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Maratha–Patiala clashes

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The Maratha–Patiala clashes constituted a significant chapter in Indian military history, in which two formidable powers, the Marathas and the Sikhs, collided in a series of engagements and battles. This period of conflict, often argued to be marked by strategic brilliance, fierce battles, and shifting alliances, occurred in 18th-century India—a time when regional powers vied for dominance and control.[1]

Maratha-Patiala Clashes
Date1785–1798
Location
India
Belligerents
 Maratha Confederacy Patiala state
Commanders and leaders
Bapu Malhar
Dhar Rao
Devi datta
Lakshmi rao
Bibi Sahib Kaur
Raja Bhag Singh
Gudrat Singh
Tara Singh Ghaiba
Bhanga Singh of Thanesar
Strength
12,000 7,000- 9,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

Background

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The conflict unfolded against the backdrop of the 18th century, a time when the Indian subcontinent was marked by a mosaic of regional powers vying for supremacy. In this era, the Marathas and Sikhs emerged as formidable players, each with a distinct martial tradition and territorial ambitions. The conflict witnessed repeated incursions and counterattacks as Sikhs and Marathas sought to assert their dominance over strategic regions. Sikh forces, under various leaders, were known to launch raids into Maratha territories, targeting military camps and supply lines. These incursions, marked by cavalry charges and guerrilla tactics, often caught the Maratha forces off guard. The Marathas, in response, mounted defenses against these Sikh offensives. They fortified their camps, employed advanced artillery, and devised strategies to counter the Sikh cavalry. The clash of these two states played out across diverse landscapes, from the fertile plains to the rugged terrains of the subcontinent. However, the narrative of these clashes was far from one-sided. While the Sikhs were initially successful in their attacks, the Marathas turned the tide in several engagements. Despite facing losses in the initial stages, the Marathas adapted their strategies, learning from each encounter and strengthening their defensive and offensive capabilities.[2]

List of major conflicts

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Maratha victory Sikh victory

The table below lists some of the major military conflicts of Marathas and Sikhs.

Year Conflicts Marathas Commander Sikh Commander Locations Result
1785 CE Battle of Merut Bapu Malhar Unknown Delhi Marathas defeated the force of Sikhs invited by Najaf Quli Khan to raid Delhi[3]
1785 CE Battle of Panipat Ambaji Unknown Panipat A battalion of Marathas stationed at Panipat was completely cut off when a force of 20,000 Sikhs stormed the town, pillaged, and set it on fire.[4]
1786 CE Battle of Banur Dhar rao Unknown Punjab Sikhs got repulsed in the invasion of marathas who marched against the Raja of Patiala[5]
1787 CE Battle of Sonipat Unknown Unknown Sonipat The Sikhcontingent ravaged the territory of Sonipat, but a body of Marathas attacked them, seized some of the horses, and drove them away[6]
1789 CE Battle of Thanesar Kashi Rao and Baluji Ingle Bhanga Singh of Thanesar and Tara Singh Ghaiba Thanesar The Marathas moved on to Thanesar. However, they were tormented by Sardar Bhanga Singh and forced to leave his territory. Rane Khan had dispatched an advanced guard comprising Kashi Rao and Baluji Ingle. Tara Singh Ghaiba fought and pushed this force back in April 1789.[7]
1789 CE Battle of Soohlar 1789 Jiwa Dada Bakhshi Rani Rajinder Kaur Near Patiala Under the command of Jiwa Dada Bakhshi, a formidable army of over thirty thousand Maratha horsemen and foot marched to the village of Soohlar. But the princess of Patiala stayed firm. Unable to extract tribute from her, the Marathas retreated to Saifabad.[8]
1789 CE Battle of Saifabad Rane Khan Dadaji and Ali Bahadur Gulab Kali Bahadurgarh fort After occasional skirmishes between the Marathas and the Patiala forces for a month and a half the Maratha forces were defeated by Sikh troops and rest of them retired to Delhi. [9]
1793 CE Battle of Meerut Bapu Malhar's troops Unknown Near Meerut & Doab From Khurja, Bapu Malhar sent a force of 2,000 horse to set up a Maratha post at Meerut. They were attacked by the Sikhs who looted their camp, and the Marathas fled back to Bapu Malhar. Bapuji Malhar then with 5000 troops attacked Sikhs and made them flee.[10]
1793 CE Battle of Doab Bapu Malhar Unknown Doab Sikh Bapu Malhar routed Sikh forces near Doab and killed 50 Sikhs. The defeated Sikhs fled to Patiala[11]
1793 CE Battle of Karnal Devi Datta Gurdat Singh Karnal Devi Datta twice routed Sikh forces led by Gudrat Singh and expelled them from territory[12]
1793 CE Battle of Delhi Khanderao Hari Unknown Delhi Khanderao Hair successfully repulsed the Sikhs contingent which was ravaging Delhi[13]
1794 CE Battle of Mardanpur Lakshmi Rao Bibi Sahib Kaur Patiala During the night the Sikhs made a surprise attack on Madho Rao who was busy performing the funerary rites of his dead soldiers. Following another attack by the Sikhs before dawn, the Marathas retired to Karnal.[14]
1795 CE Nana Rao´s Expedition Nana Rao Bhanga Singh of Thenaser Rajpura Nana Rao launched an expedition against them in September of 1795. Nana Rao marched to Thanesar, where Bhanga Singh fought with him. He was involved in many conflicts near Rajpura, on the banks of the Ghaggar River. Nana Rao was forced to flee to Panipat.[15]
1795 CE Battle of Saharanpur Nana Rao Unknown Doab Nana Rao arrived at Panipat, where 5,000 Sikhs attacked the Gangetic Doab, scattered the Maratha garrison at Saharanpur, and destroyed Maratha troops stationed for the province's defense.[16]
1795 CE Battle of Muzaffarnagar Bapu Malhar Unknown Doab & Muzaffarnagar On the 12th November, 1795, a fight took place between Bapu Malhar and the Sikhs. Many people were killed and wounded on both sides. On the 15th another action was fought between them in which Bapuji was defeated.[17]
1796 CE Second Battle of Saharanpur Bapu Malhar Unknown Doab In March 1796, the Sikhs again invaded the Doab. Bapu Malhar, the Maratha officer in Saharanpur, attempted to halt their march but was defeated and stripped of four cannons on March 20, 1796.[18]
1798 CE Second Battle of Karnal Thomas Rebellion Sikhs Karnal Thomas (Irish general under Marathas) fought a battle against the Sikhs, in which the Marathas suffered 500 deaths and killed 1000 Sikhs who tried to rebel against the Marathas. Peace was later achieved with the Sikhs evacuating the place. [19][20]

