Sacking of Burhanpur explained

Conflict:Sack of Burhanpur (1681)
Place:Burhanpur, Burhanpur District Madhya Pradesh
Partof:Mughal-Maratha Wars
Date:31 January 1681 - 2 February 1681
Coordinates:22.5705 0
Combatant1: Maratha Empire
Combatant2:Mughal Empire
Commander1: Sambhaji
Hambirrao Mohite
Kavi Kalash
Suryaji Jake
Commander2:Bahadur Khan Kokaltash
Kakar Khan
Result:Maratha victory.[1] [2] [3]

Sack of Burhanpur (31 January 1681 - 2 February 1681) refers to the looting of the wealthy city of Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh by the Maratha ruler Sambhaji. The Maratha army commanded by Sambhaji maharaj and Sersenapati Hambirrao Mohite attacked and plundered the city for three days. The Marathas got a huge loot and returned to Raigad by evading Mughal forces. Marathas also sacked Aurangabad after this sack.

Sacking of Burhanpur

Hambirrao Mohite reached the forests near Burhanpur with a 15,000-strong cavalry force. Kakar Khan gathered civilian forces and decided to attack Hambirrao at midnight. As he came out of the city gates, Sambhaji himself attacked from the old trenches with a cavalry force of 4,000. Sambhaji's force routed the ill-prepared Mughal garrison. Sambhaji then left 200-300 soldiers at the main city gate and left for Bahadurpura, the richest suburb of the city. Sambhaji started to loot the houses of the richest merchants which were shown to him by his spies. Hambirrao's force soon joined Sambhaji and the combined Maratha force started looting the city. Hambirrao, then sealed the city's entrances to ensure that the word of the attack did not spread. Marathas looted the city consecutively for three days. Marathas earned a loot estimated to be around 2 crore rupees.[4] [5] [6]

References

  1. Book: Ikram, Sheikh Mohamad . History of Muslim Civilization in India and Pakistan . 1989 . Institute of Islamic Culture . 1989 . 9789694690018 . 316 . English.
  2. Book: Mahajan, T. T . Khandesh Under the Mughals, 1601-1707 . 1991 . Galaxy Publications . 1991 . 9788172000042 . 55-57 . English.
  3. Book: Pāṭīla, Śālinī . Maharani Tarabai of Kolhapur, C. 1675-1761 A.D . 1987 . S. Chand & Company . 1987 . 9788121902694 . 35 . English.
  4. Book: Bahekar, S.A.. Martiyar Sambhaji. Kasab Publications. 1999. Jalgaon. 353.
  5. Book: Bhaskaran, Medha Deshmukh . The Life and Death of Sambhaji . 2021-07-05 . Penguin Random House India Private Limited . 978-93-5492-029-5 . en.
  6. Book: Joshi, Pandit Shankar . Chhatrapati Sambhaji, 1657-1689 A.D. . 1980 . S. Chand . 128 . en.