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Rise and fall of the Mughal Empire Module - II

Military History of
 Illness (bimari);
Medieval India
 Leave & furlough (rukhsat);

 Desertion (farari);
 Discharge or resignation (bartarfi);
 Pension;

 Death (fauti). Note

The Mughals also devised method of honouring with distinctions. They were:
 Titles;
 Robes of Honour;

 Gifts of Money or other articles;
 Kettledrums;

 Standards & Ensigns.

8.2 Second Battle of Panipat

The Second Battle of Panipat marked the beginning of Akbar's rule and also his territorial
expansion. It was fought in 1556, between the army of Hem Chandra Vikramaditya
(Hemu) and the forces of Akbar. This was during the early phase of dominance of
Mughals in India where, their rule was restricted to parts of Punjab, Delhi and Afghan.
It was the victory at the second battle that further consolidation and expansion of
Mughal empire took place. Akbar's opponent was Hemu who had large forces as
compared to Akbar.

a) Hemu was the Prime Minister of Adil Shah Suri of the Suri Dynasty. He was
also known as Hemachandra Vikramaditya. A month before the second battle
of Panipat took place, Hemu attacked Delhi and won over Akbar's forces in
the Battle of Delhi 1556. He then crowned himself as Samrat Hemachandra
Vikramaditya. However, the following month in November 1556 Akbar counter
attacked Hemu at Panipat and took over the rule of Delhi.

b) Thirty years after Babur had defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the Mughal army assembled
once again at Panipat under the leadership of Akbar. Ali Quli Khan Shaibani
was sent by Akbar with a strong cavalry unit to destroy the train of Hemu's
artillery which was weakly guarded. This proved to be a major handicap for
Hemu. Although Hemu had lost his artillery to the Mughals even before the
actual battle started, his forces were still numerically superior to those of Mughals.
Hemu's army was composed of 30,000 strong cavalry and a mighty contingent
of 500 elephants. Hemu led his army from the front, atop an elephant named
Hawai. The Mughal military formation was on the traditional lines with left and
right flanks and vanguard assisting the centre. There were at least 10,000 horses
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