References

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  1. ^ Hari Ram Gupta (1944). History Of The Sikhs Vol I.
  2. ^ Singh, Harban (1992). The Encyclopedia Of Sikhism - Volume IV S-Z. p. 18.
  3. ^ History of The Sikhs Hari Ram Gupta, p.179
  4. ^ Banerjee, Himadri (2002). The Khalsa and the Punjab Studies in Sikh History, to the Nineteenth Century. Tulika. p. 59. ISBN 9788185229720.
  5. ^ History of The Sikhs Hari Ram Gupta
  6. ^ History of The Sikhs Hari Ram Gupta, p.201
  7. ^ Singh, Ganda (1967). The Punjab Past and Present - Volume 01 Part 2. Punjab (India): Punjab University. p. 341.
  8. ^ Singh, Ganda (1967). The Punjab Past and Present - Volume 01 Part 2. India: Punjab University. p. 341.
  9. ^ www.DiscoverSikhism.com. History Of The Sikh Misals.
  10. ^ Hari Ram Gupta (1944). History Of The Sikhs 1769 1799 Vol Ii.
  11. ^ History of The Sikhs Hari Ram Gupta, p.245
  12. ^ History of The Sikhs Hari Ram Gupta, p.247
  13. ^ History of The Sikhs Hari Ram Gupta
  14. ^ Gandhi, Surjit Singh (1999). Sikhs of the Eighteenth Century. Singh Bros. p. 505. ISBN 9788172052171.
  15. ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (1979). History of the Sikhs: Sikh domination of the Mughal Empire, 1764-1803. Punjab (India): Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. p. 320.
  16. ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (1952). A History of the Sikhs: From Nadir Shah's Invasion to the Rise of Ranjit Singh, 1739-1799, Volume 2. Punjab (India): Minerva Book Shop. p. 260.
  17. ^ www.DiscoverSikhism.com. History Of The Sikhs Vol. III Sikh Domination Of The Mughal Empire (1764-1803).
  18. ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (1939). History of the Sikhs: Cis-Sutlej Sikhs, 1769-1799. India: S.N. Sarkar. p. 262.
  19. ^ History of The Sikhs Hari Ram Gupta
  20. ^ Hari Ram Gupta (1944). History Of The Sikhs 1769 1799 Vol Ii.
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