| Revision as of 15:40, 20 December 2024 editPerspicazHistorian (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,052 edits no need to add tactics here. need to check copyedits.Tag: Visual edit← Previous edit | Revision as of 15:51, 20 December 2024 edit undoPerspicazHistorian (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,052 edits further content editsTag: Visual editNext edit → | ||
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
| == Background == | == Background == | ||
| {{See also|Battle of Chakan}} | {{See also|Battle of Chakan}} | ||
| After |
After his victory at Chakan, the Mughal general ] aimed to expand his control over Maratha territories but initially faced a shortage of troops. Once reinforcements arrived, he initiated an offensive targeting the forts in the Konkan region. At the same time, Shivaji began organizing his forces to counter the invasion. Shaista Khan, along with Rai Bagan, a Maratha Brahmin lady, led the campaign, entrusting the mission to capture the forts to Uzbek commander Kartalab Khan.<ref>{{Cite book |last=C V Vaidya |url=http://archive.org/details/shivajithefounde035304mbp |title=Shivaji_The_Founder_Of_Maratha_Swaraj |date=2005 |publisher=Poona |others=DR BR AMBEDKAR, Digital Library Of India |pages=157}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale |url=http://archive.org/details/shivaji-his-life-and-times-1nbsped-9380875177_compress |title=Shivaji His Life and Times |date=2011 |pages=471–476}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vqYiBAAAQBAJ&dq=Shivaji+Umberkhind&pg=PA127 |title=Maratha Generals and Personalities: A gist of great personalities of Marathas |date=2014-08-01 |publisher=Pratik gupta |pages=127 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Kulkarni V. B. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.209617 |title=Shivaji The Portrait Of A Patriot |date=1963 |pages=78}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Setumadhavarao S Pagadi |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.220306 |title=Shivaji |date=1983 |pages=35–36}}</ref> | ||
| The expeditionary force, comprising contingents from various clans and commanders such as ], ], Amar Singh, Mitrasen, Sarjerao Gadhe, ], Jaswantrao Kokate, and Jadhavrao, began its descent from the ] range via the north-south route near ] |
The expeditionary force, comprising contingents from various clans and commanders such as ], ], Amar Singh, Mitrasen, Sarjerao Gadhe, ], Jaswantrao Kokate, and Jadhavrao, began its descent from the ] range via the north-south route near ]. Subsequently, the army entered a dense forest known as ''Umbarkhand''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> This terrain, described as a virtual death-trap, limited the army's mobility and exposed them to ambushes from adversaries concealed in the surrounding terrain.<ref name=":0" /> It is speculated that the ''Bor Pass'', a more commonly used route, may have been heavily fortified by Shivaji's forces, prompting Khan to attempt an outflanking maneuver through the less guarded ]. However, historical records do not provide definitive explanations for this strategic decision.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | According to Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale, The Battle of Umbarkhind shares similar tactics with the ](217 BCE). In both cases, the general used deception to lure the enemy into a trap. ] had drawn the ] into an ambush by threatening Rome and positioning himself along their route as they rushed to its defense. However, it is unclear whether Shivaji intentionally set up his trap in a similar way or simply took advantage of the enemy's mistake.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale |url=https://archive.org/details/shivaji-his-life-and-times-1nbsped-9380875177_compress/page/n475/mode/2up?q=umbarkhind |title=Shivaji His Life and Times |date=2011 |quote=The Battle of Umbarkhind has a close tactical resemblance to the battle of Lake Trasimene (217 BCE). Hannibal had deliberately lured the Romans into a trap by threatening Rome and placing himself astride their route as they were hurrying to its relief. We do not know whether Shivaji had deliberately baited his trap by some such move or had merely exploited the opportunity presented by the enemy’s carelessness.}}</ref> | ||
| == Ambush at Umberkhind Pass == | == Ambush at Umberkhind Pass == | ||
| After Kartalab Khan descended the ] and entered the forest, Shivaji, aware of his |
After Kartalab Khan descended the ] and entered the forest, Shivaji, fully aware of his plans, tactically positioned his forces for an ambush. The surprise guerrilla attack threw the Mughal army into chaos, leading to a stampede among the troops, despite efforts by some commanders to put up resistance.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=S_R_Sharma |url=http://archive.org/details/marathahistory035360mbp |title=Maratha_History |date=2005 |publisher=karnatak_Publishing_House |others=DR BR AMBEEDKAR, Digital Library Of India |pages=141}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":3" /> ], a commander accompanying Kartalab Khan, advised surrender due to the hopeless situation. Kartalab Khan dispatched an emissary to ] with Shivaji, who agreed to allow the Mughal army safe passage in return for their surrender of all possessions. As a result, the Mughals abandoned their belongings and quickly exited the forest.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> The precise date of the battle is not documented in contemporary records, but it is believed to have taken place around January 15, 1661. Shivaji's choice to grant safe passage to Kartalab Khan's forces instead of fully capturing them remains a subject of speculation.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
