Battle of Pratapgarh

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict = Battle of Pratapgad
partof =


caption = The fort of Pratapgad, where the battle was fought
date = November 10, 1659
place = Pratapgad, now in Satara district, Maharashtra, India
territory =
result = Decisive victory and major territorial gain for the Maratha forces
status =
combatant1 = Adilshahi forces of Afzal Khan
combatant2 = Marathas of Shivaji
commander1 = Fazal Khan, Muse Khan, Manoji Jagdale, Sardar Pandhare, Ambar Khan
commander2 = Netaji Palkar, Kanhoji Jedhe, Raghunath Pant Atre, Moropant Pingle, Tribak Bhaskar Sabnis
strength1 = 12,000 Adilshahi cavalry
10,000 infantry
1,500 musketeers
85 elephants
1,200 camels
80-90 canon artillery
5,000 reserved infantry at Wai.
strength2 = 6,000 light cavalry headed by Netaji Palkar
3,000 light infantry headed by Moropant Pingale
4,000 reserved infantry headed by Kanhoji Jedhe.
strength3 =
casualties1 = 5,000 killed
5,000 wounded
3,000 imprisoned
Loss of artillery to the Marathas
Loss of money and grain stored at Wai
casualties2 = 1,734 killed
420 wounded.
casualties3 =
notes =

The Battle of Pratapgad was a land battle fought on November 10, 1659 at the fort of Pratapgad near the town of Satara, Maharashtra, India between the Maratha Shivaji and Afzal Khan of the Adilshahi. The Marathas defeated the Adilshahi forces despite having fewer soldiers. It was their first significant military victory against a major regional power, and led to the eventual establishment of the Maratha Empire.

Background

Shivaji held a commendable position in parts of Maval. The Adilshahi court wanted to curb his activities. Afzal Khan, a renowned general of Bijapur who had previously killed Shivaji's brother in battle, was selected to lead an assault against Shivaji. He started from Bijapur in June 1659.

Battle

After starting from Bijapur, Afzal Khan began by destroying the temple of Bhavani at Tuljapur. He moved on to the Vittal temple at Pandharpur. He was trying to entice Shivaji out of the mountainous areas he occupied and onto the plains, where Khan's larger and better trained army would have an absolute advantage. Shivaji had encamped at Pratapgad, which, being located in a hilly area, was strategically advantageous for mountainous guerrilla warfare.

Unable to incite him to attack first, Afzal Khan moved his army to Pratapgad. As he had once been the subedar of Wai, he had experience with the geography of the region. He tried to bolster his position by obtaining the support of the militarily independent landlords of the region. Although they nominally acknowledged the sovereignty of the Adilshah, the powerful baron Kanhoji Jedhe, as directed by Shahaji, helped Shivaji to counter these moves and garner their support.

Composition of Adilshahi forces

Afzal Khan was assisted by the chieftains Sayyad Banda, Fazal Khan, Ambarkhan, Yakutkhan, Siddi Hilal, Musekhan, Pilaji Mohite, Prataprao More and many more commanders of note. His forces consisted of 12,000 select Adilshahi cavalry, 10,000 infantry and 1,500 musketeers. He was accompanied by 85 elephants and 1,200 camels. His artillery consisted of 80-90 canons. Siddi of Janjira was approaching from the Konkan coast.

Composition of Maratha forces

Shivaji was assisted by Kanhoji Jedhe along with other Deshmukhs of Maval region namely Maral, Dhamale, Silimkar and Bandal. His cavalry was commanded by Netaji Palkar, and were placed in a forward position near the fort. Moropant Pingle was in command of 3,000 chosen infantry men, who were positioned in a densely forested area. Sambhaji Kavaji, Yesaji Kank, Jiva Mahala and many other skilled military leaders were in charge of them. Kanhoji Jedhe assisted Shivaji directly along with other commanders. Shahaji was ready in Bangalore with a force of 10,000 or more for a final battle in case Shivaji and his forces were routed by Khan. These forces were being carefully watched by the Adilshah.

Combat of Shivaji and Afzal Khan

Shivaji sent an emissary to Afzal Khan, stating that he did not want to fight and was ready for peace. A meeting was arranged between Shivaji and Afzal Khan at a shamiyana (highly decorated tent) at the foothills of Pratapgad. It was agreed that the two would meet unarmed, but would bring ten personal bodyguards each. Nine of these guards would remain 'one arrow-shot' away from the pair, while a single bodyguard would wait outside the tent. Nevertheless, both were prepared for treachery: Afzal Khan hid a katyar (a small dagger) in his coat, and Shivaji wore armour underneath his clothes and carried a concealed "wagh nakhi" in one hand.

