Battle of Chandawar

The Battle of Chandwar (1193 or 1194) was fought between Muhammad Ghori and Jaichand of Kannauj of the Gahadavala dynasty.[1] It took place at Chandwar (modern Chandawal near Ferozabad[2]), on the Yamuna River close to Agra. Jaichand was defeated, giving Muhammad control of much of northern India.[3]

The battle was fought at Chandwar, on the Yamuna River close to Agra.

In most accounts the Gahadavalas were close to victory when an arrow hit Jaichand in the eye, killing him. He fell off his elephant, was trampled, and after the battle could only be identified by the gold caps on his teeth. With their leader gone the Gahadavala army broke and fled, taking heavy casualties during the pursuit.[4]

The Kannauj army expected Ghori to attack the capital next, but he chose to target the defenseless city of Varanasi, a famous Hindu pilgrim center. He plundered all the temples and enslaved the populace. One thousand temples were converted into mosques. Immense booty was taken, including several hundred elephants, and the Muslim army took possession of the Asni fort. Kanauj and Varanasi became part of Muhammad Ghauri's dominions. The usual vandalism and acts of destruction at Varanasi struck terror into the hearts of the people about the cruelty of the Turushkas (Turks).[5] But Rajput resistance continued till Jayachandra's son, Harishchandra, recovered Kanauj, Jaunpur and Mirzapur in AD 1197. Kanauj seems to have stayed independent until Iltumish conquered it.[6]

Notes

  1. ↑ Dalal, Roshen; et al. (2002). The Puffin History of India for Children: 3000 BC - AD 1947. New Delhi, India: Penguin Books India. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-14-333544-3.
  2. ↑ Peter Jackson (16 October 2003). The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History. Cambridge University Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-521-54329-3.
  3. ↑ Carnegy, P. (1873). "Benoudha, Part III". Calcutta Review. 56 (109): 43&ndash, 58, pages 50 to 52.
  4. ↑ Rickard, J (25 February 2010), Battle of Chandwar, 1193 or 1194
  5. ↑ http://voiceofdharma.org/books/tlmr/ch3.htm
  6. ↑ Rickard, J (25 February 2010), Battle of Chandwar, 1193 or 1194
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