Battle of Wai
The Battle of Wai was fought in the fall of 1687 as a part of the Mughal–Maratha Wars. Sambhaji sent his forces under his senapati, Hambirao Mohite, to oppose Mughal army led by Sarja Khan. The Mughal's were drawn into the dense jungles near Wai and Mahableshwar where the Mughals were defeated. However, among the dead was Hambirao, a serious blow to Sambhaji's cause.[2]
| Battle of Wai | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mughal-Maratha Wars | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Mughal Empire | Maratha Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Aurangzeb Sarja Khan |
Sambhaji Hambirao Mohite † | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
17,000 irregular light cavalry and 3,000 heavy cavalry 70,000 infantry |
9,000~10,000 maratha light cavalry and 5,000~6,000 maratha heavy cavalry 35,000 mixed light and heavy infantry | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 100,000 | 50,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 25,000~35,000 | 9000~12000 | ||||||||
Background
In April 1685, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb managed to consolidate his power by first capturing Maratha allies, the Muslim kingdoms of Golkonda and Bijapur. He broke his treaties with both kingdoms, attacked them and captured them by September 1686. While Aurangzeb was away at the Siege of Golconda, the Mughals invaded Satara district. And after his victory at Golconda, Aurangzeb was able to concentrate on the Marathas.[3]
Battle
Maratha Empire senapati, or general, Sardar Hambirao Mohite (Talbeed) led the Maratha side in the battle. Sarja Khan (a Bijapur general who has joined the Mughel's) led the Mughal force.[4] Although the Maratha won, Hambirao Mohite was struck and killed by a cannonball during the battle.[5]
Aftermath
While the battle was a victory for the Maratha's, the loss of the celebrated Hambirao Mohite weakened Sambhaji's political position considerably and many of his troops deserted him.[6] Hambirao was replaced as senapati by Malhoji Ghorpade.[7] Sambhaji went to the Western Ghats along with his close friend and counselor Kavi Kalash, leading eventually to the Mughal Army surrounding the Sambhaji's camp and capturing the Maratha leader.[6]
References
- Joshi, Pandit Shankar. Chhatrapati Sambhaji, 1657-1689 AD. New Delhi: S. Chand, 1980. p241
- Kincaid, C. A. (1922). A history of the Maratha people (Vol. 2). H. Milford, Oxford university press. p 48
- "Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Satara" Maharashtra (India), Gazetteers Dept. Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State, 1963 p94
- Pāṭīla, Śālinī. Maharani Tarabai of Kolhapur, C. 1675-1761 AD. New Delhi: S. Chand & Company, 1987. p42
- Joshi, Pandit Shankar. Chhatrapati Sambhaji, 1657-1689 AD. New Delhi: S. Chand, 1980. p241
- Mehta, Jaswant Lal. Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd, 2005. p49-50
- Joshi, Pandit Shankar. Chhatrapati Sambhaji, 1657-1689 AD. New Delhi: S. Chand, 1980. p262
