The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c12.s3.10

Language: English

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Lahore and its dependent provinces being practically subdued, Bābur was now able to devote his whole attention to the capture of Delhi. Realising the political importance of having an Afghān prince in his camp, he paid every attention to ‘Ālam Khān suitable to his rank; and, although the latter had everything to lose by Bābur's success, he was entrusted with a command both at Pānīpat and at Khānua. The opposing parties were now both advancing to an encounter. Ibrāhīm marched his main forces due north from Delhi along the right bank of the Jumna, while a secondary force under Hāmid Khān moved up from Hissār Fīrūza in the south-west. This force, coming into contact with Bābur's right wing, was totally routed by Humāyūn, who was then eighteen years of age. This was Humāyūn's first experience of battle. Bābur marched to Ambāla, and following the river Jumna arrived at Pānīpat, which he occupied. Here Bābur, whose forces probably numbered some 25,000, took up a defensive position, drawing up his army in a long line. On his extreme right were the town and suburbs of Pānīpat. His centre was protected by rows of movable carts (*arāba*), seven hundred in number, connected by twisted bull-hides; between every pair of guns there were six or seven movable breastworks (*tura*) for the protection of the matchlock men. In the centre (*ghul*) was Bābur himself. His left was protected by ditches and branches of trees.

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His principal officers were Humāyūn and Khvāja Kilān on the right, Muhammad Sultān Mīrzā and Mahdī Khvāja on the left, Chīn Tīmūr Sultān on the right centre (*ung-ghul*), and Mīr ‘Alī Khalīfa—the Prime Minister—on the left centre (*sul-ghul*). On the extreme right and left of the whole line were strong flanking parties (*tulghama*), ready at a moment's notice to wheel round and take the enemy in the flank or rear. On 12 April Bābur was ready to receive Ibrāhīm's attack, but for eight days nothing happened, except for the attempts of small parties of the emperor's troops to vex the enemy by riding up to their camp and shooting arrows among them. On 20 April Bābur, growing impatient, sent out a force of four or five thousand men to make a night attack, which though badly conducted had the desired effect of making Ibrāhīm move. On 21 April at daybreak the Afghāns were seen to approach. Ibrāhīm had with him 100,000 men and nearly 1000 elephants. It seemed that the main attack was to be made on the emperor's right. At first they moved forward at a quick pace in the manner of shock troops, and the first slackening of their speed when they came near Bābur's defences caused confusion with the lines which were following close on their heels. Bābur at once took advantage of this check to use his flanking parties, which wheeled round and attacked the enemy in the rear.

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In the meanwhile the emperor's left wing under Mahdī Khvāja had been faring badly at the hands of the Afghāns, but strong support being sent from the centre, the Mughuls were able to repel them. At this juncture Bābur ordered his gunners to open fire, and then the main attacking force of the Afghāns found themselves exposed to arrows on either flank and to shot or bullets in front. The battle lasted till noon and was throughout most hotly contested, but the superior strategy and experience of the Timurid prince enabled him to bring confusion among the vastly superior numbers of the Afghāns, who finally took to flight leaving, it is said, over 15,000 dead on the field, including Sultān Ibrāhīm himself and Vikramājīt the old Rājā of Gwalior, who had fought nobly on the side of the man who had but lately deprived him of his principality. Bābur's first care now was to secure the public treasures of Delhi and Āgra, and to prevent plundering by his victorious army. He himself entered Delhi and Humāyūn was sent forward to Āgra, which still held out: and though he was not able at once to enter the forts, he prevented any treasure being carried off. An incident now occurred which has its place among the romantic anecdotes of Indian history. The wives and children of the Rājā of Gwalior, who had been left in the fort of Āgra, were seized, while attempting to escape, by Humāyūn's men. Humāyūn, hearing of this, treated them with the utmost courtesy and protected them from their captors.

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In order to show their gratitude to the young prince they presented him with jewels and precious stones; among these was a diamond of enormous value, which has been identified with the famous *Koh-i-Nūr* now in the Tower of London. Humāyūn handed over this diamond by way of homage to his father, who returned it to him as a gift. On the Friday following Bābur's arrival in Delhi (27 April, 1526¹) his name was read in the Grand Mosque as "Emperor of Hindūstān" and his highest ambition was at last attained. In his *Memoirs* Bābur compares his own success to the similar achievements of Sultān Mahmūd of Ghaznī and of Sultān Shihāb-ud-Dīn Ghūrī, and points out that though he owed everything to divine favour, his own performance was infinitely superior to theirs for they had had at their disposal enormous resources in men and money.