Battle of Umrani explained

Conflict:Battle of Umrani
Partof:MarathaBijapur sultanate war
Date:March-April 1673
Place:Bijapur district
Result:Maratha victory
Combatant1: Maratha Empire
Combatant2:Bijapur Sultanate
Commander1: Prataprao Gujar
Anandrao
Dhanaji Jadhav
Commander2:Bhalol Khan
Mahammad Barqi
Strength1:10000–15000
Strength2:12000

The Battle of Umrani was a 1673 Indian conflict between the Bijapur Sultanate and the Marathas west of Bijapur.[1] [2] [3]

Background

Panhala was captured by Shivaji in 1673 alerted Bijapur. Bhopal Khan set out with 12000 troops to check Maratha offensive and reached Umarrani (45 km west of Bijapur). Shivaji, who was at Panhala learnt about the advance of Bijapur army and dispatched Prataprao Gujar and Anandrao with 10,000 to 15,000 army.[4] [5]

Battle

Maratha Army reached Umarrani within 2 days and cut the enemy off from their water supply. According to Basatslin-us Salatin, Marathas numbering from 10,000 to 15,000 encircled Bholal Khan (other sources do not mention this event).[6]

The battle that followed was confined for some time to arrows and firearms. Khan was at a great disadvantage as the Marathas had cut off his water supply and April's heat began to take effect. At sunset Khan made an effort to break out. This led to hand to hand fighting with Marathas in which Adilshahi officer Mahammad Barqi was killed and an elephant was captured.

Prataprao allowed Bhalol Khan to retire as he begged that he will never raise a war against Marathas. When Shivaji learnt about this he taunted Prataprao for making peace with enemy.

Aftermath

The Marathas entered Hubli on 16th April. They made the company's house its target and started plundering. Clothes were brought to Prataprao. While plundering, Marathas accidentally set fire to a workshop, leading to an explosion in which 20 Marathas were killed.

They suffered losses including copper plates, lead, paper, and cloth, as well as cash. Besides this they lost 5200 soldiers.

While plundering, Marathas learnd about the approach of Muzaffar Khan with 4000-5000 cavalry. They departed with what they already packed up.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale . Shivaji His Life and Times . 2011 . 842–845.
  2. Book: SETHUMADHAVRAO S. PAGADI . SHIVAJI - ENG - SETHUMADHAVRAO S. PAGADI . 90–91.
  3. Book: Dr. Balkrishna . Shivaji The Great - 3 (Dr. Balkrishna) . 123.
  4. Book: Takakhav, Nilkant Sadashiv . Life of Shivaji, Founder of the Maratha Empire . 1985 . Sunita Publications . 632 . en.
  5. Book: Jaques, Tony . Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A Guide to 8,500 Battles from Antiquity through the Twenty-first Century [3 volumes] ]. 2006-11-30 . Bloomsbury Publishing USA . 978-0-313-02799-4 . 1053 . en.
  6. Book: Ed. R. C. Majumdar . History and Culture of Indian People - 8 Maratha Supremacy (Ed. R. C. Majumdar).