Description
First battle of Panipat Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi, foundation of Mughal dynasty Tabasum Bhanu Channarayapatna, Karnataka Abstract Panipat has been described as the pivot of Indian history for 300 years. And its story begins in the first great battle of 1526. After the fall of the sayyids, The afghan lodi dynasty had seized power at delhi. The power of the sultanate had decreased considerably at this time, though the sultan could still command significant resources. Ibrahim lodi, the third ruler was unpopular with the nobility for his persecution and execution of a large number of old nobles. A prominent noble, Daulat khan fearing for his life appealed to Zahir-ud-din Babur, the Timurid ruler of Kabul to come and depose ibrahim lodi. It was thought that babur would defeat lodi, plunder and leave. Babur however had different ideas. Babur, a timurid prince with descent from Timur and Chingiz khan had originally inherited the kingdom of fergana — one of the brekaway regions in the aftermath of the breakup of the once mighty timurid empire. The twoforemost powers in the region at this time were the Safavids of Iran and The Uzbeks of central asia. Squeezed between them babur had to fight for survival. Gaining and losing Samarkand 3 times he eventually moved to Kabul in 1504, where he aimed to consolidate a powebase. It was here that he came into touch with India and between 1504 and 1524 had raided across the Northwestern frontier 4 times. His main goal at this time was to consolidate his position in Afghanisthan by crushing the rebellious pathan tribes of the region, particularly the Yusufzais. Having given up his aspirations of retaking Samarkand in 1512 he now dreamed of a new empire east of the Indus, and bided his time for an opportunity. In the Baburnama he writes that as these territories were once conquered by Tamerlane he felt it was his natural birthright and he resolved to acquire them by force if necessary. The invitation of the Afghan chiefs provided him with this opportunity.