| === Negotiation with Kartalab Khan === | === Negotiation with Kartalab Khan === | ||
| Capturing the Mughals might not have significantly strengthened Shivaji's negotiating position, as they perceived him as a rebellious leader rather than an equal power. Additionally, the Mughals possessed vast manpower, and the loss of Kartalab Khan's force would not have significantly impacted their military capabilities.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> For Shivaji, capturing a large number of prisoners would have imposed logistical challenges without substantial benefits. Shivaji ambushed Kartalab Khan's advancing Mughal forces at Umberkhind pass, inflicting heavy casualties. Recognizing the dire situation, Mughal commander ] advised surrender to ], allowing the Mughal army to retreat safely to ].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> | Capturing the Mughals might not have significantly strengthened Shivaji's negotiating position, as they perceived him as a rebellious leader rather than an equal power. Additionally, the Mughals possessed vast manpower, and the loss of Kartalab Khan's force would not have significantly impacted their military capabilities.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> For Shivaji, capturing a large number of prisoners would have imposed logistical challenges without substantial benefits. Shivaji ambushed Kartalab Khan's advancing Mughal forces at Umberkhind pass, inflicting heavy casualties. Recognizing the dire situation, Mughal commander ] advised surrender to ], allowing the Mughal army to retreat safely to ].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> | ||
| ] | |||
| ⚫ | === Resemblance with roman tactics === | ||
| ⚫ | According to Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale, The Battle of Umbarkhind shares similar tactics with the ](217 BCE). In both cases, the general used deception to lure the enemy into a trap. ] had drawn the ] into an ambush by threatening Rome and positioning himself along their route as they rushed to its defense. However, it is unclear whether Shivaji intentionally set up his trap in a similar way or simply took advantage of the enemy's mistake.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale |url=https://archive.org/details/shivaji-his-life-and-times-1nbsped-9380875177_compress/page/n475/mode/2up?q=umbarkhind |title=Shivaji His Life and Times |date=2011 |quote=The Battle of Umbarkhind has a close tactical resemblance to the battle of Lake Trasimene (217 BCE). Hannibal had deliberately lured the Romans into a trap by threatening Rome and placing himself astride their route as they were hurrying to its relief. We do not know whether Shivaji had deliberately baited his trap by some such move or had merely exploited the opportunity presented by the enemy’s carelessness.}}</ref>] | ||
| == Aftermath == | == Aftermath == | ||
Revision as of 15:51, 20 December 2024
| This draft may meet Misplaced Pages's criteria for speedy deletion as a page created by a banned or blocked user (WhiteReaperPM – SPI suspected) in violation of the user's ban or block, with no substantial edits by others. See CSD G5.%5B%5BWP%3ACSD%23G5%7CG5%5D%5D%3A+Created+by+a+%5B%5BWP%3ABAN%7Cbanned%5D%5D+or+%5B%5BWP%3ABLOCK%7Cblocked%5D%5D+user+%28%5B%5BUser%3AWhiteReaperPM%7CWhiteReaperPM%5D%5D%29+in+violation+of+ban+or+blockG5
If this draft does not meet the criteria for speedy deletion, or you intend to fix it, please remove this notice, but do not remove this notice from pages that you have created yourself. If you created this page and you disagree with the given reason for deletion, you can click the button below and leave a message explaining why you believe it should not be deleted. You can also visit the talk page to check if you have received a response to your message. Note that this draft may be deleted at any time if it unquestionably meets the speedy deletion criteria, or if an explanation posted to the talk page is found to be insufficient. Note to administrators: this page has content on its talk page which should be checked before deletion. This criterion doesn't apply to templates which are transcluded by other pages, unless these transclusions were all done by the banned user in question.Administrators: check links, talk, history (last), and logs before deletion. Consider checking Google. This page was last edited by PerspicazHistorian (contribs | logs) at 15:51, 20 December 2024 (UTC) (7 days ago) |
| Battle of Umberkhind | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mughal-Maratha Wars | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Maratha Empire |
 Mughal Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Shivaji Netaji Palkar |
Kartalab Khan  Rai Bagan | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 20,000 | 10,000 regular infantry | ||||||
The Battle of Umberkhind took place on 3 February 1661 in the mountain range of Sahyadri near the city of Khopoli, Maharashtra, India. The battle took place between the Mughal and Maratha Empire. Shivaji's Maratha forces defeated the invading Mughal army, resulting in the Mughal army's surrender. The battle demonstrated Shivaji's Ganimi kava and Guerrilla warfare tactics, marking a significant victory for the Marathas and strengthening their position against the Mughals.
Background
See also: Battle of ChakanAfter his victory at Chakan, the Mughal general Shaista Khan aimed to expand his control over Maratha territories but initially faced a shortage of troops. Once reinforcements arrived, he initiated an offensive targeting the forts in the Konkan region. At the same time, Shivaji began organizing his forces to counter the invasion. Shaista Khan, along with Rai Bagan, a Maratha Brahmin lady, led the campaign, entrusting the mission to capture the forts to Uzbek commander Kartalab Khan.
