List of 19 most famous and historic battles fought in India (Datewise)

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.

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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