The Battle of Bagru was a military engagement fought between multiple Indian kingdoms in 1748 near the town of Bagru, Jaipur, India. The battle was fought during a succession crisis following the death of Jai Singh II, which left Jaipur without effective leadership.
Jai Singh II, Maharajah of Jaipur and head of the powerful Kachhwaha caste, was a major geopolitical force in his lifetime.[3] As a prominent figure within the Mughal Empire, Jai allied himself with several other powerful rajas; he was particularly close to Suraj Mal, Maharajah of Bharatpur, who considered Jai Singh to be like a father.[4] When Jai Singh died on 21 September 1743, his 25-year-old son Ishwari Singh replaced him as Maharajah. However, Madho Singh, another of Jai Singh's sons from a different marriage, disagreed with his brother's accession to the throne and subsequent ruling of Jaipur; in 1747, he rose in revolt against his brother. Madho Singh's revolt was defeated at the Battle of Rajamahal, but the claimant escaped and began to gather forces to assist him in ousting his brother.[4]
Just over a year after his first invasion had failed, Madho Singh again invaded Jaipur. Unlike his previous invasion, Malhar Rao personally led the complete might of his army during his second invasion. He also built up a strong alliance of powers who opposed his brother; Malhar Rao, a rival to the late Jai Singh, joined Madho Singh's efforts to overthrow his brother, feeling he could benefit from Jaipur's weakness. Ummed Singh, the vanquished Raja of Bundi also joined, as he was eager to win back his kingdom. Madho Singh's army also contained a large host of Maratha, Afghan and tribal mercenaries, soldiers from the Maratha Holkar clan, Hada Rajputs from Bundi and several Kachhwaha nobles who defected. This alliance marched against Jaipur in August 1748. Malhar Rao took the lead and captured several strategic Forts and towns of the Jaipur Kingdom.[4]
In Jaipur city, Ishwari Singh amassed his forces for battle; Ishwari Singh, unlike his father and brother, initially had no allies and was badly outnumbered by Madho Singh's coalition. In desperation, Ishwari asked Suraj Mal - a longtime ally of his late father - for aid, and Surajmal readily accepted, personally leading his army of 10,000 men to Jaipur city.[4] Though still heavily outnumbered, the two defenders hoped to attack Madho Singh's army before all of his forces had consolidated.[4]
Battle
The two armies engaged each-other around the town of Bagru on 20 August 1748. The fighting lasted for 6 days; for much of the battle, a rainstorm blanketed the area.[4] The first day resulted in heavy losses for both armies before the rain halted the fighting. On the second day, Suraj personally led his forces in a fierce counterattack that routed the Maratha contingent of Modho's army;[5] however, the Marathas were able to spike many Jaipur cannons before they were forced back.[4] While the two armies fought at Bagru, 5000 men from Madho's army captured a Jaipur supply convoy and blocked the road between Bagru and Jaipur city. With their supplies and line of retreat cut off, Ishwari and Suraj retreated into Bagru's fort, ending the battle.[4]
Having lost the battle, Ishwari chose to sue for peace. Rather than negotiate with the enemy army as a whole, he offered terms to each individual commander. He bribed an ally of the Holkars to arrange for the Holkar forces to withdraw, and agreed to give his brother control over five parganas.[4] He bribed the Maratha soldiers (and allowed them to keep the wealth they had looted), and agreed to surrender the town of Bundi to Ummed Singh.[4] In return for his concessions, Ishwari was allowed to return to Jaipur city and continue his rule.[4]
Aftermath
While Suraj Mal's actions during the battle at Bagru won him praise for his martial skill, the defeat humiliated Ishwari.[4] The Jaipur raj descended into a state of paranoia, resulting in him arresting and executing a number of his officials. He attempted to regain his lost prestige by helping the nearby Kingdom of Marwar against the invading Mughal army, he won a minor victory at the Battle of Raona against the Mughal general Salabat Khan, but was soon bogged down in a stalemate and forced to withdraw. He also failed to pay Holkar his dues from his defeat at Bagru.[4] When he failed to repay these debts, Holkar invaded Jaipur with a large army. Ishwari Singh locked himself in his room for many days and refused to come out. The ministers of Jaipur urged Ishwari Singh to give them orders, but faced with his enemies approaching his capital, Ishwari committed suicide on 12 December 1750, resulting in Madho Singh becoming the Maharajah of Jaipur.[4]
References
^Sahai, Jwala (1898). History of Bhurtpore. Patrika Press. p. 55. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
^Chandavat, Dr. Prakash Chandra (1962). Maharaja Soorajmal Aur Unka Yug (1745-1763). Jaypal Agency. p. 61. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
^Sir Jadunath Sarkar (1994). A History of Jaipur 1503–1938. Orient Longman. ISBN81-250-0333-9.
^ abcdefghijklmnGupta, R. K.; Bakshi, S. R. (2008). Dalit Literature: Our Response. Sarup & Sons. p. 189. ISBN9788176258418. Battle of Raona.
