Discover the most important battles of the Mughal Empire, including major battles which were led by Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and Aurangzeb that shaped Indian history.
theIAShub | 12 Mar, 2025 | 720 | 0
The Mughal Empire, one of India’s most powerful dynasties, expanded and sustained its rule through warfare. Each emperor faced challenges from rival kingdoms, rebellious factions, and foreign invaders. This article explores the important battles of the Mughal Empire that defined the reigns of Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and Aurangzeb.
Below is the list of most famous battles of Mughal Empire:
| Battle | Date | Location | Opponents | Outcome |
| First Battle of Panipat | April 21, 1526 | Panipat, Haryana | Mughals (Babur) vs. Ibrahim Lodi (Delhi Sultanate) | Mughal victory; establishment of Mughal rule in India. |
| Battle of Khanwa | March 16, 1527 | Khanwa, Rajasthan | Mughals (Babur) vs. Rana Sanga (Rajput Confederacy) | Mughal victory; consolidation of Mughal power in North India. |
| Battle of Chanderi | January 1528 | Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh | Mughals (Babur) vs. Medini Rai (Rajput chief) | Mughal victory; Rajput resistance weakened. |
| Battle of Ghaghra | May 6, 1529 | Ghaghra River, Bihar | Mughals (Babur) vs. Afghans (Mahmud Lodi and Sultan Nusrat Shah) | Mughal victory; further expansion of Mughal territory. |
| Battle of Chausa | June 26, 1539 | Chausa, Bihar | Mughals (Humayun) vs. Sher Shah Suri (Sur Empire) | Sur victory; Humayun defeated and forced into exile. |
| Battle of Kannauj | May 17, 1540 | Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh | Mughals (Humayun) vs. Sher Shah Suri (Sur Empire) | Sur victory; Humayun lost control of the Mughal Empire. |
| Battle of Bilgram | May 17, 1540 | Bilgram, Uttar Pradesh | Mughals (Humayun) vs. Sher Shah Suri (Sur Empire) | Sur victory; Humayun decisively defeated, leading to his exile. |
| Second Battle of Panipat | November 5, 1556 | Panipat, Haryana | Mughals (Akbar) vs. Hemu (Hindu King) | Mughal victory; Hemu defeated, securing Akbar’s rule. |
| Siege of Chittorgarh | 1567–1568 | Chittorgarh, Rajasthan | Mughals (Akbar) vs. Rajputs of Mewar | Mughal victory; Chittorgarh captured, but Rajput resistance continued. |
| Battle of Haldighati | June 18, 1576 | Haldighati, Rajasthan | Mughals (Akbar) vs. Maharana Pratap (Mewar) | Tactical draw; Mughals gained strategic advantage but failed to capture Pratap. |
| Battle of Tukaroi | March 3, 1575 | Tukaroi, Odisha | Mughals (Akbar) vs. Sultanate of Bengal | Mughal victory; annexation of Bengal into the Mughal Empire. |
| Battle of Raj Mahal | 1576 | Raj Mahal, Bengal | Mughals (Akbar) vs. Daud Khan Karrani (Bengal Sultanate) | Mughal victory; complete control over Bengal. |
| Siege of Ahmednagar | 1595 | Ahmednagar, Maharashtra | Mughals (Akbar) vs. Nizam Shahi Dynasty | Mughal victory; Ahmednagar captured but later lost. |
| Battle of Dewair | 1582 | Dewair, Rajasthan | Mughals (Akbar) vs. Maharana Pratap | Rajput victory; Maharana Pratap regained control of Dewair. |
| Battle of Asirgarh | 1600–1601 | Asirgarh Fort, Madhya Pradesh | Mughals (Akbar) vs. Khandesh Sultanate | Mughal victory; Asirgarh Fort captured, expanding Mughal control in the Deccan. |
| Battle of Bhuchar Mori | July 1591 | Bhuchar Mori, Gujarat | Mughals (Akbar) vs. Gujarat Sultanate | Mughal victory; Gujarat annexed into the Mughal Empire. |
| Battle of Samugarh | May 29, 1658 | Samugarh, Uttar Pradesh | Aurangzeb vs. Dara Shikoh (Mughal princes) | Aurangzeb’s victory; Dara Shikoh’s forces defeated. |
| Battle of Dharmat | April 15, 1658 | Dharmat, Madhya Pradesh | Aurangzeb vs. Dara Shikoh’s forces | Aurangzeb’s victory; weakened Dara Shikoh’s position. |
| Battle of Khajwa | January 5, 1659 | Khajwa, Uttar Pradesh | Aurangzeb vs. Shah Shuja (Mughal prince) | Aurangzeb’s victory; Shah Shuja retreated to Bengal. |
| Battle of Deorai | April 12-14, 1659 | Deorai, Rajasthan | Aurangzeb vs. Dara Shikoh | Aurangzeb’s victory; Dara Shikoh captured and executed. |
| Battle of Saraighat | 1671 | Saraighat, Assam | Mughals vs. Ahom Kingdom | Ahom victory; Mughals failed to conquer Assam. |
| Battle of Karnal | February 24, 1739 | Karnal, Haryana | Mughals (Muhammad Shah) vs. Nader Shah (Persian Empire) | Persian victory; Nader Shah sacked Delhi and looted the Mughal treasury. |
| Battle of Buxar | October 22, 1764 | Buxar, Bihar | Mughals (Shah Alam II) vs. British East India Company | British victory; marked the beginning of British dominance in India. |
| Siege of Delhi | 1857 | Delhi | Mughals (Bahadur Shah Zafar) vs. British East India Company | British victory; end of the Mughal Empire and exile of Bahadur Shah Zafar. |
Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, introduced gunpowder warfare to India. His victories established Mughal dominance.
