Siege of Mandsaur

The Sultan of Gujarat left Muhammadabad (modern day Champaner) and returned to his capital after the Maharana had returned to Mewar after his campaign in Gujarat. He was grieved to see his treasuries looted and his palace destroyed and began to think of avenging his defeat. He set about preparing a large army, doubled the pay of the soldiers, and gave them a year's salary in advance.[4]

Invasion of Mewar
Part of Mewar-Gujarat wars

Mandsaur Fort
Date1520 (December)
Location
Mandsaur, Borders of Mewar, India
Result Rajput victory, Malik Ayaz fails and retreats.
Belligerents
Rajput Confederates Gujarat Sultanate
Malwa Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Rana Sanga
Rao Ganga of Jodhpur
Rawal Udai Singh of Dungarpur
Rao Viram deva of Merta
Silhadi
Medini Rai
Ashok Mal †		 Sultan Muzaffar Shah II
Sultan Mahmud khilji
Nizam-ul-mulk
Malik Ayaz
Taj Khan
Shuja-ul-mulk
Strength
80,000 to 100,000 Rajputs.[1] 120,000 Cavalry[2]
120 elephants[3]
thousands of men from Malwa

Background

At last in Muharrum H. 927, December A.D. 1520, the Sultan sent Malik Ayaz with an army of 100,000 cavalry, 100 elephants against Mewar. Another army, consisting of 20,000 horse and 20 elephants was sent under Qiwam-ulmulk to co-operate with Malik Ayaz. Both these armies marched to Modasa. While they were encamped there, the Sultan, according to the Tabqati Akbari, sent reinforcements under Taj Khan and Nizamul-mulk. The Sultans army ravaged Dungarpur and advanced towards Banswara.[5]

Siege of Mandsaur

After a skirmish between 200 horsemen under Shuja-ul-mulk and others, and some Rajputs in the hills, the Sultan's army advanced and invested the fort of Mandsaur in Malwa, then in the Maharana's possession. The governor of the fort, Asoka Mal, was killed but the fort did not fall. The Maharana left Chitor with a Gallant army estimated around 80,000 to 100,000 Rajputs and arrived at the village of Nandsa, 12 cos (24 miles) from Mandsaur.[6] In the meantime,Sultan Mahmud Khilji of Malwa arrived from Mandu to assist the Gujarat forces to repay the debt he owed to Muzaffar Shah. The siege was pressed but no progress was made. Sanga was joined by his trusted Vassals Medini Rai now ruler of Malwa and Raja Silhadi, the Tomar Rajput Chief of Raisen and Sarangpur both of them joined Sanga with 15,000 Rajput forces respectively .[7] The Mirati Sikandari says that "all the Rajas of the country round, went to the support of the Rana. Thus on both sides enormous forces were assembled. But the enterprise of Malik Ayaz did not advance in consequence of the ill-feeling entertained against him by the Amirs No progress was made in the siege of the fort."[8]

Aftermath

Malik Ayaz foreseeing the ruin of his forces in the prolongation of the struggle made peace and fell back on Khiljipur, and eventually retreated to Gujarat.[9]The Sultan is said to have received Malik Ayaz coldly when the latter waited on him at Chapaneri. The Mirati Sikandari says that not only was the Sultan very cold to Ayaz, but that all the people of Gujarat called him a coward.[10]

References
  1. Chaube 1975, pp. 149-151.
  2. Bayleys Gujarat pg 271
  3. Bayleys Gujarat pg 271
  4. The Hindupat, the Last Great Leader of the Rajput Race. 1918. Reprint. London pg 84-86
  5. The Hindupat, the Last Great Leader of the Rajput Race. 1918. Reprint. London pg 84-86
  6. Chaube 1975, pp. 149.
  7. Chaube 1975, pp. 122,150-152.
  8. The Hindupat, the Last Great Leader of the Rajput Race. 1918. Reprint. London pg 84-86
  9. The Hindupat, the Last Great Leader of the Rajput Race. 1918. Reprint. London pg 84-86
  10. Bayleys Gujarat pg 275

Bibliography
  • Chaube, J. (1975). History of Gujarat Kingdom, 1458-1537. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers.
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