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| However it was 2 months siege for marathas where as abdali manages to get his logistic supplies on time from indian muslims. Whereas Maraths get dwindling supplies like germans in harsh winter in stalingrad. | However it was 2 months siege for marathas where as abdali manages to get his logistic supplies on time from indian muslims. Whereas Maraths get dwindling supplies like germans in harsh winter in stalingrad. | ||
| On ], ] Sadashiv Bhau decided to break the siege by attacking first. | On ], ] Sadashiv Bhau decided to break the siege by attacking first. His plan was to pulverise the enemy formations with cannon fire and not to employ his cavalry until the Muslims were throughly softened up. He planned to simultaniously move the formation towards Delhi, with a protective ring of infantry, cavalry and artillery around the 30,000 Maratha civilians. | ||
| ⚫ | He emerged from the trenches into the open early in the morning of the 14th January ]. The Maraths pushed 150 fine artillery pieces beyond the trenches and arranged them along a circular 12km line, ready to open fire on the Afgan positions before dawn. | ||
| His plan was to pulverise evemy position & formation with cannonade and not to engage cavalry till enemy is totally soften. Simulteniously move the formation towards Delhi with protective ring of infantry, cavalry & artillery around maratha civilians numbering 30,000. | |||
| The artillery was to be defended by infantry, pikemen, musketeers, and bowmen, the cavalry being instructed to wait behind the artillery, ready to be thrown in when control of battlefield had been established. | |||
| ⚫ | He |
||
| ⚫ | Behind this defensive circular mass was another ring of 30,000 young Maratha soldiers who were not battle tested, and inside this shield were roughly 30,000 Maratha civilians. Many were middle class men, women and children on their piligrimage to the North Indian Hindu holy places and shrines—for them it was once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Aryavarta (Aryan Land). The civilians were supremely confident in the Maratha army, regarding it as one of the best in the world, and definitely one of the most powerful in Asia. Behind the encircled civilians was jet another protective infantry line, of young inexperienced soldiers. | ||
| As per plan they were to adopt european strategy of softenning the target with cannonade & bombardment. | |||
| In response, Abdali positioned 60 smoothbore cannon and returned fire. However, because of the short range of the smoothbore weapons, the Maratha lines remained untouched. Abdali then launched a cavalry attack. | |||
| Artillery was to be defended by infantry, pikemen, musketeers, and bowmen. | |||
| The cavalry waits behind artillery for better control of battlefield. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| The first defensive salvo of the Marathas went over the Afgan's heads and inflicted very little damage, but the Afgan attack was broken down by Maratha bowmen and pikemen, along with some musketeers stationed close to the artillery positions. The second and subsequent salvos from the well-disciplined, French-trained Maratha artillery were fired at point blank range, and the resulting carnage sent the Afgans reeling back to their original lines. The European plan had worked just as envisioned. | |||
| Abdali arranges 60 smoothbore shortrange connons & tries responds. However they can't reach maratha lines. | |||
| The Marathas also tried to gain mileage by pushing ahead artillery pieces. The Afgans responded with repeated cavalry attacks, all of which failed. About 17,000 Afgan cavalry and infantrymen lost their lives in this stage of the battle. Gaping holes were opened in the Afgan ranks, and in some places the Afgans and Indian Muslims began to run away. | |||
| Abdali launches cavalry attack. The first salvo of marathas goes over heads of afgans & inflicts very little damage. | |||
| ==The Marathas cavalry charge== | |||
| Afgan attack is broken down by maratha pikemen & bowmen along with some masketeers almost near to artillery positions. | |||
| The french trained disciplined artillery responds with Second & subsequent salvo from maratha artillery is fired at point blank range & resulting carnage sends back afgans back to their original lines. | |||
| The european plan works as envisaged. | |||
| Marathas also tries to gain mileage by pushing ahead artillery pieces in between. | |||
| Afgans responds by repeated cavalry attacks & fails. About 17,000 afgan cavalry & infantry men looses their lives in a process. | |||
| Gaping holes are openned in afgan ranks at some places afgans & indian muslims starts running away. | |||
| Biggest Mistake (5): | |||
| At this stage, it looked as though Bhausaheb would clinch victory for the Marathas once again. However, some of the Maratha lieutenants, jealous of the exploits of their artillery chiefs, now decided to exploit the gaps in the enemy lines—despite strict instructions not to charge or engage Afgan cavalry. They Maratha horsemen raced through their own artillery lines and charged towards the demoralised Afgans, intending to cut the faltering army in two. | At this stage, it looked as though Bhausaheb would clinch victory for the Marathas once again. However, some of the Maratha lieutenants, jealous of the exploits of their artillery chiefs, now decided to exploit the gaps in the enemy lines—despite strict instructions not to charge or engage Afgan cavalry. They Maratha horsemen raced through their own artillery lines and charged towards the demoralised Afgans, intending to cut the faltering army in two. | ||
Revision as of 12:44, 15 March 2003
The Battle of Panipat, took place on January 14, 1761 at Panipat (Haryana State, India) about 80 miles north of Delhi. It was one of the bloodiest battles ever recorded. It is estimated that over 100,000 people were killed in just twelve hours.