As the two men entered the tent, the 7' tall Khan embraced Shivaji, swiftly drew his hidden dagger and stabbed Shivaji in the back. The dagger was deflected by his armour, and Shivaji responded by disembowelling the Khan with a single stroke of his "wagh nakhi". Khan rushed outside shouting for help, and was defended by Krishanaji Bhaskar Kulkarni, his emissary, who was himself then killed by Shivaji.

Sayyad Banda, Afzal Khan's bodyguard, immediately joined the fight but was killed with a sabre by Shivaji's bodyguard, Jiva Mahala, before he could strike (This event is remembered in a Marathi idiom: "Hota Jiva Mhanun Vachala Shiva" - 'Because there was Jiva, Shiva lived'). Afzal Khan managed to hold his gushing entrails and hurtled, faint and bleeding, outside the tent and threw himself into his palanquin. The bearers hastily lifted their charge and began moving rapidly away down the slope. Sambhaji Kavji Kondhalkar, Shivaji's lieutenant and one of the accompanying guards, gave chase and beheaded Afzal Khan. The severed head was later sent to Rajgad to be shown to Shivaji's mother, Jijabai. She had long wanted vengeance for the deliberate maltreatment of Shahaji (Shivaji's father) while a captive of Afzal Khan, and for his role in the death of her elder son, Sambhaji.

Shivaji sped up the slope towards the fortress and his lieutenants ordered cannons to be fired. It was a signal to his infantry, hidden in the densely forested valley, to raid the Adilshahi forces.

Hand to hand combat of the forces

Maratha troops under Kanhoji Jedhe attacked 1,500 muskeeters and routed them at the foothills of the fort. Then in a rapid march, a section of Adilshahi forces commanded by Musekhan was attacked. Musekhan was wounded and subsequently fled the field, leaving his soldiers to fend for themselves.

Commander Moropant Pingale led the infantry on the left flank of the Adilshahi troops. Adilshah's artillery was made ineffective by his sudden attack at close quarters. Commander Ragho Atre swiftly attacked the cavalry before they were prepared for battle and were almost completely wiped out. The cavalry under Netaji Palkar marched towards Wai in hot pursuit of retreating Adilshahi forces, who were attempting to join the Adilshahi forces stationed there. The retreating forces of Afzal Khan were engaged in battle and were routed.

Aftermath

5,000 Adilshahi soldiers were killed and almost as many were wounded. 3,000 soldiers were imprisoned, and the remainder were allowed to go home in defeat. The Marathas lost 1,734 soldiers, while 420 soldiers were wounded.

As it was policy of Shivaji to humanely treat the defeated army, neither the men nor women were sold as slaves or molested. Wounded commanders were offered treatment deserving of their rank and either imprisoned or sent back to Bijapur.

The sword of honour was presented to Kanhoji Jedhe for his invaluable and outstanding performance of service to Shivaji. The relatives of the killed soldiers were offered service in the Maratha army. Families without any male left alive to support the family were awarded pensions. Heroes of the war were rewarded with medals, kada (bracelets) and horses.

Khan's death dealt the Adilshah's rule a severe blow. A quarter of his territory, forts and a fifth of his army were captured or destroyed, while Shivaji doubled his territory, losing a tenth of his army, within fifteen days of the Battle of Pratapgadh.Shivaji maintained his momentum, sending cavalry towards Kolhapur, which succeeded in capturing seventeen forts, including the prestigious fort of Panhala. Cavalry was also sent towards Dabhol and Rajapur under the command of Doroji Patil, which was also successful in capturing forts in the southern Konkan.

Having established military dominance and successfully beaten back a major attack by a powerful empire, Shivaji had founded the nucleus of what would become the Maratha Empire.

References

*Grant Duff - "History of Marathas"
*S.D.Samant - "Vedh Mahamanvacha"
*Capt. Modak G.V.-"Battle of Pratapgarh"
*Major Joshi Mukund-"Battle of Pratapgarh- a new perspective"
*Commandant Kasar D.B. - "Rigveda to Raigarh making of Shivaji the great"
*Balkrishna-"Shivaji the great"