The Battle of Kalyan Bhivandi was fought between Maratha Forces of Sambhaji and The Mughal forces under Bahadur Khan in which latter was defeated and Maratha emerged victorious.[1]
| Battle of Kalyan Bhivandi | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mughal-Maratha Wars | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Maratha Empire |
 Mughal Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
SambhajiHambirrao (WIA)Kavi Kalash Tukoji †Rupaji BhosaleNilopantKeshopantManaji MoréAmritrao Nimbalkar †Rao Ghorpade † |
Bahadur KhanQasim KhanRasmat KhanRuhulla Khan Saifullah KhanSiddi Yakut KhanDaud KhanAbdul FaiyaazPadam Singh † Bhagwat Singh †Mankoji Dhangar †Ram Singh Rathore †Hari Singh Bundela † Raghunath Singh (WIA)Kabil Singh (WIA)JaitSingh †Madhoram Sisodia (WIA) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Less | Heavy | ||||||
Background
editThe Maratha army's strategic routes and regions were crucial in their military campaigns during the 17th century. The Marathas could initiate their movements from Kalyan, advancing through the rugged terrain of Baglana and reaching Salher and Mulher. From there, they could enter West Khandesh or the plains of north Nasik, or even extend to Chandor, Ellora, Aurangabad, and Jalana. Aurangabad, which served as the Mughal Deccan capital in the 17th century, was accessible to the Maratha forces via these routes without significant natural obstacles.[1][2][3]
The Marathas could also traverse the Ghats from Kalyan to reach Nasik, and similarly, crossing Naneghat from Kalyan allowed them to move to Junnar and Poona. The Western Ghats, despite their challenging passes, were instrumental in shortening the distance between the lowlands of Konkan and the uplands of Desh.[1][2][3]
During Shivaji’s reign, Konkan was a vital region for the Marathas, providing a base for their operations. Shivaji's control over Konkan remained unchallenged until his death in 1680. Following his accession, Sambhaji, his successor, continued to secure Konkan. The Mughals, aiming to curtail Maratha movements, began their attempts to invade Konkan in January 1682. Hasan Ali Khan, with a force of 20,000 horsemen and 15,000 foot soldiers, descended from Junnar through Naneghat and reached Kalyan, the Mughal Subhadar’s seat.[1][2][3]
In February 1682, Ranmast Khan arrived at Kalyan and the Mughal forces ravaged the area. By September, Ranmast Khan was directed to Ahmadnagar to confront the Marathas. Meanwhile, Sambhaji was engaged in the Siege of Janjira against the Sidis and began reinforcing Konkan, blocking Mughal access to Talkonkan and fortifying roads against Mughal advances.[1][2][3]
Despite these efforts, the Mughals faced difficulties. By October, Bahadur Khan was ordered to advance into Konkan but declined. Ranmast Khan, newly appointed as Bahadur Khan, eventually mobilized 9,000 foot soldiers, with additional support from Kanhoji’s troops. Simultaneously, Shihab-ud-din Khan attacked Konkan from Junnar, burning villages and capturing livestock.[1][2][3]
In November, the Marathas repaired a fortress near Kalyan-Bhivandi and established a post. On November 28, Bahadur Khan defeated a Maratha force. A subsequent battle on December 3 saw 10,000 Maratha cavalry and 12,000 infantry led by Rupaji Bhosale defeated by Bahadur Khan. Following this, Bahadur Khan marched towards Bitanga fort, burning the surrounding area. The Marathas launched counter-attacks but were repelled by the Mughal forces.[1][2][3]
By late December 1682, Tukoji, a Maratha commander, approached Kalyan-Bhiwandi. He initiated trenching operations but was met by a Mughal counter-force led by Ranmast Khan and others. The battle saw initial long-range skirmishes followed by a direct assault, resulting in heavy Maratha casualties and their retreat to the mountains. January 1683 various activities.[1][2][3]
Battle
editBy the end of February 1683, an important battle marked the climax of the Kalyan-Bhivandi campaign. The confrontation occurred near Kalyan (Titwala) on February 27. The Maratha forces, led by Hambir Rao Mohite, Rupaji Bhosale, Manaji More, and other prominent generals, including Hambir Rao's wife's brother, numbered twenty thousand cavalry and ten thousand infantry. On the Mughal side were Ruh-ullah Khan, Sayyid Izat Khan, Ranmast Khan, Ram Singh Ratnawat, and Padam Singh Hada, with Padam Singh leading the front guard. The battle was fiercely contested, resulting in severe casualties. Hambirrao was injured by a Mughal arrow, and his wife's brother, three other Maratha leaders, and Ghorpade were killed. Approximately two hundred Maratha soldiers lost their lives. The Mughal side suffered even heavier losses: Padam Singh was mortally wounded with thirty-five injuries, Bhagwant Singh and Mankoji Dhangar was killed, and Ram Singh succumbed to illness before reaching the battlefield. Hari Singh, wounded and left behind, died on the way after being carried off by the Marathas. Other Mughal soldiers, including Raghunath Singh and Madhoram Sisodia, were wounded. An earlier report mentioned that nearly all Mughal soldiers were either killed or injured. Despite the Marathas' valor and strength, the fort remained under Mughal control. The battle instilled considerable fear among the Mughal troops, leading to reluctance among Mughal commanders to engage with the Marathas.[1][4][5][3]
In response to the situation, Aurangzeb ordered Ruhullah Khan to escort Qasim Khan to Talkonkan to aid Bahadur Khan. However, Qasim Khan avoided the assignment, citing unfamiliarity with the terrain. Eventually, Ruhullah Khan was dispatched to escort Qasim Khan.[1][4][5][3]
The following two months saw a lull in activity. On March 5, Salabat Khan, a Mughal artillery officer, was sent to Kalyan-Bhivandi with instructions to remain vigilant. Sambhaji intensified the blockade of Kalyan-Bhiwandi, making it impossible for Ranmast Khan to obtain food supplies either from Fardapur or by sea. On March 15, Ruhullah Khan arrived at Kalyan-Bhivandi and joined Ranmast Khan. Two days later, they engaged in a battle with the Marathas, resulting in heavy Mughal casualties. On March 18, Ruhullah Khan attacked Maratha non-combatants. By the end of March, Saifullah, Ruhullah Khan's son, pursued the Marathas, burning a few villages within fourteen miles of Kalyan-Bhivandi. Sambhaji’s blockade had become so effective that the Mughals were forced to seek assistance from the English.[1][4][5][3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k G. T. Kulkarni (1983-04-22). The Mughal Maratha Relations: Twenty Five Fateful Years (1682-1707). pp. 18–24.
- ^ a b c d e f g Bahu Virupaksha (2021-02-14). Portuguese Mahratta Relations. p. 101.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Joshi, Pandit Shankar (1980). Chhatrapati Sambhaji, 1657-1689 A.D. S. Chand. p. 155.
- ^ a b c Ashok Kumar Arora (1978-01-01). Randput Maratha Relations 1707-1760 AD (Vol. 1). p. 67.
- ^ a b c G. T. Kulkarni (1967-01-01). Maratha War Of Independence 1680-1707 AD. pp. 113–116.