Panipat

April 21, 1526

Strategic Context
Babur, descendant of both Tamerlane and Genghis Khan, attempts to assert his manifest authority by seizing Samarkand, but fails, and settles in the Kabul valley. He realizes that there are too many mighty factions fighting for supremacy to the west and begins to look east in 1514. Babur builds up his strength and invades northwestern India in 1525 at the expense of the Lodi empire, ruled by the increasingly unpopular Ibrahim Lodi. Ibrahim leads an Afghan army from Delhi and finds Baburs Mughal army occupying a firm defensive position near the town of Panipat in 1526. For a week, the two armies wait for the other to launch an attack. Babur eventually orders a night raid which fails in disorder. However, the Mughals poor performance convinces Ibrahim to attack the next day.

Stakes
+ An Afghan victory would crush the Mughal invasion and grant Ibrahim a chance to regain support for his rule. + A Mughal victory would depose Ibrahim and allow Babur to establish an empire in northwestern India.

By Jonathan Webb, 2011

Panipat, 1526
Strength
Afghans Ibrahim Lodi Mughals Babur

40,000 cavalry 30,000 infantry 1,000 war elephants

Well

24,000 cavalry 3,000 infantry 20 guns

Well

By Jonathan Webb, 2011

Babur deploys his army behind a to linediscover of wagons, protected the flanks by the town of Panipat and a dry river made more difficult by felled trees. At this the wagon line, he deploys The With Afghans the Afghan advance center only halted at the wagon that aline, lineon Babur of wagons sends protects his heavy the Mughal cavalry wings unsure through as the to gaps still advance against the against Afghan wings obstacle and or his reform light The Afghans advance begin to and panic engage and flee. the Ibrahim Mughals personally but are held leads uparmy; a at desperate the wagon cavalry line and attack their to movement rally his wavering his cannon, matchlocks and archers, but maintains gaps in the line to allow cavalry to move through, most of which deploys to the rear. Babur plans to stymie the restricted Afghan attack ranks, the Mongol cavalry frontline deep Afghans into the hesitate, Afghan causing rear. The the Mughal rear ranks wings to defeat bump into theirthem. Afghan This counterparts has a ripple and effect, hit the inflicting flanksdisorder of the Afghan all the center way to while the rear. the with his massive firepower before launching his heavy cavalry with on the many wings and light Mongol cavalry onan the extreme flanks to hit the Mughal Afghan flanks and rear. Ibrahim deploys a by men their but it own is too density; late. Ibrahim they meanwhile dies along suffer horrendously of his soldiers from as his assortment army disintegrates. of projectiles. On the Mughal light Mongol artillery cavalry and then fire a matchlocks volley of arrows open fire, before frightening charging the into Afghan the Afghan elephants rear. which The play Afghan no further masses, part hemmed in the battle. in on Babur three notices sides, make the Afghan easy mixed mass of infantry and cavalry in depth at his center with war elephants in front. He places cavalry on the wings along with more war elephants. Ibrahim plans to overwhelm Mughal right, desperate attacks by Afghan cavalry threaten to outflank the Mughal line. left targets wing for edging cannon, ahead matchlocks of the rest and ofarchers. the and thus reinforces his right from his reserve. the Mughal center with his own while his left wingline penetrates between the Mughal right flank and the town of Panipat.

Mughals (Babur)

Mughals (Babur) 24,000 cavalry 3,000 infantry 20 guns

Afghans (Ibrahim Lodi) 40,000 cavalry 30,000 infantry 1,000 war elephants

Afghans (Ibrahim)

Panipat, 1526
Casualties & Aftermath
Afghans: Mughals:

20,000

4,000

or
29%

or
15%

Babur unleashed a rapid pursuit which ended only at the gates of Delhi. Babur spent the subsequent months consolidating his rule and laying the foundations of the Mughal empire. In 1527, Babur went to war against Rana Sanfram of the Rajput confederacy, resulting in a Mughal victory at the battle of Khanua. In 1529, Babur defeated Ibrahims brother, Mahmud Lodi, at the battle of Gogra, Baburs final battle before his death the following year.
By Jonathan Webb, 2011

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps

http://www.theartofbattle.com
By Jonathan Webb, 2011