| Battle of Jaitpur | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofDecline of the Mughal Empire | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Panna State Maratha Empire |  Mughal Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Chhatrasal Peshwa Bajirao I Chimaji Appa | Muhammad Khan Bangash  Qaim Khan Bangash | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
Total: 35,000 troops
| Total: 50,000 troops[2]
| ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown |
| ||||||||
TheBattle of Jaitpur was fought between the Maratha Empire underPeshwaBaji Rao I, on behalf ofChhatrasal Bundela, the ruler ofBundelkhand; and theMughal Empire underMuhammad Khan Bangash in March 1729. Bangash attacked the state of Bundelkhand in December 1728. Being too old to fight, as well as heavily outnumbered, Chhatrasal appealed toBaji Rao for assistance - under whose leadership the Maratha with 25,000 horsemen with theBundela troops defeated theMuhammad khan Bangash.[4][5]
In Bundelkhand, Chhatrasal had rebelled against the Mughal Empire and established an independent kingdom. In December 1728, a Mughal force led by Muhammad Khan Bangash attacked him and besieged his fort and family. Although Chhatrasal repeatedly sought Baji Rao's assistance, he was busy inMalwa at the time. He compared his dire situation to that ofGajendra Moksha. In his letter to Baji Rao, Chhatrasal wrote the following words:[6]
Know you, that I am in the same sad plight in which the famous elephant was when caught by the crocodile. My valiant race is on point of extinction. Come and save my honour, O Baji Rao.
After marching toJaitpur, Bajirao surrounded Muhammad Khan Bangash and cut off his supplies as well as communication lines to Delhi and Allahabad. Bangash launched a counterattack against Baji Rao, but could not pierce his defences. Qaim Khan, son of Muhammad Khan Bangash, learned of his father's predicament and approached with fresh troops. His army was attacked by Bajirao's forces, and he was defeated. Bangash then sought forgiveness and surrendered, signing an agreement and promise that he would never suppress the independence of Bundelkhand again.[7][8]
Chhatrasal's position as ruler of Bundelkhand was restored. He gifted one-third of his state to the Peshwa[9] and gave him his daughter from a concubine namedRuhani Bai,Mastani. Before Chhatrasal's death in December 1731, he ceded one-third of his territories to the Marathas.[8]