| Battle | Year | Opponent(s) | Location | Outcome |
| Battle of Panipat | 1526 | Ibrahim Lodhi (Delhi Sultanate) | Panipat, India | Decisive victory for Babur; marked the beginning of Mughal rule in India. |
| Battle of Khanwa | 1527 | Rana Sanga (Rajput Confederacy) | Khanwa, India | Babur defeated Rana Sanga, consolidating Mughal power in North India. |
| Battle of Chanderi | 1528 | Medini Rai (Rajput Chief) | Chanderi, India | Babur captured Chanderi, further weakening Rajput resistance. |
| Battle of Ghaghra | 1529 | Afghan Confederacy (Mahmud Lodi) | Ghaghra River, India | Babur defeated the Afghans, securing his control over Bihar and Bengal. |
| Battle of Bajaur | 1519 | Bajaur Tribes | Bajaur, Afghanistan | Babur captured Bajaur, expanding his territory in the region. |
| Battle of Kabul | 1504 | Muqim Beg Arghun | Kabul, Afghanistan | Babur captured Kabul, establishing it as his base for future campaigns. |
| Battle of Kandahar | 1522 | Shah Beg Arghun | Kandahar, Afghanistan | Babur captured Kandahar, strengthening his hold over Afghanistan. |
| Battle of Sar-e-Pul | 1501 | Muhammad Shaybani (Uzbeks) | Sar-e-Pul, Afghanistan | Babur was defeated by the Uzbeks, leading to his temporary exile. |
| Battle of Qalat | 1506 | Nasir Mirza (Babur’s brother) | Qalat, Afghanistan | Babur defeated his brother, consolidating his control over his territories. |
| Battle of Hisar | 1526 | Afghan Chiefs | Hisar, India | Babur defeated the Afghans, securing his position in northern India. |
| Battle of Akhsi | 1503 | Jahangir Mirza (Babur’s brother) | Akhsi, Fergana Valley | Babur was defeated by his brother, losing control of Fergana. |
| Battle of Kul Malik | 1502 | Tambal (Rebel Leader) | Fergana Valley | Babur was defeated, leading to further instability in his early rule. |
| Battle of Maruchak | 1507 | Muhammad Shaybani (Uzbeks) | Maruchak, Afghanistan | Babur was defeated by the Uzbeks, forcing him to retreat. |
| Battle of Ghazni | 1504 | Mukim Beg Arghun | Ghazni, Afghanistan | Babur captured Ghazni, strengthening his position in Afghanistan. |
| Battle of Kohat | 1519 | Yusufzai Tribes | Kohat, Pakistan | Babur defeated the Yusufzai tribes, securing the region. |
| Battle of Bhira | 1519 | Local Chiefs | Bhira, Pakistan | Babur captured Bhira, expanding his influence in the Punjab region. |
| Battle of Sialkot | 1520 | Local Chiefs | Sialkot, Pakistan | Babur captured Sialkot, further consolidating his hold in Punjab. |
| Battle of Lahore | 1524 | Daulat Khan Lodi | Lahore, Pakistan | Babur defeated Daulat Khan Lodi, securing Lahore. |
| Battle of Dibalpur | 1525 | Afghan Chiefs | Dibalpur, Pakistan | Babur defeated the Afghans, strengthening his position in Punjab. |
| Battle of Sikri | 1527 | Rana Sanga’s Allies | Sikri, India | Babur defeated Rana Sanga’s allies, further weakening Rajput resistance. |
Humayun struggled to maintain the empire, facing strong resistance from Afghan rulers and Rajputs.
