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The Second Battle of Panipat took place on November 5, 1556. Akbar, who was crowned in the year 1556 due to his father's death, defeated Muhammad Adil Shah Suri and his Prime Minister Hemu (Hemchandra). This defeat of Adil Shah and Hemu marked the end of Afghan power in India and signaled the beginning of Akbar's reign.

On 24 January 1556 Mughal ruler Humayun slipped while climbing down the steps of his library and fell to his death. His son Akbar was only thirteen years old when he ascended the throne. At the time of Akbar's accession to the throne, the Mughal rule was confined to Kabul, Kandhahar, and parts of Punjab and Delhi. Akbar was then campaigning in Punjab with his chief minister Bairam Khan. On February 14, 1556, in a garden at Kalanaur in Punjab, Akbar was enthroned as emperor. Hemu (Hemchandra) was a military chief of the Afghan King Muhammad Adil Shah who had established himself at Chunar and was seeking to expel the Mughals from India. Taking advantage of Humayun's death, Hemu marched to Agra and Delhi in October and occupied it without difficulty, and became the ruler under the title 'Raja Vikramaditya'.It was a shortlived victory but a easy one!

To counter this, Bairam Khan (Akbar's guardian) marched towards Delhi. On November 5 both the armies met at Panipat. Hemu with a large army including 1,500 war elephants had initial success. There was a pitched battle and Hemu was on a winning spree when a stray arrow struck him in the eye. He fell unconscious. As in many other battles, the loss of the leader caused panic among the troops and turned the tide of the battle. The Mughals won the battle. Shah Quli Khan captured the Hawai elephant with its prize occupant, and took it directly to Akbar. Hemu was brought unconscious before Bairam and Akbar. Among much self-congratulation Akbar then severed the head of unconscious Hemu with his saber.

Some historians claim that Akbar did not kill Hemu himself, but just touched his head with his sword and his associates finished Hemu off. After the battle Hemu's head was sent to Kabul as a sign of victory to the ladies of Humayun's harem. Hemu's torso was sent to Delhi for exposure on a gibbet. Iskandar Khan chased Hemu's fleeing army and captured 1500 elephants and a large contingent. Hemu's wife escaped from Delhi with the treasure. Pir Mohammad Khan's troops chased her caravan without success. This battle, known as Second Battle of Panipat was an epoch-making event in the history of India as it resulted in re-establishment of the Mughal empire in India.

See also