Who won the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761?
Ahmad Shah Durrani and his coalition forces defeated the Maratha Empire. The battle concluded with a decisive victory for the Durrani Empire that halted further Maratha advances north.
Questions about Third Battle of Panipat
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the Third Battle of Panipat take place?
The main engagement occurred on the 14th of January 1761 when Maratha artillery opened fire from positions some 2 km from Afghan lines. Ahmad Shah Abdali reached Lahore by end of 1759 to prepare for this confrontation.
Where was the Third Battle of Panipat fought?
The conflict took place near Panipat where the Marathas found themselves surrounded by enemy forces. Ahmad Shah Durrani crossed the Yamuna River between 23 and the 25th of October 1760 at Baghpat unopposed before the final battle.
Why did the Third Battle of Panipat happen?
Muslim intellectuals like Shah Waliullah feared Maratha expansion and appealed to Ahmad Shah Abdali for help. Key Muslim nobles formed a broad coalition including Rohillas and Shuja-ud-Daula of Oudh to counter the Maratha advance.
How many people died during the Third Battle of Panipat?
About 40,000 Maratha prisoners were slaughtered in cold blood the day after the battle according to Kashi Raja's bakhar chronicle. Hamilton reported about half a million people present in Panipat town when he gave his figure of 40,000 executed prisoners.