2. After over ~120 years of Bahmani subjugation of Deccan plateau Rajas, the Bahmani Sultans had turned towards conquering the Konkan coast in 1447.
3. 1447: Alauddin Ahmed Shah Bahmani, the-then Bahmani Sultan, commissioned his commander Khalaf Hasan (title Malik-ut-Tujjar) to bring the Rajas of Konkan area under Bahmani control. He was sent with 7000 infantry & 3000 cavalry.
4. First, Malik-ut-Tujjar acquired Chakan fort after siege. He sent detachments to several areas of Konkan. Later, he himself proceeded to Konkan, through the south.
5. 1453: Raja of Khelna,Shankar Rao Shirke made a diplomatic play,by surrendering to Malik-ut-Tujjar on the condition that he invade his supposed-rival at Sangmeshwar.
Malik-ut-Tujjar tried converting him to Islam forcibly, but the Raja refused,unless his condition was fulfiled.
6. Due to the Raja's gloomy description to the Bahmani general of the dense Konkan jungles on the path to Sangmeshwar, many soldiers deserted the Bahmani army! Still the Raja gave him enough assurance to carry on the campaign to Sangmeshwar.
7. On the other hand, Raja Shankar Rao Shirke, also sent secret word to Raja of Sangmeshwar regarding the Bahmani army movement. Raja of Sangmeshwar deployed 30000 infantry, lancers & artillery.
The army was adept in mountain warfare which was to ensue.
8. On the 3rd day of marching to Sangmeshwar, the Bahmani general took ill due to dysentry & the army camped in the remote valley amidst tall mountains.
The time was ripe for the Hindu Rajas' intrigue to bear fruit!!
9. At the night-time, the army of Raja of Sangmeshwar fell upon the Bahmanis. Bahmani army was surrounded. The general, Malik-ut-Tujjar was put to de@th.
More than 7000 Bahmanis were ki11ed, including 500 Syeds from Medina, Karbala & Najaf. The remaining army fled towards Chakan
10. One can note the similarity of this lure & guerilla warfare in the episode of Shivaji Maharaj luring Adilshahi Afzal Khan to the dense jungles of Pratapgad.
History did repeat itself after ~200 years! (1453 -> 1659)
11. The two stalwart Rajas showed that the spirit of Konkan was not unsubdued. Thus, the Konkan tract still stood independent and mighty, as an inexorable fortress of Hindu resistance.
1. This is the second-part of the thread-series on the great Maharana Kumbha.
The first part of the series described the initial half of Maharana Kumbha's reign 👇 This part will describe his encounters with Gujarat Sultan & tackling the united invasions.
2. ~1421: Maharana Kumbha was born to Maharana Mokal Singh & Sobhagya Devi.
1433: Kumbhakarna became Maharana at age of 13, after Mahipal Panwar assassinated young Maharana Mokal. Mahipal fled Mewar & took refuge with Malwa’s Sultan Mahmud Khalji aka Alauddin Mahmud Shah-I.
3. Rao Ranmal Rathore was the regent of Mewar during the initial phase of Kumbha’s rule. He destroyed the internal rebels.
1439: Maharana Kumbha told Sultan Mahmud Khalji to deport Mahipal Panwar to Mewar for exacting the revenge of the murd3r of Maharana’s father.
1508, May 4: Maharana Sanga ascended on Mewar throne.
~1512-13: Maharana Sanga attacked and captured territories of eastern Rajasthan from Sikandar Lodi’s Delhi Sultanate
3. 1515: Maharana Sanga was a proactive strategist. To expand Mewar's influence into Gujarat, he helped its deposed ruler, Rao Raimal, become ruler again.
Muzaffarid Gujarat Sultan, Muzaffar Shah II sent 2 armies to Idar. Both of them were defeated by Idar's army.
2. After Raja Martanda Varma's ascension to the Travancore throne in 1729, he adopted expansionist policies through the 1730s (interestingly enough, simultaneously as Bajirao Peshwa's policy vs Mughals in the north).
3. The expansion of Travancore into central Kerala threatened the monopoly of the Dutch in black pepper trade. Dutch commander Maten sought to warn Raja Martanda.
But, he received a warning in return, not to interfere in politics of Malabar & stay restricted to trade activities.
2. 1503 CE: Prithviraj Kachwaha ascended the throne of Amer. His reign was marked by stability and progress for the Jaipur kingdom.
3. During his reign, he cultivated marital alliances with many neighbouring Rajput states. This contributed to making Amber a major regional political player.
Even the sister of Maharana Sanga was married to Prithviraj Kachwaha, thereby uniting with Mewar under Hindu banner!
1. #Thread on Peshwa Madhavrao - the Glorious Ornament of Maratha Empire
He became Peshwa this day 260 years ago. This thread forms the 1st part of two-part series on Peshwa Madhavrao.
2. 1745, Feb 16: Peshwa Madhavrao was born.
1761, Jul 20: Madhavrao becomes Peshwa at age of 16, with Raghunathrao (paternal uncle) as co-regent with Gopikabai, Madhavrao’s mother
3. Although Nizam had been humbled at Battle of Udgir (1760), the Maratha setback at Panipat (1761) had emboldened Nizam to invade Pune in Dec 1761. Nizam's army was surrounded by Marathas near Pune, and forced to cede territory to Marathas worth 40 lakhs.