When was the Second Battle of Panipat fought?
The Second Battle of Panipat was fought on the 5th of November 1556. It took place at the same plain north of Delhi as the First Battle of Panipat of 1526.
Questions about Second Battle of Panipat
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who was Hemu and what title did he take before the Second Battle of Panipat?
Hemu, formally named Hemchandra, was a Hindu associate of Sher Shah Suri from Rewari who rose from humble origins to become both Chief Minister and military commander for the Sur ruler Adil Shah Suri. After taking Delhi on the 7th of October 1556, he crowned himself with the title Vikramaditya at Purana Quila.
How did Hemu lose the Second Battle of Panipat?
Hemu was struck in the eye by a Mughal arrow and collapsed unconscious atop his elephant Hawai at the moment he appeared to be close to victory. His army, seeing him go down, panicked and fled, leaving an estimated 5,000 dead on the field.
What happened to Hemchandra after the Second Battle of Panipat?
Hemchandra was captured unconscious and brought to the Mughal camp. He was subsequently beheaded. His head was sent to Kabul to be displayed outside Delhi Darwaja, and his body was gibbeted at Purana Quila in Delhi. A memorial at Panipat called Hemu's Samadhi Sthal marks the spot where he was killed.
Did Akbar personally behead Hemu after the Second Battle of Panipat?
The historical record is disputed. Akbar's courtier Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak wrote that Akbar refused to behead a man already unconscious. However, the contemporary account in Muhammad Arif Qandhari's Tarikh e Akbari states that Akbar did behead Hemchandra and received the title of Ghazi as a result.
What role did war elephants play in the Second Battle of Panipat?
Hemu commanded a force of 500 war elephants, each covered in plate armour and carrying musketeers and crossbowmen. They initially broke the Mughal wings but were countered by Mughal cavalry who targeted the elephants' legs and riders. The Mughals captured 120 of Hemu's elephants after the battle, and these animals subsequently became a lasting part of Mughal military strategy.