Battle of Dholpur (1766)
| Battle of Dholpur 1766 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of BharatpurSupported by  Sikh cavalry |
 Maratha Confederacy | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Jawahar Singh Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Tara Singh Ghaiba |
Malhar Rao Holkar Nahar Singh of Bharatpur Sultanji Lambhate (POW) Makaji Lambhate (POW) Santaji Bable (POW) | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 7,000-8,000 Sikhs | unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| unknown | heavy | ||||||
The Battle of Dholpur was fought between the Jawahar Singh Supported by Sikhs and the Nahar Singh supported by Maratha Empire in 1766,[1][2]
Background
[edit]Nahar Singh, the younger stepbrother of Jawahar Singh, who ruled Dholpur, possessed a wife whose beauty captivated Jawahar Singh. Driven by ambition, Jawahar Singh ordered the Sikh forces to attack Nahar Singh. In response, Nahar Singh sought protection by calling on the Maratha commander Malhar Rao Holkar and arranged for his family to be sent to Jaipur for safety.[3][2] }} Not long after, Jawahar Singh retaliated by directing the Sikhs to raid villages within Jaipur’s domain. The Sikh forces, joining Jawahar Singh’s own troops, invaded the region ruled by Raja Madho Singh of Jaipur and began plundering towns and villages—including Kot Putli—without facing any resistance. Meanwhile, officials in Jaipur—Dulerai (the Bakhshi) and Jai Chand (the Khan-e-Saman)—were preoccupied with besieging the fort of Kanaud, which was held by the rebel Ratan Singh Khangarot. With the Sikh camp established only 25 kilometers from Jaipur and their strength overwhelming, Madho Singh was left with little choice but to seek assistance from the Marathas, offering to pay Rs. 5,000 per day for their services. Sindhia’s troops were dispatched to confront Jawahar Singh, and after negotiations, Madho Singh managed to reach a settlement with the Sikhs. Consequently, Jawahar Singh agreed to a truce with Madho Singh I and retreated with his Sikh allies back to his territory.[3][2]
Battle
[edit]The battle unfolded when the Maratha forces, under the command of Malhar Rao Holkar, were encamped at Dholpur and frequently launched surprise attacks into Jat lands. At the same time, the Sikh soldiers under Jawahar Singh grew restless due to delayed wages and began causing havoc in the region. Realizing the risk of losing their support, Jawahar Singh succeeded in calming the Sikhs—numbering between 7,000 and 8,000—and securing their allegiance. From his base at Shahgarh, he advanced with a smaller, more agile force accompanied by some artillery to confront the Marathas. The clash occurred roughly 20 kilometers from Dholpur on March 13 and 14.[3][2] At the outset, the Sikh contingent led the attack but was initially overpowered by the Marathas, who inflicted losses of 50 to 100 men. The Sikhs then retreated to regroup near Jawahar Singh’s position. Believing that victory was assured, the Maratha forces pursued the retreating Sikhs recklessly, inadvertently moving within the range of well-positioned Jat artillery. Seizing the opportunity, the Sikhs shifted to the flanks of Jawahar Singh’s army and, in conjunction with the Jats, launched a coordinated counterattack. As evening approached, the Marathas began to withdraw, and the joint Jat–Sikh assault resulted in heavy casualties among the Maratha soldiers while hundreds of their horses were captured in the Chambal ravines. The Maratha leaders, including the wounded Sultanji—a prominent commander—were forced to retreat to Dholpur, where Jawahar Singh followed them, eventually capturing the town and taking all the Maratha commanders prisoner.[2][3]
Aftermath
[edit]Buoyed by his victory at Dholpur, Jawahar Singh set his sights on confronting Malhar Rao Holkar, who was critically ill and encamped beyond the Chambal River. It appeared that Jawahar Singh had a strong opportunity to defeat Holkar. However, his plans were abruptly disrupted when his key Sikh allies refused to continue the campaign. Unwilling to march through a barren, waterless landscape under the scorching sun, the Sikh forces abandoned the operation and returned to their homeland, leaving Jawahar Singh’s campaign against Holkar unfulfilled.[2][3]