Panipat, Battles of

Three decisive battles in the vicinity of this Indian town, about 120 km/75 mi north of Delhi: 1526, when Babur, great-grandson of the Mongol conqueror Tamerlane, defeated the emperor of Delhi and founded the Mogul empire; 1556, won by his descendant Akbar; 1761, when the Marathas were defeated by Ahmad Shah Durrani of Afghanistan.

27 April 1526 Mogul victory over a large force of Delhi Muslims under Ibrahim. A smaller but highly trained and motivated force of Moguls under Babur, later the Mogul Emperor of India, defeated the Muslims. The victory removed the Afghan dynasty from the Delhi throne and opened the way for the Mogul dynasty.

5 November 1556 The decisive engagement of the Hindu Revolt. An army of 100,000 Hindus, which had captured Delhi, was met by a Mogul army of about 20,000 troops and totally defeated, restoring Delhi to the Moguls and confirming Akbar as Emperor.

7 January 1761 During the Afghan-Mahratta wars, a Mahratta force of about 80,000 was defeated by an Afghan/Hindu army of similar strength.