The Battles of Tarain, also known as the Battles of Taraori, were fought in 1191 and 1192 near the town of Tarain (Taraori), near Thanesar in present-day Haryana, approximately 150 kilometres north of Delhi, India, between a Ghurid force led by Sultan Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghauri and a Chauhan Rajput army led by Prithviraj Chauhan.[1]
The First Battle[]
| 1st Battle of Tarain | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Ghurid Empire | Chauhan Rajput | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Muhammad Ghori | Prithviraj Chauhan | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
15,000 |
20,000-50,000 | ||||||||
Size of the armies and generals[]
The total Rajput army, under Prithviraj, is estimated at 50,000 with cavalry at 20,000 by the modern historians. The Muslim army was estimated at 15,000 cavalry (including camels, of which the numbers unknown), 10,000 infantry with 5,000 in either wing and a few thousand rearguard. The Ghurid army, consisted mainly of Turkic slaves(Mamluks) dominated by cavalry.
Battle[]
In 1191, Muhammad Ghori captured the fortress of Bhatinda in East Punjab which was on the frontier of Prithiviraj Chauhan's domains.[2] Prithviraj marched on to Bhatinda and met his enemy at a place called Tarain (also called Taraori) near the ancient town of Thanesar. The Ghurid army initiates battle by attacking with cavalry who launch arrows at the Rajput center. The forces of Prithviraj counter-attack from three sides and dominate the battle, pressuring the Ghurid army into a withdrawal. Meanwhile, Muhammad Ghori is wounded in personal combat with Prithviraj's brother, Govind Tai.[3] Prithviraj succeeded in stopping the Ghurid advance towards Hindustan in the first battle of Tarain. He did not pursue Ghori's army either not wanting to invade hostile territory or misjudging Ghori's ambition,[4] instead electing to retake the fortress of Bhatinda.[5]
The Second Battle[]
| 2nd Battle of Tarain | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Ghurid Empire | Chauhan Rajput | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Sultan Muhammad of Ghor | Prithviraj Chauhan | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 120,000-140,000 | 73,000-100,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Prithviraj Chauhan(executed) | |||||||||
On his return to Ghazni, Ghori made hectic preparations to avenge the defeat. When he reached Lahore, he sent his envoy to Prithviraj to demand his submission, but the Chauhan ruler refused to comply. Prithviraj saw through Ghori's stratagem. So he issued a fervent appeal to his fellow Rajput chiefs to come to his aid against the Muslim invader. About 150 Rajput chiefs responded favourably but Ghori, upon hearing this news sent a letter asking for a truce in order to deceive Prithviraj.
Size of the forces and generals[]
According to Firishta, the Rajput army consisted of 1,000 elephants, 73,000-100,000 cavalry and infantry, most likely a gross exaggeration.[6] Minhaj-i-Siraj, stated Muhammad Ghori brought 120,000-140,000 fully armoured men to battle.[7]
Battle[]
Prithviraj's gesture was repaid by Ghori who re-attacked Prithiviraj with a stronger army. Prithviraj had called his banners but hoped to buy time as his banners (other Rajputs under him or his allies) had not arrived. Ghori got news of this and deceitfully sent a letter to Prithviraj for truce, and as we expect had requested Ghauri's brother to be turned to Ghauri. Before the next day, Ghori attacked the Rajput army before dawn. Rajputs had a tradition of fighting from sunrise to sunset. Although they were able to quickly form formations, they suffered losses due to surprise attack before sunrise. Rajput army was eventually defeated and Prithviraj was taken prisoner and subsequently executed, This battle is often described as deceitful , betrayal and unlawful.[8]
The aftermath[]
The victory of Sultan Mohammad of Ghur was decisive, he took Bihar province in 1193 eradicating Buddhism in that area.[9] Later in 1202, his army completes the occupation of Hindustan by taking the city of Bengal.[10]
The victory of Ghori led to the foundation of Sultanate of Delhi.It results in the further conquest of Muslims in India. Ghori made His slave,Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first king of India and India came under the rule of Muslims.
See also[]
- Prithviraj III
- Battles of Rajasthan
References[]
- ↑ A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East, Vol. I, ed. Spencer C. Tucker, (ABC-CLIO, 2010), 263.
- ↑ A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East, Vol. I, 263.
- ↑ A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East, Vol. I, 263.
- ↑ Satish Chandra, Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals (1206-1526), (Har-Anand Publications, 2006), 25.
- ↑ A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East, Vol. I, 263.
- ↑ Satish Chandra, Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals (1206-1526), 25.[1]
- ↑ Satish Chandra, Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals (1206-1526), 25.
- ↑ A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East, Vol. I, 263.
- ↑ A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East, Vol. I, 263.
- ↑ A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle East, Vol. I, 263.
Bibliography[]
- Mahajan, V. D. (2007). History of Medieval India. New Delhi: S. Chand
- Rottermund, H. K. (1998). A History of India. London: Routledge.
There was also a Third battle of Tarrain which was fought between Iltutmish and Yalduz in which Yalduz was defeated.Though this battle is less popular and less relevant but Tarrain had witnessed not 2 but three battles.This battle took place in 1215-16 A.D. Details submitted by Mr.Ankit Abhishek.
The original article can be found at Battles of Tarain and the edit history here.