Prelude to Panipat
Around 1756, Raghoba Dada, the minister and general of the Maratha confederacy, persued Najib Ud Doulah and Afgans of Ahmedshah Abdali to Attack Pakhtoonistan, in the foothills of Afganistan.
Mistake No.1 : Najib(Indian Rohilla muslim) was arrested and released subsequently by Marathas. Najib invites Abdali back in 1761. Promising him Indian empire.
Abdali gives call of Jihad to fellow tribes of Afganistan & invades India.
Mistake 2 : This time, Sadashivrao Bhau, the younger brother of Nanasaheb Peshwe, takes up the challenge & due to internal politics Raghoba dada (experienced & seasoned general) do not join him.
Wives of both Nanasaheb & Raghoba plays their part in inflating egos of their generals in this politics resulting in ommission of Raghoba dada. (Gopikabai & Anandibai)
Sadashivrao Bhau (younger brother of priminister gets the army of about 70-90,000 however he did not get what he wants. He is accompanied by Vishwasrao, son of priminister.
Mistake 3 :He wanted sizable & more seasoned cavalry which is on 12 months payroll. He did not get infantry regiment of masketeers. He was made to carry passengers & tourist civilians men, women & children numbering 30,000 on war. (Perhaps to ensure his failure) This limits in speed, mobility & manouverability considerable.
However he gets 150 fine pieces of french rifled long range artillery. Larger battle hardened infantry with famed maratha pikemen.
As abdali comes in India, muslims, mostly rohillas, Navab of Ayodhya (Shuja ud dowlah) joins him thus making him more powerful.
Mistake 4 : Where as north indian hindu kingdoms either refuses to join war on terror or ditches him (Sadashivrao bhau) on the way, notable among them was Jat king Surajmal when he was not permitted to loot Delhi.
In october 1761 armies of maratha confederacy and afgans with his indian muslims comes to face to face.
Marathas dugs in trenches around panipat town block Abdalis way to Afganistan & Abdali theirs to Deccan.
However it was 2 months siege for marathas where as abdali manages to get his logistic supplies on time from indian muslims. Whereas Maraths get dwindling supplies like germans in harsh winter in stalingrad.
On January 14, 1761 Sadashiv Bhau decided to break the siege by attacking first. His plan was to pulverise the enemy formations with cannon fire and not to employ his cavalry until the Muslims were throughly softened up. He planned to simultaniously move the formation towards Delhi, with a protective ring of infantry, cavalry and artillery around the 30,000 Maratha civilians.
He emerged from the trenches into the open early in the morning of the 14th January 1761. The Maraths pushed 150 fine artillery pieces beyond the trenches and arranged them along a circular 12km line, ready to open fire on the Afgan positions before dawn.
The artillery was to be defended by infantry, pikemen, musketeers, and bowmen, the cavalry being instructed to wait behind the artillery, ready to be thrown in when control of battlefield had been established.
Behind this defensive circular mass was another ring of 30,000 young Maratha soldiers who were not battle tested, and inside this shield were roughly 30,000 Maratha civilians. Many were middle class men, women and children on their piligrimage to the North Indian Hindu holy places and shrines—for them it was once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Aryavarta (Aryan Land). The civilians were supremely confident in the Maratha army, regarding it as one of the best in the world, and definitely one of the most powerful in Asia. Behind the encircled civilians was jet another protective infantry line, of young inexperienced soldiers.
In response, Abdali positioned 60 smoothbore cannon and returned fire. However, because of the short range of the smoothbore weapons, the Maratha lines remained untouched. Abdali then launched a cavalry attack.
The first defensive salvo of the Marathas went over the Afgan's heads and inflicted very little damage, but the Afgan attack was broken down by Maratha bowmen and pikemen, along with some musketeers stationed close to the artillery positions. The second and subsequent salvos from the well-disciplined, French-trained Maratha artillery were fired at point blank range, and the resulting carnage sent the Afgans reeling back to their original lines. The European plan had worked just as envisioned.