The expeditionary force, comprising contingents from various clans and commanders such as Kachhwah, Chauhan, Amar Singh, Mitrasen, Sarjerao Gadhe, Rai Bagan, Jaswantrao Kokate, and Jadhavrao, began its descent from the Sahyadri range via the north-south route near Lohagad. Subsequently, the army entered a dense forest known as Umbarkhand. This terrain, described as a virtual death-trap, limited the army's mobility and exposed them to ambushes from adversaries concealed in the surrounding terrain. It is speculated that the Bor Pass, a more commonly used route, may have been heavily fortified by Shivaji's forces, prompting Khan to attempt an outflanking maneuver through the less guarded Kuruwande Pass. However, historical records do not provide definitive explanations for this strategic decision.
Ambush at Umberkhind Pass
After Kartalab Khan descended the Sahyadri range and entered the forest, Shivaji, fully aware of his plans, tactically positioned his forces for an ambush. The surprise guerrilla attack threw the Mughal army into chaos, leading to a stampede among the troops, despite efforts by some commanders to put up resistance. Rai Bagan, a commander accompanying Kartalab Khan, advised surrender due to the hopeless situation. Kartalab Khan dispatched an emissary to negotiate with Shivaji, who agreed to allow the Mughal army safe passage in return for their surrender of all possessions. As a result, the Mughals abandoned their belongings and quickly exited the forest. The precise date of the battle is not documented in contemporary records, but it is believed to have taken place around January 15, 1661. Shivaji's choice to grant safe passage to Kartalab Khan's forces instead of fully capturing them remains a subject of speculation.
Negotiation with Kartalab Khan
Capturing the Mughals might not have significantly strengthened Shivaji's negotiating position, as they perceived him as a rebellious leader rather than an equal power. Additionally, the Mughals possessed vast manpower, and the loss of Kartalab Khan's force would not have significantly impacted their military capabilities. For Shivaji, capturing a large number of prisoners would have imposed logistical challenges without substantial benefits. Shivaji ambushed Kartalab Khan's advancing Mughal forces at Umberkhind pass, inflicting heavy casualties. Recognizing the dire situation, Mughal commander Rai Bagan advised surrender to Shivaji, allowing the Mughal army to retreat safely to Pune.
Resemblance with roman tactics
According to Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale, The Battle of Umbarkhind shares similar tactics with the Battle of Lake Trasimene(217 BCE). In both cases, the general used deception to lure the enemy into a trap. Hannibal had drawn the Romans into an ambush by threatening Rome and positioning himself along their route as they rushed to its defense. However, it is unclear whether Shivaji intentionally set up his trap in a similar way or simply took advantage of the enemy's mistake.
Aftermath
Shivaji's decision to allow safe passage to Kartalab Khan's force after the Battle of Umberkhind was driven by political considerations rather than military gains. Understanding the moral and political consequences of his actions, Shivaji aimed to keep the conflict with the Mughals low-key while simultaneously pursuing diplomatic negotiations to end the war. Shivaji's primary objective was not to inflict maximum damage upon the enemy but to compel them to accept his desired political settlement. Given his limited resources, Shivaji focused on convincing the Mughals of their inability to impose their will on him at a reasonable cost while demonstrating his determination to defend his dominions.
See also
References
- Sardesai, GS (1946). "New History of the Marathas". Phœnix Publications. p. 137.
- Vaibhav, Purandare (22 August 2022). Shivaji: India' Great Warrior King. Juggernaut Books. p. 53. ISBN 9789391165505.
- "A Guerilla Victory At Umberkhind!". Chanakya Forum. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- Sorokhaibam, Jeneet (2013-01-01). Chhatrapati Shivaji: The Maratha Warrior and His Campaign. Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-82573-49-4.
- Bhave, Shreyas. The Legend of Bahirji-Naik: Siege of Panhala (Book II). Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5559-089-3.
- C V Vaidya (2005). Shivaji_The_Founder_Of_Maratha_Swaraj. DR BR AMBEDKAR, Digital Library Of India. Poona. p. 157.
- ^ Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale (2011). Shivaji His Life and Times. pp. 471–476.
- ^ Maratha Generals and Personalities: A gist of great personalities of Marathas. Pratik gupta. 2014-08-01. p. 127.
- ^ Kulkarni V. B. (1963). Shivaji The Portrait Of A Patriot. p. 78.
- ^ Setumadhavarao S Pagadi (1983). Shivaji. pp. 35–36.
- ^ S_R_Sharma (2005). Maratha_History. DR BR AMBEEDKAR, Digital Library Of India. karnatak_Publishing_House. p. 141.
- Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale (2011). Shivaji His Life and Times.
The Battle of Umbarkhind has a close tactical resemblance to the battle of Lake Trasimene (217 BCE). Hannibal had deliberately lured the Romans into a trap by threatening Rome and placing himself astride their route as they were hurrying to its relief. We do not know whether Shivaji had deliberately baited his trap by some such move or had merely exploited the opportunity presented by the enemy's carelessness.
