In the context of the Indian history, the Battle of Tarain or Battle of Taraori is of utmost significance. The victory of Muhammad Ghori against Prithviraj Chauhan in the second battle of Tarain market the onset or establishment of a full-fledged Muslim rule in India for several years. Also, it from here onwards that the slave tradition began in India. But what actually broke out the battle and what were the consequences of the battle? This article will provide you the deep insight into the first as well as the second battle of Tarain. This vital information and notes are extremely fruitful for the candidates preparing for UPSC, NDA, CDS, State PCS/ PSC examinations.
Battle of Tarain
The battle of Tarain took place between two powerful emperors like Prithviraj Chauhan and Mohammad Ghori in the field of Tarain near Sirhind Fort of Bathinda (present day Punjab) to expand their respective kingdoms and for their personal selfishness. The battle of Tarain was also the first battle that was fought by the Rajputs.
In the first battle of Tarain in 1191 AD, the Prithvi Raj of Chauhan Dynasty defeated Muhammad Gauri at Tarain near Thaneshwar in Haryana, approx 70 miles north of Delhi. Prithviraj Chauhan used his amazing strength and power and forced Mohammad Ghori to leave the battlefield and won the battle.
The second battle of Tarain was also fought at the same battlefield in 1192 AD but this time the result was completely different. Muhammad Gauri along with Jaichand defeated Prithviraj Chauhan. Ghori made him hostage and later killed in Afghanistan. After this second battle, the foundation of the Muslim Empire was laid in India.
Who was Muhammad Ghori ?
Before heading towards the details on this battle it becomes important to know in brief about the Muhammad Ghori.
Initially, Ghori was under Ghazni but soon after the death of Mahmud of Ghazni, he declared himself independent. Muizzuddin Muhammad, better known as Muhammad Gauri took Ghazni under his control after the fall of the Ghaznavi Empire. After consolidating and securing his place in Ghazni, Muhammad Gauri focused on India and wanted to conquer India like Mahmud of Ghazni.
First Battle of Tarain (1191 AD)
Date of incident : 13 November, 1191
Battle Location : Tarain (near Thaneshwar)
Result of Battle : Chauhan ruler Prithiraj's victory, Ghori's attack was quickly repulsed
Territorial changes : Prithviraj reassumes the fortress of the Tabarhindah fort (present-day Bhatinda)
Muhammad Ghori snatched the throne of Lahore from the last ruler of Ghaznavi dynasty in 1186 and he started preparing to enter the Hindu regions of India. After taking over Punjab in 1186 AD by Ghori (taken completely on 1190 AD), the boundaries of Muhammad Ghori and Prithviraj started meeting each other.
Prithviraj wish was to expand till Punjab and for that he knew that he has to defeat Ghori to establish Chauhan rule in Punjab. Ghori too knew that without defeating the Chahamans (also called Chauhans) of Ajmer, his dream of conquest of India could not be fulfilled. Therefore, he spent the next 6 years in planning and preparing to crush Chauhan Dynasty.
However, Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Ghori badly in the first battle of Tarain during their first encounter near Delhi in 1191 AD. He has to ran away to save his life.
Background of the Battle
In 1191 AD, the battle was fought between the mighty and courageous warriors Prithviraj Chauhan and Mohammad Ghori at Tarain nearly about 80 miles from Delhi and about 14 miles from Thaneshwar. The cause of battle was the policy of expanding their empire.
Prithviraj Chauhan's sharp vision was always fixed on the expansion and orderliness of his empire. Actually, Prithviraj Chauhan, the most courageous and brave Rajput ruler of Indian history wanted to establish his coin on Punjab. But at that time Muhammad Ghori was ruling Punjab, who ruled from Bathinda. In such a situation, the desire of Prithviraj Chauhan to rule Punjab could be fulfilled only by fighting with Mohammad Ghori.
Thus, this powerful Rajput ruler Prithvi Raj Chauhan attacked Mohammad Ghori with his huge army in 1191 AD and first captured Saraswati, Sirhind and Hansi.
At the same time, Mohammad Ghori was badly injured during this war due to which Mohammad Ghori was forced to leave the battlefield and thus Prithviraj Chauhan won the first battle of Tarain. However, there was no conclusion to this war.
Second Battle of Tarain (1192 AD)
Date of incident : 1192
Battle Location : Tarain
Result of Battle : Prithviraj's was defeated by Muhammad Ghori and was made hostage
Territorial changes : Ghori gained control over the states of north-western India.
To take revenge of his defeat, Ghori reached Lahore with a huge army through Multan and Peshawar and attacked the Rajput ruler Prithviraj Chauhan. Chauhan assembled a huge army comprising of 3000 elephants, 3,00,000 horses, a large number of foot soldiers and several Hindu kings also joined him. In the second battle of Tarain in 1192 AD, Muhammad Gauri defeated Prithviraj's army very well. Prithviraj was imprisoned and killed.