| Battle/Campaign | Year | Opponent | Outcome | Significance |
| Battle of Dadrah | 1532 | Afghans under Mahmud Lodi | Victory for Humayun | Consolidated Mughal control in eastern India. |
| Siege of Kalinjar | 1533 | Rajputs of Kalinjar | Inconclusive | Humayun abandoned the siege to focus on Gujarat. |
| Battle of Mandu | 1534 | Bahadur Shah of Gujarat | Victory for Humayun | Humayun captured Mandu and expanded Mughal control in Malwa. |
| Capture of Champaner | 1535 | Bahadur Shah of Gujarat | Victory for Humayun | Humayun captured the fortress of Champaner, further weakening Gujarat. |
| Battle of Chausa | 1539 | Sher Shah Suri | Defeat for Humayun | Humayun narrowly escaped, losing significant territory to Sher Shah Suri. |
| Battle of Bilgram (Kanauj) | 1540 | Sher Shah Suri | Decisive defeat for Humayun | Humayun was decisively defeated, leading to his exile from India for 15 years. |
| Campaign in Sindh | 1541-1543 | Local rulers of Sindh | Mixed results | Humayun sought refuge in Sindh but faced resistance and eventually left for Persia. |
| Skirmishes in Persia | 1543-1545 | Local Persian rulers | Mixed results | Humayun gained support from Shah Tahmasp I of Persia during his exile. |
| Battle of Qandahar | 1545 | Kamran Mirza (his brother) | Victory for Humayun | Humayun captured Qandahar from his brother Kamran Mirza. |
| Recapture of Kabul | 1545 | Kamran Mirza | Victory for Humayun | Humayun regained control of Kabul, a base for his eventual return to India. |
| Battle of Machhiwara | 1555 | Afghans under Sikandar Suri | Victory for Humayun | Humayun defeated the Afghans, securing his path to Delhi. |
| Battle of Sirhind | 1555 | Sikandar Shah Suri | Victory for Humayun | Humayun regained control of Delhi, marking the restoration of the Mughal Empire. |
| Campaign in Punjab | 1555 | Afghans under Sikandar Suri | Victory for Humayun | Humayun secured Punjab, paving the way for his return to Delhi. |
Akbar, one of the greatest Mughal emperors, fought extensively to expand and consolidate the empire.
| Battle/Campaign | Year | Opponent | Outcome | Significance |
| Second Battle of Panipat | 1556 | Hemu (Hindu king of Delhi) | Victory for Akbar | Established Akbar’s rule in North India; marked the beginning of Mughal dominance. |
| Siege of Chittor | 1567-1568 | Rana Udai Singh II of Mewar | Victory for Akbar | Akbar captured Chittor Fort, a key Rajput stronghold. |
| Battle of Haldighati | 1576 | Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar | Tactical victory for Akbar, but Rana Pratap escaped | Though inconclusive, it weakened Mewar’s resistance against the Mughals. |
| Conquest of Gujarat | 1572-1573 | Gujarat Sultanate | Victory for Akbar | Gujarat was annexed into the Mughal Empire. |
| Siege of Ranthambore | 1568 | Surjan Hada of Ranthambore | Victory for Akbar | Ranthambore Fort was captured, strengthening Mughal control in Rajasthan. |
| Conquest of Bengal | 1574-1576 | Daud Khan Karrani of Bengal | Victory for Akbar | Bengal was annexed into the Mughal Empire. |
| Conquest of Kabul | 1581 | Mirza Muhammad Hakim (Akbar’s brother) | Victory for Akbar | Kabul was brought under Mughal control. |
| Conquest of Kashmir | 1586 | Yusuf Shah Chak of Kashmir | Victory for Akbar | Kashmir was annexed into the Mughal Empire. |
| Conquest of Sindh | 1591-1592 | Mirza Jani Beg of Sindh | Victory for Akbar | Sindh was annexed into the Mughal Empire. |
| Conquest of Orissa | 1592 | Afghans under Qutlu Khan Lohani | Victory for Akbar | Orissa was annexed into the Mughal Empire. |
| Conquest of Baluchistan | 1595 | Pani Afghans | Victory for Akbar | Baluchistan was brought under Mughal control. |
| Conquest of Kandahar | 1595 | Persian forces | Victory for Akbar | Kandahar was captured from the Persians. |
| Deccan Campaigns | 1595-1601 | Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, and Golconda | Mixed results | Akbar captured parts of the Deccan but faced resistance from regional sultanates. |
| Siege of Ahmednagar | 1600 | Chand Bibi of Ahmednagar | Victory for Akbar | Ahmednagar Fort was captured, but the sultanate continued to resist. |
| Battle of Asirgarh | 1601 | Miran Bahadur Shah of Khandesh | Victory for Akbar | Asirgarh Fort was captured, marking the end of major Deccan campaigns. |
Aurangzeb’s reign saw continuous warfare, stretching the empire’s resources.
