Varun Singh Rawat

Battle of Majewadi

Battle of Majewadi
Date 1576 Location Majevadi Result Rajput Victory
Belligerents
Mughal Empire	Nawanagar
Commanders and leaders
Mirza Khan	Bhanji Dal Jadeja
Strength
100,000 equiped with mordern guns and canons	30,000
Casualties and losses
Not specified but greater than Rajput forces, Mughal forces ran away	Not specified but less than Mughal's

When Mughal king Akbar was defeated in Gujarat miserably by brave Rajput forces of Nawangar led by Bhanji Dal Jadeja and made mughal forces to ran away in the battlefield

Background

In the year 1576, Delhi emperor Akbar attacked junagadh. Then Nawaab of Junagadh requested Jam Sataji -I of Nawanagar state to etend help of his army. Jam Sataji sent a huge army of 30000 soldiers for help of Junagadh against Akbar under the leadership of Bhanji Dal Jadeja. Nawaab of Junagadh was frightened and he closed the doors of Junagadh fort and requested Bhanji Dal Jadeja to return back as he thought he would not be able to defeat Akbar. But Bhanji Dal refused and said, ” Once a kshatriya goes to war, he cant go back, either he loses his life or he achieves victory”. He told his army today either Akbar’s arm surrenders or We will fight!. Akbar had a huge army of 1 lakh. They were also well equipped with modern day guns and cannons. Therefore,the nawanagar army planned for a night attack.

Battle

On midnight, Bhanji Dal and his troops attacked the army of Akbar( lead by Mirzakhan) with great bravery and courage. Thousands of Akbar’s soldiers were killed in the battle. Next day the Akbar’s troops ran away. Akbar stayed in the rear, few miles from the battleground near kathiawada. On hearing the disastrous news, he too fled with terror. The nawanagar army chased the Mughals. Bhanji Dal seized 52 elephants 3530 horses and Palkies of Akbar’s army as well as the Doors of Junagadh fort were also removed. This was a part of punishment to Junagadh nawaab for his cowardness. These doors are still standing at Khambhalia Gate of Jamnagar.

Right after the battle of majewadi

Bhanji Dal Jadeja along with great warriors of Nawanagar army including Jesaji Vazir, Togaji Sodha and Meramanji Hala Jadeja won the great battle of Junagadh. Nawaab of Junagadh felt sorry and asked for forgiveness.

1) Village of chur with 12 other villages.

2) Village of Bhar with 12 other villages.

3) Jam- Jodhpur Tehsil were gifted to Jam Sataji -I By Nawaab of Junagadh.

Aftermath

Akbar attacked Jam Sattaji in 1583,once again near 'Tamachan' village (at present near Und irrigation dam) and once again Akbar’s army was badly defeated. The very very furious Akbar dismssed suba of Ahmedabd and Aziz Koko was appointed as the new governor ‘subo’ of Ahmedabad, Gujrat and Jam Sattaji was attacked with a huge army of 90,000 soldiers. In this famous battle ‘Bhucharmori’, near Dhrol, Jam Sattaji was defeated,(due to the treachery of nawab ) but akbar had to compromise with this famous king Jam Sattaji just one and half year later and again Jam Sattaji was the king of Nawanagar. Even in his famous book ”Akbarnaama”, Akbar wrote "Satta was very powerful and notorious keeping an army of 30,000". After defeating Akbar's army in 1633, Jam Sattaji was given the title of ”Paschim Bharat ko Badshah” by local people and local poets etc.

Reference - Yaduvansh Prakash by Shourya Jaiswal