Shahi
* Mughal Empire
* Durrani Empire
* British Empire
* Portuguese Empire
* Nizam of Hyderabad
* Kingdom of Rohilkhand
* Mysore

Forts|

* Mangad
* Panhala
* Pratapgad
* Purandar
* Raigad
* Rajgad
* Shaniwar Wada
* Shivneri
* Sindhudurg
* Rajgad
* Torna

Coins|

* Shivrai

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