Rana Sanga of Mewar had initially expected Babur to invade India and weaken the Delhi Sultanate. However, there was no formal alliance between them. After Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat (1526) and captured Delhi and Agra, Rana Sanga assumed that Babur would return to Central Asia. Instead, Babur decided to stay in India and consolidate his power, which brought him into conflict with Rana Sanga. This led to the Battle of Khanwa, fought on March 17, 1527, near Agra, between the Mughal forces led by Babur and the Rajput confederacy led by Rana Sanga of Mewar.

Struggle with Rana Sanga - Background

• Babur's invading army defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the Battle of Panipat in 1526, bringing the Lodi Empire to an end.
• Rana Sangha proposed to Babur, that while Babur attacked the Delhi Sultanate, he attacked Agra. This idea appears to have been accepted by Babur.
• Rana Sanga believed that, like his predecessor Timur, Babur would return to Afghanistan after acquiring the cities' treasures of Delhi and Agra.
• This would pave the path for him to conquer the Delhi and Agra regions.
• When it became clear that Babur was planning to stay in India, Rana Sangha formed a grand coalition of Rajputs and Afghans who were scared of Babur's dominance.
• The coalition's primary objective was to force Babur out of India and confine him to Afghanistan.
• Babur received word in the early days of March 1527 that a troop of Afghans and Rajputs was on its way to attack his fortifications in Agra.
• This led to the Battle of Khanwa.

Armies of Both Sides

• Rana Sanga forged a grand alliance not only with the Rajput Clans but also with other Afghan rulers.
• Hadoti, Jalor, Sirohi, Dungarpur, Dhundhar, and Amber fought alongside the Mewar army of Rana Sanga.
• In addition, Mahmud Lodi, the younger son of Sikandar Lodi, whom the Afghans had declared their new Sultan, joined the coalition with a force of 10,000 Afghans.
• While both the Rajput Alliance and the Mughal Army's numbers were overstated, it was accepted that the Rajputs vastly outnumbered the Mughals.
• Furthermore, hearing of the vast number of their rivals and their combat prowess demoralised Babur's army.
• Knowing that the Rajputs' vast numbers would overwhelm his army, Babur devised a defensive strategy that included fortified encampments manned by artillery.
• He would rain down a fatal blow on his adversaries who did not have firearms by combining the muskets and cannons.
• Carts linked together with adequate openings for the cavalry to advance would protect the firing positions.

Battle of Khanwa

• The armies of Babur and Rana Sanga met on March 16th, 1527.
• Rana Sanga led a charge against the Mughal troops to begin the battle.
• The Battle of Khanwa pitted a unified Rajput confederacy against the Mughals, but Mughal artillery wreaked havoc on the Rajputs' closed ranks.
• The terrifying execution was carried out by the Canons.
• The Rajput elephants stampeded as a result of the cannon fire, which was unfamiliar to them.
• To silence the cannons, Rajputs jammed themselves inside the mouths of the cannons.
• At the crucial juncture of time, Rana Silhadi of Raisen deserted Rana Sanga and joined Babur's army.
• His sheer numbers were enough to alter the power balance in the Mughal's favour.
• The Rajput army was compelled to revise their entire war plan as a result of this.
• It was found that Mughal cavalry caused the most casualties, and afterwards, Rajputs began to perish, fleeing in every direction.
• The huge Rajput army quickly disintegrated into the chaos, and their valour was converted into a bloodbath.
• Babur was fascinated with building towers out of infidels' heads.
• The Rajput chiefs were defeated, and the defeated Rajput chiefs were beheaded and their heads raised on the victor's horrific tower.
• Rao Maldev aided Rana Sanga in fleeing the battle, in which he had been wounded.
• Rana Sanga pledged that he would not return to Chittor unless he defeated Babur.
• Fearing that Rana was provoking another war with the Babar, his own nobles poisoned him, which was previously supposed to have established Hindu sovereignty in India.

Aftermath of the Battle of Khanwa

• Rana Sanga was the final Hindu ruler to attempt to establish Hindu rule in India, and under him, all Rajput castes formed a Rajput confederacy.
• After this dreadful battle, no other Rajputs thought to resist Babur.
• Another result of the Battle of Khanwa was that muskets and cannons became standard weapons in many Indian subcontinent armies including Mughals and others.
• Other Indian kings soon hired mercenaries to educate their armies in gunpowder combat, and some even built their own cannons.
• Babur almost became the undisputed monarch of Delhi at this point. The Rajputs were no longer an issue.
• Finally, at the Battle of Ghaghra in 1529, he defeated Muhammad Lodi, the last Lodi claimant to the Delhi Throne and officially became the new ruler of Delhi.

Conclusion

In 1526, Babur's invading army destroyed Ibrahim Lodi at the Battle of Panipat, effectively ending the Lodi Empire. Babur was expected to return to Afghanistan after this but he didn’t. This led to the Battle of Khanwa and Rana Sanga was defeated, and the Mughal dynasty's dominance in India was solidified. This battle was fate changing battle for India even more important than the First Battle of Panipat as it destroyed the mighty Rajput power.

