Second Battle of Midnapur (1746)

Second battle of 'Midnapur'
Part of Maratha invasions of Bengal
Date1746
Location
Near 'Midnapore' Town
Result Bengali Victory
Belligerents
Nawabs of Bengal

Maratha Confederacy

Commanders and leaders
  • Alivardi Khan
  • Mir Jafar
    		•
  • Janoji Bhonsle
  • Sayyid Nur
  • Mir Habib
    • Strength
    7,500[1] Similar strength to Bengali Army.[citation needed]

    In 1746, the Independent Nawabs of Bengal and the Maratha Confederacy fought each other at the Second Battle of 'Midnapore'.

    Background

    Due to continuous raids by the Marathas a proposal of peace was brought forward where the Delhi emperor (Mughal emperor) promised to pay 10 lakhs of annual chauth to Rajah Shahu for the Bengal Subah. Alivardi Khan not being very fond of the proposal, argued that the proposal would only be just, if Shahu effectually kept Raghuji Bhonsle out of Bengal rather than merely ordering him to do so.[2][3]

    Battle

    The battle was commanded by Alivardi Khan's general, Mir Jafar against Mir Habib's lieutenant Sayyid Nur[2] who was joined by Janoji Bhonsle of the Maratha Confederacy close to Midnapore Town. Mir Jafar won a decisive battle against Mir Habib.[2]

    The main Maratha force joined Mir Habib, who had come up from Balasore. As a result, Mir Jafar retreated to Burdwan where Alivardi Khan defeated the Janonji lead Marathas in the Battle of Burdwan.[4]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ Islam, Sirajul (1948). The History of Bengal vol 2. Dhaka: University of Dhaka. p. 464.
    2. ^ a b c Ramesh, Majumdar (1948). The History of Bengal vol 2. Dhaka: University of Dacca. p. 464.
    3. ^ Syed, Muzaffar (20 February 2022). History of Indian Nation Medieval India. K. K. Publications. pp. 368–371.
    4. ^ Sengupta, Nitish (2011). Land of two rivers : a history of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib. Penguin Books India (published 19 Jul 2011). p. 16. ISBN 9780143416784.