The Marathas also tried to gain mileage by pushing ahead artillery pieces. The Afgans responded with repeated cavalry attacks, all of which failed. About 17,000 Afgan cavalry and infantrymen lost their lives in this stage of the battle. Gaping holes were opened in the Afgan ranks, and in some places the Afgans and Indian Muslims began to run away.
The Marathas cavalry charge
At this stage, it looked as though Bhausaheb would clinch victory for the Marathas once again. However, some of the Maratha lieutenants, jealous of the exploits of their artillery chiefs, now decided to exploit the gaps in the enemy lines—despite strict instructions not to charge or engage Afgan cavalry. They Maratha horsemen raced through their own artillery lines and charged towards the demoralised Afgans, intending to cut the faltering army in two.
The over-enthausiasm of the charge saw many of the Maratha horses blown long before they had traveled the two kilometres to the the Afgan lines. Some collapsed. Making matters worse was the suffocating odour of the rotting corpses of men and animals from the fighting of the previous months.
In response, the Afgan officers stiffened their troops resistance with blows and by shooting would-be deserters. Abdali called up his reserves and cavalry of musketeers, who fired an extensive salvo at the Maratha cavalry, who were unable to withstand the rifled muskets of the Afgans.
With their own men in the firing line, the Maratha artillery could not respond, and about 7000 Maratha cavalry and infantry perished before the hand to hand fighting began at around 2:00PM
However by 4.00 marathas tired infantry & cavalry ranks starts succumbing to fresh afgan reserves onslaughts with their protective leather armoured jackets.
Mistake 6 : Again the muslim logistics infantrymen (Rohillas) (whose loyalty was suspect or their only loyalty is with koran & mecca or fellow muslim and not to country they stay, they succumbed to shouts & call for jihad) within maratha army revolted and started looting & pillaging maratha civilians within encirclement. This caused confusion & consternation in Maratha Army personnel who thought that the enemy has attacked from behind.
Mistake 7 ? : 29 year old Sadashivrao bhau seeing his forwards lines thinning, dwindelling & civilians behind with no other possible choice in his mind comes down from elephant & rides horse to the front to participate in battle himself. At the time of leaving he leaves instructions to his loyal bodyguards behind to kill his wife Parvati bai if they loose battle as he would not think of she being dishonoured by afgans.
Some maratha armymen seeing disappeared general panicks & starts running away.
Vishwasrao, son of priminister Nanasaheb earlier falls down to afgan sniper fire, bullet in his head.
Sadashivrao Bhau fights to the end with his three horses dead with his loyal maratha body guards.
Afgans then pursues running maratha soldiers & their civilians. Some Maratha artillery points fights till sun down. Some Maratha units on vast battlefield who do not or could not engage enemy and after the day battle do not tries to launch night attack & thus escapes.
Many running Maratha women jumps in to well in panipat town rather than risk rape & dishonour. Many women hides in streets of panipat where north indian hindus do not give them any refuge.
Afgans cavalry pikemen go on masscre spree of maratha soldiers & civilians hiding in panipat who tries to offer some resistance.
About 6000 women & children seek shelter with Shuja (allies of Abdali) whose hindu officers convinces him to protect the.
Abdali's souldiers arrests about 10,000 women & another 10,000 young children & men & brings them to their camps.
Womens are raped in afgan rape camp. Many of them committs suicide because of constant rape perpetrated on the.
All of them are exchanged or sold are sex slaves (harem) to afganistan & north india on carts, camels & elephants in bamboo cages.
Parvati bai escapes this armageddon with her body guards & in few months time reaches maratha capital of Pune in Maratha empire in Deccan.
Afgan officers who had lost their kins in battle were permitted to carry out masscres next day also in panipat and around. who do their sacred duty by saying alound their duty as referred in Koran & other islamic scriptures and the holy points they are credited by severing heads of enemy & non cobatants. About 10,000/- maratha civilians & soldiers alike were slayed this way on 15th January 1761.
They arrange victory mounds of severed heads outside their camps.
The very Delhi mughals to save their kingdom maratha's tried to save by just gaving their 50,000 lives welcomes afgans & abdali. In this battle abdali's army looses about 30,000 men.
Thus the biggest and bloodiest battle on terror was lost to Islamic zealots in 1761. However news come to him that Marathas in south have organised another 1,00,000 men to avenge & recues prisoners. He leave Delhi in 2 months time for afganistan with his loot of 500 elephants, 1500 camels, 50,000 horses & about 22,000 slaved maratha women and children.
A conservative estimate places Maratha losses at 35,000 on the Panipat battlefield itself, and another 10,000 or more in surrounding areas. The two armies did not meet again for another two years, when the Marat partially avenged their defeat by routing the Afgans and Rohillas near Farukkabad.