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— CH. 1 · BABUR'S INDIAN INVASION —

Mughal–Afghan Wars

~3 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
6 sections

  • On the 21st of April 1526, Babur led his army across the Hindu Kush mountain passes to confront the Lodi dynasty. This campaign marked the beginning of a long series of conflicts between Mughal rulers and Afghan tribes. The Mughal forces possessed superior firepower with muskets and artillery that left the Lodi armies helpless. During the Battle of Panipat, the Lodi Sultan Ibrahim Lodi was killed in action while Babur took control of Delhi and parts of northern India. Earlier raids had already seen Babur subduing Lahore by 1524 after attacking western Punjab in 1520. By 1529, musket barrages proved effective again at the battle on the Ghagara river against remaining Afghan resistance.

  • Sher Shah Suri rose to power after defeating the Mughal Emperor Humayun in the Battle of Chausa during 1539. He secured victory once more in the Battle of Kanauj in 1540, establishing the short-lived Sur Empire that ruled from 1540 to 1556. This Afghan empire emerged as a direct challenge to Mughal authority following Humayun's defeat. Akbar launched an invasion of the Sur Empire in 1555 and defeated their forces at the Battle of Sirhind. The conflict continued for several years until Akbar's army crushed the Sur forces at the Battle of Machhiwara in 1556. The collapse of the Sur Empire marked the transition back to consolidated Mughal power over much of the subcontinent.

  • In 1575, the governor of Bihar named Todar Mal marched into Bengal with Mughal forces to engage the Karrani dynasty. King Daud Khan Karrani led fierce resistance that caused significant casualties within the Mughal army before they were ultimately defeated. The Mughals captured Gaur, the capital of the Karranis, ending their rule in that region. Later conflicts involved Bayazid Karrani II who independently ruled eastern Bengal with his capital in Pratapgarh during the Greater Sylhet invasion. He formed alliances with Khwaja Usman from Usmangarh and Anwar Khan of Baniachong to resist Mughal expansion. A Mughal force consisting of four thousand matchlock-men and one hundred imperial war elephants eventually overwhelmed these defenses after Khwaja Usman was slain in battle.

  • A deviant Sufism movement preaching Wahdat al-Wujud grew in Peshawar around 1570 under charismatic leader Pir Roshan. This political uprising challenged increasing Mughal influence throughout the Afghan region by gaining popular support among local populations. Pir Roshan spent his life in conflict with the Mughals until his death in 1572. His successors continued the struggle even capturing Ghazni city at one point which prompted Emperor Jahangir to deal more seriously with the rebellion. After constant battles against the sect, the movement eventually weakened and ended despite its earlier successes. The resistance demonstrated how religious movements could serve as powerful tools for opposing foreign domination on the northwest frontier.

  • Akbar laid siege to invade the Yousufzai country known as Afghania but the campaign failed after lasting more than two months. The emperor sent Minister Raja Birbal along with Shujat Khan to lead forces that were defeated by Yousufzai tribesmen. According to historian Khafi Khan, more than 40,000 Mughal soldiers and officers died while Abd al-Qadir Badayuni claimed over 8,000 casualties occurred at Karakar and Malandari Pass. This disaster caused Akbar such grief that he did not eat or drink for two days following news of the defeat. An army under Rajah Todar Mal set off on the 19th of February to exact retribution by killing many survivors and selling others to Turan and Persia. The countries of Swat, Bajaur and Buner were cleansed of evildoers according to official accounts.

  • A territorial dispute over the Punjab region started conflict between the Durrani Empire and the Mughal Empire during the mid-1700s. Ahmad Shah Durrani and his forces invaded India in 1748 and again in 1752 capturing Lahore from Mughal control. These invasions marked the final phase of conflicts stretching back to Babur's initial campaign nearly two centuries earlier. The strategic importance of Punjab as a border location made it a constant flashpoint between expanding empires. By 1752 these wars had concluded with the Durrani Empire establishing dominance over the contested territories after decades of fighting.

Common questions

When did Babur lead his army across the Hindu Kush to begin the Mughal-Afghan Wars?

Babur led his army across the Hindu Kush mountain passes on the 21st of April 1526. This campaign marked the beginning of a long series of conflicts between Mughal rulers and Afghan tribes.

Who defeated Humayun in the Battle of Chausa during 1539?

Sher Shah Suri defeated the Mughal Emperor Humayun in the Battle of Chausa during 1539. He secured victory once more in the Battle of Kanauj in 1540, establishing the short-lived Sur Empire that ruled from 1540 to 1556.

What happened when Akbar invaded the Sur Empire in 1555?

Akbar launched an invasion of the Sur Empire in 1555 and defeated their forces at the Battle of Sirhind. The conflict continued for several years until Akbar's army crushed the Sur forces at the Battle of Machhiwara in 1556.

How many matchlock-men were in the Mughal force that overwhelmed Bayazid Karrani II's defenses?

A Mughal force consisting of four thousand matchlock-men and one hundred imperial war elephants eventually overwhelmed these defenses after Khwaja Usman was slain in battle. This occurred during the Greater Sylhet invasion against Bayazid Karrani II who independently ruled eastern Bengal with his capital in Pratapgarh.

When did Pir Roshan die while leading a deviant Sufism movement in Peshawar?

Pir Roshan spent his life in conflict with the Mughals until his death in 1572. His successors continued the struggle even capturing Ghazni city at one point which prompted Emperor Jahangir to deal more seriously with the rebellion.

What date did Rajah Todar Mal set off on the 19th of February to exact retribution after the failed Yousufzai campaign?

An army under Rajah Todar Mal set off on the 19th of February to exact retribution by killing many survivors and selling others to Turan and Persia. The countries of Swat, Bajaur and Buner were cleansed of evildoers according to official accounts following the disaster that caused Akbar such grief that he did not eat or drink for two days.

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