March 16th, 1527 - The Battle of Khanwa

Conflict: Mughal Imperial Wars

Combatants: Rajputs (Indians) vs. Mughals

Location: India

Outcome: Mughal victory

By this time in 1527, the Mughal leader Babur had already conquered the Punjab, occupied Delhi and Agra, and killed the Indian Sultan in battle. In response, an army of 80,000-100,000 Rajput Indians led by Rana Sanga marched against Babur's forces in an attempt to halt the Mughal invasion.

Babur’s army in battle against the army of Rana Sanga by an unknown artist

Babur, with only 20,000 men, entrenched his army in preparation. The Rajputs first charged and engaged the Mughals in hand-to-hand combat. Rana Sanga then ordered his 500 elephants into the fray. Babur made use of artillery and musketry to repel the elephants, driving them into a stampede back into the Rajput ranks. Babur then launched a counterattack and Rana Sanga's army was scattered and routed.

Babur setting out with his army by Racinet

Points of Interest:

• Babur is believed to have been a descendant of both Genghis Khan and Tamerlane.

• Babur was still engaged in expanding the Mughal Empire when he died in 1530.

Babur of India by an unknown artist

King Rana Sanga by unknown artist

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sources:

Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).

Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.

Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.