| 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 Sultānji Lambhāte Makāji Lambhāté Santaji Bablé | ||||||
The Battle of Dholpur (1766) was fought between Jawahar Singh and his step-brother Nahar Singh, with the Sikhs supporting Jawahar Singh and the Marathas backing Nahar Singh.
Background
Nahar Singh, Jawahar Singh younger stepbrother, ruled Dholpur and had a wife of exceptional beauty, whom Jawahir Singh desired. To fulfill his ambition, he directed the Sikhs to attack Nahar Singh. Seeking protection, Nahar Singh called upon Malhar Rao Holkar for assistance and sent his family to Jaipur for safety.
In retaliation, Jawahar Singh asked the Sikhs to raid the villages of Jaipur. The Sikh forces entered the region ruled by Raja Madho Singh of Jaipur and, along with Jawahir Singh’s troops, began plundering the towns and villages without any opposition. They even looted Kot Putli. Meanwhile, Jaipur’s officials, Dulerai (the Bakhshi) and Jai Chand (the Khan-e-Saman), were preoccupied with besieging the fort of Kanaud, which was under the control of Ratan Singh Khangarot, a rebel against Jaipur. During this time, the Sikhs camped just 25 kilometers away from Jaipur. The overwhelming strength of the Sikh forces left Madho Singh powerless. Desperate, he sought help from the Marathas, offering to pay them Rs. 5,000 daily for their expenses. Sindhia’s troops were promptly sent to confront Jawahir Singh, while the Jaipur ruler managed to settle with the Sikhs by paying them off. Left with no choice, Jawahar Singh agreed to a truce with Madho Singh I and returned to his territory, taking the Sikhs with him.
Battle
The Marathas, commanded by Malhar Rao Holkar, were camped at Dholpur and frequently launched surprise attacks into Jat lands, causing trouble. Meanwhile, the Sikhs, employed by Jawahar Singh, grew restless because their wages had not been paid. Frustrated, they began causing destruction in the area. Jawahir Singh, realizing he needed their assistance, managed to calm the Sikhs, who numbered around 7,000 to 8,000, and retained their support. From his base at Shahgarh, Jawahar Singh moved with a smaller, faster force and some artillery to face the Marathas. The battle took place about 20 kilometers away from Dholpur on March 13 and 14. To begin, the Sikhs led the attack but were overpowered by the Marathas, who killed 50 to 100 of them. Retreating, the Sikhs regrouped near Jawahir Singh’s position. The Marathas, believing they had won, chased after them recklessly, only to end up within range of Jat artillery fire.
At this point, the Sikhs moved to the flanks of Jawahar Singh’s army, and together they launched a counterattack. The Marathas, realizing their mistake, began to withdraw as evening approached. Taking advantage of the situation, the Jats and Sikhs launched an all-out assault. Many Maratha soldiers were killed, and hundreds of their horses were seized in the Chambal ravines. The defeated Maratha leaders retreated to Dholpur for safety, but Jawahir Singh followed, captured Dholpur, and took all the Maratha commanders prisoner. Among them was Sultanji, an important leader, who had been wounded in the battle.
Aftermath
Following the Marathas defeat at Dholpur, Jawahar Singh intended to move against Malhar Rao Holkar, who was seriously ill and encamped beyond the Chambal River. Jawahar Singh likely had a strong chance of defeating him. However, his plans were disrupted when the Sikh forces, his key allies, refused to proceed further. They were unwilling to march through the barren, waterless terrain under the scorching heat of the sun. Consequently, the Sikhs abandoned the campaign and returned to their homeland.
References
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram. History of the Sikhs. Vol. III: Sikh Domination of the Mughal Empire, 1764–1803. Munshilal Manoharlal. pp. 56–57. ISBN 978-81-215-0213-9.
- Singh, Khushwant (11 October 2004). A History of the Sikhs: 1469–1838 (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-19-567308-1.