First Battle of Panipat

The First Battle of Panipat was on 20 April 1526 between Ibrahim Lodi, the ruler of Delhi, and Babur, and this battle marked the end of the Lodi dynasty. Babur's victory marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India and marked very significant tactics using artillery, which ensured his victory over Lodi. In this article, we are going to explore the first battle of Panipat, which was held between Babur and Lodi; the background of the first battle of Panipat; and its significance.

What are the reasons behind Babur's coming to India?

In 1494, at the young age of 14, Babur succeeded to Farghana, a small state in Trans-Oxian (The ancient region of Central Asia, between the Oxus and Jaxartes rivers, which is also known as “beyond the river”), and was able to conquer Kabul in 1504 but failed two times For the next 14 years, he was trying to conquer his homeland, Fergana (now Uzbekistan), but he failed, and finally he had to look toward India. Babur says that from the time he obtained Kabul (1504) to his victory at Panipat, "I had never ceased to think of the conquest of Hindustan." But he had never found a suitable opportunity for undertaking it, "hindered as I was sometimes by the apprehensions of my begs, sometimes by the disagreement between my brothers and myself". Like countless earlier invaders from Central Asia, Babur was drawn to India by the lure of its fabulous wealth. India was the land of gold and riches.

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Who won the First Battle of Panipat?

The first battle of Panipat was fought between Babur and Lodi, and in this decisive battle, Babur won this battle.

Overview of the First Battle of Panipat

The First Battle of Panipat was fought on 20 April 1526 in the northern part of India, which was a very decisive battle between Zahir-ud-din Babur and Ibrahim Lodi, the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty. Babur's victory marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India. This battle marks the first use of gunpowder weapons in the early times in the subcontinent.

Location: 

The first battle was fought in Panipat, a village in Haryana. This place is also witness to two other decisive battles, which are:

• The Second Battle of Panipat, which was fought on November 5, 1556, between Akbar and Emperor Hemachandra Vikramaditya, who is also known as “Hemu”.
• The Third Battle of Panipat, which was fought in 1761 between the Maratha Empire and Ahmad Shah Durrani 

Why was Panipat chosen for battles?

In Panipat, many decisive battles were fought because of its location, which is near the capital, i.e., Delhi. This location is also marked on the Grand Trunk Road, which is strategically located for trade and invasion. The third reason would be the large land area, which is required for battles to be fought, and also there is an environmental benefit to battles.

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What is the background of the First Battle of Panipat?

The first battle of Panipat, which was fought on 20 April 1526, not only marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire but also witnessed why this battle occurred. As we know, before the First Battle of Panipat, Babur had a long history of struggling to establish his empire. After losing Samarkand twice, he had no other option left but to turn toward India, and in 1519, he reached Chenab and conquered Bhira in Punjab. In 1520-21, he again crossed the Indus and captured Sialkot. 

Here are a few reasons for the background of the First Battle of Panipat:

• Declining of Lodi’s Dynasty: Ibrahim Lodi was ruling in the entire northern part of India, but due to many invasions from outsiders, his empire was weakening.
• Invitation from Opponent leader of Ibrahim Lodi: Daulat Khan Lodi (Governor of Punjab) and Ala-ud-Din (Ibrahim’s uncle) invited Babur to conquer the Lodi’s empire.
• Thrown-off Babur’s Ambassador: Babur sent his ambassador to claim the throne from Ibrahim Lodi, but he denied it, and Babur’s ambassador was detained for several months.

What are the outcomes of the First Battle of Panipat?

The First Battle of Panipat marked the end of Ibrahim Lodi’s dynasty as well as the Delhi Sultanate and marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire under Babur in India. After the decisive battles, Ibrahim was still fighting against Babur to regain his empire, but he failed.

What was the significance of the First Battle of Panipat?

The First Battle of Panipat holds significant value in Indian history, marking the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India. From this battle, gunpowder also came to be used in battles. Many significances were listed below:

• Establishment of the Mughal Empire: After the decisive battle of the First Battle of Panipat, the Mughal Empire was established by Babur, and this empire continued till the British defeated the Mughals in 1858.
• First-time uses of gunpowder in the battles: In this battle, for the first time, gunpowder was used by Babur in a decisive battle, which was also used in the future in other battles.
• Babur's regime continued after the First Battle of Panipat: After winning the First Battle of Panipat, Babur's regime not only stopped at this battle, but he also had battles with other emperors in India, including the Rana Sanga of Mewar, in the Battle of Khanwa in 1527 and the Battle of Chanderi in 1528, continuing his regime.

Conclusion

The first Battle of Panipat marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire by Babur, in which he won the first Battle of Panipat against Ibrahim Lodi. Babur’s strategic use of artillery and gunpowder in the battles marked the first use of these weapons in the Indian subcontinent, and also after these battles, his regime continued till the Battle of Khanwa and the Battle of Chanderi.

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