^"About Bharatpur". Royal Farm House. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
January 29, 2023
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The Battle of Bagru was a military engagement fought between multiple Indian kingdoms in 1748 near the town of Bagru Jaipur India The battle was fought during a succession crisis following the death of Jai Singh II which left Jaipur without effective leadership Battle of BagruDate20 26 August 1748LocationBagru near Jaipur IndiaResultJaipur victory 1 2 BelligerentsKingdom of JaipurReinforced By Kingdom of BharatpurSupporters of Madho SinghReinforced By Holkar Clan Kingdom of BundiCommanders and leadersIshwari SinghSuraj MalMadho SinghMalhar Rao HolkarUmmed Singh of Bundi Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 ReferencesBackgroundJai Singh II Maharajah of Jaipur and head of the powerful Kachhwaha caste was a major geopolitical force in his lifetime 3 As a prominent figure within the Mughal Empire Jai allied himself with several other powerful rajas he was particularly close to Suraj Mal Maharajah of Bharatpur who considered Jai Singh to be like a father 4 When Jai Singh died on 21 September 1743 his 25 year old son Ishwari Singh replaced him as Maharajah However Madho Singh another of Jai Singh s sons from a different marriage disagreed with his brother s accession to the throne and subsequent ruling of Jaipur in 1747 he rose in revolt against his brother Madho Singh s revolt was defeated at the Battle of Rajamahal but the claimant escaped and began to gather forces to assist him in ousting his brother 4 Just over a year after his first invasion had failed Madho Singh again invaded Jaipur Unlike his previous invasion Malhar Rao personally led the complete might of his army during his second invasion He also built up a strong alliance of powers who opposed his brother Malhar Rao a rival to the late Jai Singh joined Madho Singh s efforts to overthrow his brother feeling he could benefit from Jaipur s weakness Ummed Singh the vanquished Raja of Bundi also joined as he was eager to win back his kingdom Madho Singh s army also contained a large host of Maratha Afghan and tribal mercenaries soldiers from the Maratha Holkar clan Hada Rajputs from Bundi and several Kachhwaha nobles who defected This alliance marched against Jaipur in August 1748 Malhar Rao took the lead and captured several strategic Forts and towns of the Jaipur Kingdom 4 In Jaipur city Ishwari Singh amassed his forces for battle Ishwari Singh unlike his father and brother initially had no allies and was badly outnumbered by Madho Singh s coalition In desperation Ishwari asked Suraj Mal a longtime ally of his late father for aid and Surajmal readily accepted personally leading his army of 10 000 men to Jaipur city 4 Though still heavily outnumbered the two defenders hoped to attack Madho Singh s army before all of his forces had consolidated 4 BattleThe two armies engaged each other around the town of Bagru on 20 August 1748 The fighting lasted for 6 days for much of the battle a rainstorm blanketed the area 4 The first day resulted in heavy losses for both armies before the rain halted the fighting On the second day Suraj personally led his forces in a fierce counterattack that routed the Maratha contingent of Modho s army 5 however the Marathas were able to spike many Jaipur cannons before they were forced back 4 While the two armies fought at Bagru 5000 men from Madho s army captured a Jaipur supply convoy and blocked the road between Bagru and Jaipur city With their supplies and line of retreat cut off Ishwari and Suraj retreated into Bagru s fort ending the battle 4 Having lost the battle Ishwari chose to sue for peace Rather than negotiate with the enemy army as a whole he offered terms to each individual commander He bribed an ally of the Holkars to arrange for the Holkar forces to withdraw and agreed to give his brother control over five parganas 4 He bribed the Maratha soldiers and allowed them to keep the wealth they had looted and agreed to surrender the town of Bundi to Ummed Singh 4 In return for his concessions Ishwari was allowed to return to Jaipur city and continue his rule 4 AftermathWhile Suraj Mal s actions during the battle at Bagru won him praise for his martial skill the defeat humiliated Ishwari 4 The Jaipur raj descended into a state of paranoia resulting in him arresting and executing a number of his officials He attempted to regain his lost prestige by helping the nearby Kingdom of Marwar against the invading Mughal army he won a minor victory at the Battle of Raona against the Mughal general Salabat Khan but was soon bogged down in a stalemate and forced to withdraw He also failed to pay Holkar his dues from his defeat at Bagru 4 When he failed to repay these debts Holkar invaded Jaipur with a large army Ishwari Singh locked himself in his room for many days and refused to come out The ministers of Jaipur urged Ishwari Singh to give them orders but faced with his enemies approaching his capital Ishwari committed suicide on 12 December 1750 resulting in Madho Singh becoming the Maharajah of Jaipur 4 References Sahai Jwala 1898 History of Bhurtpore Patrika Press p 55 Retrieved 28 October 2021 Chandavat Dr Prakash Chandra 1962 Maharaja Soorajmal Aur Unka Yug 1745 1763 Jaypal Agency p 61 Retrieved 28 October 2021 Sir Jadunath Sarkar 1994 A History of Jaipur 1503 1938 Orient Longman ISBN 81 250 0333 9 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Gupta R K Bakshi S R 2008 Dalit Literature Our Response Sarup amp Sons p 189 ISBN 9788176258418 Battle of Raona About Bharatpur Royal Farm House Retrieved 2 November 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Bagru amp oldid 1120713156, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
