First Battle of Panipat

Babur’s eldest son Humayun had brought a contingent of warriors from Badshahkhan and this time the trustiest generals of Ghazni led the army. After crossing Jhelum, the troops of Lahore also joined him, as Daulat Khan pretended to support them. But he stood against Babur and his 40 thousand troops melted away at Babur’s approach. Daulat Khan was killed.

The decisive battle of Panipat was fought with Ibrahim Lodi on April 21, 1526. Babur collected 700 gun-carts and linked them together with twisted bull hides and arranging the shields between each pair of them to protect the operator.

He placed his canons and matchlocks in the center. On 21 April, the 1 Lakh army of Sultan Ibrahim Lodi with 300 elephants was engaged by the strategically arranged much less in number troops of Babur , from all sides. By noon the invaders had broken the great army of the Sultan of Delhi. The Sultan of India was beheaded and his head was brought to Babur. The victorious troops were divided into two parts, one of which was sent to capture Agra. On 27 April 1526, the Public Prayer in Delhi was said in the mosque in the name of the new emperor of India – Babur.

• The Guns and Canons proved decisive in this battle as well as successive battles of Babur.

The treasure of Delhi and Agra was looted and divided among the Begs of Babur and in celebration of this victory silver coins were distributed in Kabul.

• The celebrated Kohinoor was brought by Humayun to his father, who returned it to the young prince.

Babur had little love for wealth and precious stones and was happy in giving it away, earning the prestigious nickname of “Kalandhari“.

Babur’s Resolution

When Babur, the new King moved to Agra, it was a hot season, adverse to his soldiers and the local people were hostile to the strangers. Each big or small state was prepared for stiff resistance. The soldiers started feeling homesick, and having their prize money secured wished to go back to the cool air of Kabul and started getting ready. But Babur summoned all the chief officers and spoke to them. He recalled the past “toil” and “hard work” of his army and asked them that after winning throne of Delhi, was it good idea to turn back from all they have accomplished? Nobody said yes.

A bold resolution was made and Babur decided to stay here, at the heart of India, among the foemen and hostile countries.

He was able to win many of the small enemies very soon. Humayun led an army to east to suppress the Afghans, and made them flee beyond Ganges. Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Ayodhya were taken. The only formidable rival left in Hindustan was the great Rana Sanga of Chittor, the venerable head of all the Rajput Kings of Rajasthan.