Before the assassination of Muhammad Ghori in 1206, the Turks conquered the Ganges, Yamuna, Doab and the neighboring regions of Bengal and Bihar. The Battle of Tarain marked the beginning of a new era in the history of India as the slave tradition began.
Background of the Battle
According to historians, there were many battles between Prithviraj Raj Chauhan and Mohammad Ghori. The outcome was that Mohammad Ghori had to be defeated 17 times by Prithviraj Chauhan due to which Mohammad Ghori was filled with heavy vengeance and wanted to kill Prithviraj Chauhan.
At the same time, the love of Prithviraj Chauhan and Princess Sanyogita, the daughter of King Jaichand was at its peak. She was kidnapped by Prithviraj Chauhan during the swayamvar (function of choosing husband). King Jaichand was badly hurt and disappointed by the abduction of the princess Sanyogita by the Prithviraj in this way from Kannauj. His heart was pierced by a sharp arrow of humiliation in front of the ruler's of many states due to this step of Prithviraj Chauhan. He wanted the destruction of Prithviraj at any cost even if he had to do anything. He came to know from the reliable sources that Mohammad Ghori wants to avenge his defeat from Prithviraj.
What was it then, as if Jaichand got the wish of his mind. He made up his mind to end Prithviraj by extending support to Ghori.
Jaichand could not dare to fight with Prithviraj alone. He thought that in this way Prithviraj would also end and the kingdom of Delhi would be given to him as a reward. Such a veil of revenge and selfishness fell on the eyes of King Jaichand that he had given up the self-respect of his country and caste. The result of the anger and hatred of King Jaichand was that Muhammad Ghori, who could not forget his defeat in the battle of Tarain once again started conspiring to confront Prithviraj. King Jaichand sent a messenger and assured Ghori of military assistance. Ghori immediately agreed to take revenge on Prithviraj after getting Jaichand's help.
Meanwhile, Jaichand plotted the huge conspiracy against Prithviraj. Under this diplomacy, King Jaichand at first won the trust of Prithviraj Chauhan by sending his military force and then by deceit, along with Mohammad Ghori, attacked Prithviraj Chauhan in 1192 AD at a place called Tarain near Sirhind Fort of Punjab.
In this war, Mohammad Ghori won and Prithviraj Chauhan was ultimately defeated. After this war, Prithviraj was tied up and taken to Afghanistan where he died. After the battle of Tarain, Ghori ruled many states including Punjab, Delhi, Kannauj and Ajmer for many years. However, after Prithviraj Chauhan, no Rajput ruler could make his strength in India.
Major Causes of Battle of Tarain
• Both Mohammad Ghori and Prithviraj Chauhan wanted to expand their respective kingdoms by fulfilling their ambitions.
• This historic battle of Tarain started between the great mighty Prithviraj Chauhan and Mohammad Ghori to take over Punjab (Bhatinda).
• After the first battle of Tarain, Mohammad Ghori wanted to avenge his defeat and was forcing Prithvi Raj Chauhan to accept Islam due to which a conflict broke out between the two. On the other hand, none of the Hindu kings were ready to support Prithviraj Chauhan because Prithviraj Chauhan had already become an enemy of many Hindu rulers regarding the policy of expanding the kingdom.
• Along with this, many Hindu rulers were also insulted by Prithviraj Chauhan in the Swayamvar of Rani Sahyogita.
• According to historians, Mohammad Ghori had attacked Prithviraj Chauhan about 18 times, out of which he had to face defeat 17 times, due to which Gauri's mind was filled with vengeance and wanted to eliminate Prithviraj Chauhan. Therefore, Ghori along with King Jaichand attacked Prithviraj Chauhan for the second time under a conspiracy on the plain of Tarain.
Consequences of the Battle of Tarain
• The first Muslim state was established in India. After the victory of Muhammad Ghori in the battle of Tarain, Muslim invaders started ruling India and the foundation of Muslim state was laid in India. Mohammad Ghori made his representative Qutubuddin Aibak the governor of India. At the same time, Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206-1211) established the Delhi Sultanate in India.
• The political prestige of the Rajputs suffered a setback. The defeat of the mighty ruler Prithvi Raj Chauhan in the Battle of Tarain weakened the power of the Rajputs, as well as damaged the political prestige of the Rajputs. After Prithviraj Chauhan, no Rajput ruler could make such a mark in India.
• Sensing India's risk, other foreign invaders attacked India. After the defeat of the Rajput ruler in the Battle of Tarain, many foreign invaders became more dominating over India.
• It was only after the Battle of Tarain that the slave tradition started in India.
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