Brief History: The Indian battles era began in the mid of 11 century due to the intrusion of Mughal and Afghan emperors into Indian subcontinent. Later, hundreds of other wars have been fought in Indian homelands between various regional kingdoms. In short, all major or small wars were generally due to the result of the opening of Indian lands to colonization, with no proper and settle boundaries. The battle listed below involve four of the biggest empires to rule over the Indian subcontinent — The Mughals, Mauryas, Marathas and the British East India Company. Each historic battle is listed with important dates and victor order format providing you the sequence of important battle date-wise. The following list enumerates only those battles that took place in Indian homeland.
-
Battle of Tarain
It was the first ever battle in medieval Indian History which was fought in the year 1191. This war was fought at Tarain near Thaneswar. In this war Prithviraj chauhan, emperor of Chauhan Dynasty defeated the Mohammad of Ghori, the sultan of Ghurid Empire.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 1191
Battlefield: Tarain
Winner: Prithviraj chauhan
Loser: Mohammad of Ghori -
Second Battle of Tarain
Following year in 1192 Mohammad Ghori again attached Prithvi Raj at same Tarain battlefield as in the first year. This time Prithvi Raj was defeated.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 1192
Battlefield: Tarain
Winner: Mohammad Ghori
Loser: Prithvi Raj Chauhan -
Battle of Chandawar
Ghori further wanted to extend his empire in India by defeating large kingdom. So he attached Jaichandra empire in chandawar. In this battle Jaichandra was beaten by Mohammad Ghori.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 1194
Battlefield: Chandawar
Winner: Mohammad Ghori
Loser: Jaichandra -
First Battle of Panipat
At this era, north India was ruled by Ibrahim Lodi of the Lodi dynasty. Babur (first mughal emperor) drew his attention to create his empire in India. He attached lodi dynasty and defeated the Army of Afghans and also killed their king Ibrahim Lodi.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 21-April-1526
Battlefield: Panipat
Winner: Babur
Loser: Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi -
Battle of Khanwa
Mewar region was ruled by brave Rajputs. Mewar Rana Sanga (the ruler) was very popular and rich rajput of Mewar. Babur had his eye on Mewar dynasty. He attacked and defeated Rana Sanga in the battlefield.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 17-March-1527
Battlefield: Khanwa
Winner: Babur
Loser: Rana Sanga -
Battle of Chanderi
Babur didn’t stop there, subsequent year he attached Chanderi dynasty, which was again a cartel of the Rajputs under Medini Rai. On 20th January 1528 Babur marched against chanderi and defeated Medini Rai.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 20 Jan 1528
Battlefield: Chanderi
Winner: Babur
Loser: Medini Rai of Chanderi -
Battle of Ghagra or Gogara
It was the last war of Babur in India. The battle was fought with the Afghans under the leadership of Sultan Mahmud Lodi and Sultan Nusrat Shah (Sultans of Bengal). Babur defeated and dispersed Afghans.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 6 May 1529
Battlefield: Ghagra
Winner: Babur
Loser: Afghans -
Battle of Chausa
The war of Chausa took place between Mughal Emperor Humayun and Sher Shah Suri (Sher Khan). Humayun was defeated in Chausa War by Sher Shah Suri, but Humayun, the king escaped by crossing over the river.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 26 June 1539
Battlefield: Chausa
Winner: Shershah Suri
Loser: Humayun -
Battle of Kannauj or Billgram
Sher Shah Suri following year attached Humayun force and this time again Humayun escaped from the battle field, and for next 15 years he lived like a wanderer. Suri defeated him easily and occupied Agra city.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 17 May 1540
Battlefield: Kannauj
Winner: Shershah Suri
Loser: Humayun -
Battle for Delhi
This battle was fought between the Akbar (Mughals emperor) and Hindu emperor Hem Chandra Vikramaditya (Hemu) in year 1556. In this Hem Chandra Vikramaditya defeated Mughals under Akbar leadership and got the title of ‘Vikramaditya’ of North India.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 7 October 1556
Battlefield: Delhi (Tughlaqabad Fort Area)
Winner: Hem Chandra Vikramaditya
Loser: Akbar -
Second Battle of Panipat
In the same year 1556 after a month Akbar again attacked Vikramaditya to take revenge of this first defeat and this time by far defeated Vikramaditya and Akbar reoccupied Delhi.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 5-November-1556
Battlefield: Panipat
Winner: Akbar
Loser: Hem Chandra Vikramaditya -
Battle of Bannihatti or Tallikota
Unified Army of five Deccan Sultanates from south India defeated the Vijayanagara Army and Vijayanagara General Ramaraju was killed in the battlefield.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 23 January 1565
Battlefield: Bannihatti
Winner: Ali adilshah and four others
Loser: Aliya Rama Raya -
Battle of Haldighati
The historic battle fought on 18 June 1576 between cavalry and archers supporting the Rana of Mewar, Maharana Pratap; and the Mughal emperor Akbar’s forces, led by Man Singh I of Amber. This war is considered as one of the most momentous events in the history of the Rajputs, which lasted for only 4 hours.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 08 June, 1576
Battlefield: Haldighati
Winner: Akbar
Loser: Rana Pratap Singh -
First Carnatic War
This war was fought between British (with help of Indian king in using their Troops) and French armies. The battles were centered round two fields Carnatic and Hyderabad. French occupied Madras, later returned it to British.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year from: 1745–1748
Battlefield: Carnatic
Winner: French East India Company
Loser: British East India Company -
Second Carnatic War
French army under the command of Duplex fought with British and British won. French loss their expanding opportunities and continued as trading community in India. In 1755 they made a provisional treaty.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year from: 1749–1754
Battlefield: Carnatic
Winner: British East India Company
Loser: French East India Company -
Third Carnatic War
In 1758 French occupied Fort Saint David. But defeated at Wandiwasi (1760). Britishers won.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year from: 1756–1763
Battlefield: Carnatic & some part of Hyderabad
Winner: British East India Company
Loser: French East India Company -
Battle of Plassey
British Army under the command of Robert Clive fought with Bengal Nawab Siraz-ud-daula and British won and Mir Jafar was made Nawab. Siraz-ud-daula,while he was unarmed was killed mercilessly by Muhammad Beg, a person who was under his asylum.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 23 June 1757
Battlefield: Plassey
Winner: British under Clive
Loser: Siraj ud-Daulah -
Third Battle of Panipat
The war was fought between two empires – Durrani Empire Vs Maratha Empire. The battle is considered one of the largest fought in the 18th century, and has perhaps the largest number of victims in a single day reported between two armies.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 14 January 1761
Battlefield: Panipat
Winner: Durrani Empire
Loser: Maratha Empire -
Battle of Buxar
British army under the command of Major Manri defeated the combined army of Mir Kasim nawab of Bengal, Shuja-ud-daulah nawab of Awadh, Sha Alam, Mughal emperor.
In Brief:
Battle fought Year: 22 October 1764
Battlefield: Buxar
Winner: Sir Hector Munro commander of British forces
Loser: Nawab Mir Qasim, Shah Alam II and Shuja-ud-Daula
Thanks, this is very important for me.
Thank you soo much it providing a lot of information to students.
very good information.
One more great battle from North-East India should be added here. That is the battle of Saraighat. Which was fought between the Mughals & the Ahom Kings(Tribal) where Mughals were defeated by the Ahom king Lachit Borfukan’s all the brae warriors…..
Thank you so much
Thanks for every body
Missed out 27 years of Maratha – Mughal war