FAQs

Question: Who was Babur, and what led to his conflict with Rana Sanga?

Question: What was the significance of the Battle of Khanwa in 1527?

Question: How did Babur prepare for the battle against Rana Sanga?

Question: What were the outcomes of the Battle of Khanwa for Rana Sanga?

Question: Why is Babur's victory over Rana Sanga considered a turning point in Mughal history?

MCQs

1. The conflict between Babur and Rana Sanga culminated in the:

A) Battle of Panipat

B) Battle of Khanwa

C) Battle of Chausa

D) Battle of Talikota

2. Rana Sanga was the ruler of:

A) Malwa

B) Mewar

C) Marwar

D) Bengal

3. Babur's use of gunpowder artillery in the Battle of Khanwa was significant because:

A) It was the first time gunpowder was used in Indian battles

B) It provided no strategic advantage

C) It overwhelmed the Rajput forces, who were not accustomed to such warfare

D) It was used only as a defensive strategy

4. The outcome of the Battle of Khanwa resulted in:

A) Babur's retreat from India

B) Strengthening of Rajput power

C) Mughal dominance in northern India

D) The division of the Mughal Empire

5. Rana Sanga's alliance against Babur included:

A) Afghan chiefs and several Rajput clans

B) European forces

C) Only the Mewar army

D) South Indian dynasties

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the causes and outcomes of the conflict between Babur and Rana Sanga.

Answer: The conflict between Babur and Rana Sanga was driven by the latter's ambition to resist Mughal expansion in India. Following Babur's victory at Panipat, Rana Sanga sought to prevent Mughal dominance by forming a confederacy of Rajput and Afghan forces. The two sides clashed at the Battle of Khanwa in 1527, where Babur employed superior military tactics, including the use of gunpowder artillery. The outcome was a decisive victory for Babur, consolidating Mughal control in northern India and weakening the Rajput resistance. This battle established the Mughals as a major power and demonstrated the effectiveness of their military strategies.

Q2: Analyze the significance of the Battle of Khanwa in the establishment of Mughal rule in India.

Answer: The Battle of Khanwa was a turning point in the establishment of Mughal rule in India. Babur's victory over the combined Rajput and Afghan forces led by Rana Sanga demonstrated the superiority of Mughal military tactics, particularly the use of gunpowder and innovative battlefield strategies. This victory solidified Babur's hold over northern India and diminished the power of regional alliances that opposed Mughal expansion. By breaking the Rajput confederacy, the battle paved the way for further Mughal conquests and laid the foundation for a centralized empire under Babur and his successors.

Q3: Explain the military strategies employed by Babur during the Battle of Khanwa and their impact on the outcome.

Answer: Babur's military strategies during the Battle of Khanwa were instrumental in his victory over Rana Sanga's forces. He employed a combination of defensive fortifications, flanking maneuvers, and the use of gunpowder artillery. The 'tulughma' tactic, which involved dividing his troops into smaller units to encircle and overwhelm the enemy, was particularly effective. Babur's use of artillery, a relatively new technology in Indian warfare, provided a decisive advantage, breaking the Rajput charge and demoralizing their forces. These strategies showcased the Mughals' tactical ingenuity and secured their dominance in northern India.

Previous Year Questions on Struggle with Rana Sanga

1. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: Evaluate the significance of Babur’s victory over Rana Sanga at the Battle of Khanwa in shaping Mughal rule in India.

Answer: Babur’s victory at the Battle of Khanwa in 1527 was crucial in shaping Mughal rule in India. The battle marked the defeat of a powerful Rajput-Afghan coalition led by Rana Sanga, who sought to prevent Mughal expansion. By employing superior military strategies and gunpowder artillery, Babur demonstrated the effectiveness of Mughal warfare, which was instrumental in establishing their dominance in northern India. The victory weakened regional resistance and allowed Babur to consolidate his empire, laying the groundwork for Mughal rule that would span centuries. This battle also symbolized a shift in Indian military tactics, highlighting the growing importance of firearms in warfare.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: Discuss the role of Rana Sanga in the resistance against Mughal expansion in India and the consequences of his defeat.

Answer: Rana Sanga was a prominent leader of the Rajputs who led a coalition of Rajput and Afghan forces to resist Mughal expansion following Babur’s arrival in India. As a symbol of Rajput valor and unity, Sanga sought to protect Indian sovereignty from foreign rule. His defeat at the Battle of Khanwa in 1527 had far-reaching consequences. It weakened Rajput influence, disintegrated the regional alliance against the Mughals, and allowed Babur to establish a stronghold in northern India. Sanga’s defeat marked the decline of Rajput power and paved the way for the expansion and consolidation of Mughal authority in India.