| Battle/Campaign | Year | Opponent | Outcome | Significance |
| Battle of Dharmat | 1658 | Raja Jaswant Singh (Dara Shikoh’s ally) | Victory for Aurangzeb | Aurangzeb defeated Dara Shikoh’s forces, strengthening his claim to the throne. |
| Battle of Samugarh | 1658 | Dara Shikoh (his brother) | Victory for Aurangzeb | Aurangzeb defeated Dara Shikoh, securing his path to the Mughal throne. |
| Battle of Khajwa | 1659 | Shah Shuja (his brother) | Victory for Aurangzeb | Aurangzeb defeated Shah Shuja, eliminating another rival for the throne. |
| Siege of Golconda | 1687 | Abul Hasan Qutb Shah (Golconda Sultanate) | Victory for Aurangzeb | Golconda was annexed into the Mughal Empire. |
| Siege of Bijapur | 1686 | Sikandar Adil Shah (Bijapur Sultanate) | Victory for Aurangzeb | Bijapur was annexed into the Mughal Empire. |
| Annexation of Assam | 1662-1663 | Ahom Kingdom | Temporary victory for Aurangzeb | Assam was briefly annexed but later lost to the Ahoms. |
| Campaign against Shivaji | 1660s-1680s | Marathas under Shivaji | Mixed results | Aurangzeb struggled to contain Shivaji’s guerrilla warfare and Maratha expansion. |
| Battle of Purandar | 1665 | Marathas under Shivaji | Victory for Aurangzeb | Shivaji was forced to sign the Treaty of Purandar, but he later rebelled. |
| Battle of Sinhagad | 1670 | Marathas under Tanaji Malusare | Defeat for Aurangzeb | The Marathas recaptured Sinhagad Fort, a key stronghold. |
| Deccan Wars | 1681-1707 | Marathas under Sambhaji, Rajaram, and Tarabai | Prolonged conflict, mixed results | Aurangzeb spent the last 25 years of his life in the Deccan, exhausting Mughal resources. |
| Siege of Jinji | 1690-1698 | Marathas under Rajaram | Victory for Aurangzeb (after prolonged siege) | Jinji Fort was captured, but Maratha resistance continued. |
| Battle of Wai | 1687 | Marathas under Sambhaji | Victory for Aurangzeb | Sambhaji was captured and executed, but Maratha resistance persisted. |
| Annexation of Palamau | 1673 | Chero Kingdom | Victory for Aurangzeb | Palamau was annexed into the Mughal Empire. |
| Campaign against the Jats | 1669-1691 | Jats under Gokula and Raja Ram | Mixed results | Aurangzeb faced persistent rebellion from the Jats in the Mathura region. |
| Campaign against the Sikhs | 1675-1705 | Sikhs under Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh | Mixed results | Aurangzeb executed Guru Tegh Bahadur and clashed with Guru Gobind Singh, but Sikh resistance continued. |
The important battles of the Mughal Empire shaped its rise and fall. From Babur’s early victories to Aurangzeb’s prolonged wars, each battle influenced India’s political landscape. These famous Mughal battles highlight the military strategies and challenges faced by the empire’s rulers.
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The Battle of Kannauj (1540) led to Humayun’s downfall when Sher Shah Suri defeated him, forcing him into exile.
The Battle of Haldighati (1576) was significant because it saw Maharana Pratap resist Akbar’s expansion, even though the Mughals won.
The Mughal-Maratha Wars (1680s–1707) were Aurangzeb’s biggest challenge, as his prolonged struggle against the Marathas drained Mughal resources.
The Second Battle of Panipat (1556) secured Akbar’s rule when his forces defeated Hemu, reestablishing Mughal dominance in India.
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