Battle of Karnal - HISTORY

Battle of Karnal - HISTORY

NEWS: The Battle of Karnal on February 24, 1739 marked a pivotal moment in Indian history, signaling the beginning of the end for the Mughal Empire.

 

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The Battle of Karnal (1739): A Decisive Defeat for the Mughal Empire

1. Overview of the Battle

  • The Battle of Karnal was fought on February 24, 1739, between the forces of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah ‘Rangila’ and Nadir Shah, the ruler of Persia (Iran).
  • The battle lasted for only three hours, during which Nadir Shah’s well-disciplined and strategically superior army inflicted a crushing defeat on the Mughal forces.
  • Despite having an army of nearly 300,000 soldiers, the Mughal forces were outclassed in terms of tactics, training, and modern weaponry.
  • Nadir Shah’s army, consisting of just 55,000 men, was highly disciplined and equipped with superior firearms, including mounted musketeers and artillery.
  • The Mughal cavalry, which relied on traditional combat methods, was easily overpowered by Nadir Shah’s modern battlefield techniques.

2. The Fall of Delhi and Its Consequences

  • Following his victory at Karnal, Nadir Shah marched towards Delhi, the heart of the Mughal Empire.
  • The Mughal court was in disarray, and Muhammad Shah, unable to resist, surrendered to Nadir Shah.
  • Delhi was subjected to massive plundering, during which thousands of citizens were killed, and the city was devastated.
  • Nadir Shah seized immense wealth, including the legendary Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond, symbols of Mughal grandeur.
  • The Persian invaders looted vast treasures, draining the empire’s financial reserves and leaving its treasury nearly empty.

 

Impact of the Battle on the Mughal Empire

  • Despite his overwhelming victory, Nadir Shah did not depose Muhammad Shah but instead restored him to the throne before withdrawing his forces.
  • However, the Mughal Empire never recovered from the economic and psychological impact of the invasion.
  • The loss of wealth and the display of Mughal weakness emboldened regional powers such as the Marathas, Rajputs, and the British, who began challenging Mughal authority.
  • Battle of Karnal - Wikipedia
    Over the next century, the Mughal Empire continued to decline, eventually leading to the complete takeover of India by the British in 1857.

 

Reasons for the Decline of the Mughal Empire

1. Structural Weaknesses

  • The empire had deep-rooted administrative and structural issues, including a highly inefficient revenue system.
  • Excessive taxation on peasants led to widespread discontent, resulting in revolts and economic instability.
  • Corruption and inefficiency within the Mughal nobility further weakened the central authority, as local governors and officials amassed personal wealth instead of strengthening the empire.

2. Religious Policies and Internal Strife

  • The oppressive religious policies of Emperor Aurangzeb (r. 1658–1707) alienated large sections of the population, particularly Hindus and other religious minorities.
  • Aurangzeb’s re-imposition of the jizya tax (a tax on non-Muslims), destruction of Hindu temples, and military campaigns against the Rajputs, Sikhs, and Marathas created widespread resentment.
  • These policies deepened religious divisions and weakened the internal cohesion of the empire, making it vulnerable to both internal rebellions and external invasions.

 

Later Mughal Emperors and the Foreign Invasions They Faced

1. Muhammad Shah (1719–1748)

  • Muhammad Shah, popularly known as ‘Rangeela’, was the Mughal Emperor from 1719 to 1748.
  • He earned this title due to his extravagant and luxurious lifestyle, focusing more on pleasure and courtly entertainment rather than governance.
  • During his reign, he eliminated the Sayyid Brothers, powerful kingmakers, with the help of Nizam-ul-Mulk, the founder of the Hyderabad state.
  • However, his rule was marked by growing instability, and the empire suffered major military defeats.

Foreign Invasion: Nadir Shah (1739) – Battle of Karnal

  • In 1739, Nadir Shah, the Persian ruler, invaded India and defeated the Mughal army within three hours in the Battle of Karnal.
  • After his victory, Nadir Shah marched to Delhi, plundering the city and massacring thousands of its inhabitants.
  • He looted vast treasures, including the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond, severely weakening the Mughal economy.
  • Although Nadir Shah restored Muhammad Shah to the throne, the empire never recovered from the loss of wealth and prestige, accelerating its decline.

 

2. Alamgir II (1754–1759)

  • Alamgir II, the Mughal Emperor from 1754 to 1759, was largely a puppet ruler controlled by powerful nobles such as Imad-ul-Mulk.
  • His reign saw increasing political chaos, with various factions vying for control over the Mughal court.
  • During this period, the Mughal Empire was no longer a dominant force, and regional powers like the Marathas, the British, and Afghan invaders gained influence.

Foreign Invasion: Ahmad Shah Abdali (1757)

  • In January 1757, Ahmad Shah Abdali (also known as Ahmad Shah Durrani), the ruler of Afghanistan, launched his fourth invasion of India.
  • He captured and looted Delhi, further weakening Mughal authority.
  • The invasion created widespread devastation in northern India, leading to a power vacuum that was soon exploited by the British and regional Indian rulers.

Key Battle: Battle of Plassey (June 1757)

  • During Alamgir II’s reign, the Battle of Plassey (June 23, 1757) was fought between the British East India Company and the forces of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal.
  • The British, led by Robert Clive, won a decisive victory due to treachery within the Nawab’s camp, particularly the betrayal by Mir Jafar.
  • This battle marked the beginning of British political dominance in India, as they gained control over Bengal, the wealthiest province of the Mughal Empire.

 

3. Shah Alam II (1760–1806, Intermittent Rule)

  • Shah Alam II, who ruled intermittently between 1760 and 1806, was one of the most unfortunate Mughal emperors, as his reign was marked by continuous foreign invasions and military defeats.
  • He tried to reclaim Mughal authority, but the empire was already fragmented, with power shifting to regional rulers and the British East India Company.

Foreign Invasion: Third Battle of Panipat (1761) – Ahmad Shah Abdali

  • In 1761, Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India once again and fought the Third Battle of Panipat against the Marathas.
  • Abdali was supported by Najib-ud-Daulah (a Rohilla chieftain) and Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah of Awadh.
  • The battle resulted in a crushing defeat for the Marathas, leading to massive casualties and a temporary halt to Maratha expansion in North India.
  • Though Abdali won the battle, he did not stay in India, and the Mughal Empire continued to weaken.

Foreign Invasion: Battle of Buxar (1764) – British East India Company

  • In 1764, the Battle of Buxar was fought between the British East India Company and the combined forces of Shah Alam II, Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Awadh), and Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal).
  • The British, led by Hector Munro, decisively defeated the Mughal allies, solidifying their hold over Bengal, Bihar, and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
  • Following this defeat, Shah Alam II was forced to sign the Treaty of Allahabad (1765), granting the British the Diwani (revenue collection rights) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
  • This treaty marked the beginning of formal British rule in India, reducing the Mughal Emperor to a nominal ruler under British protection.

The later Mughal emperors, from Muhammad Shah to Shah Alam II, faced severe military setbacks and foreign invasions, which accelerated the empire’s decline.

  • Nadir Shah’s invasion (1739) drained the Mughal treasury and exposed their military weaknesses.
  • Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions (1757, 1761) further destabilized the empire, leading to the rise of regional powers like the Marathas and the British.
  • The British East India Company’s victories at Plassey (1757) and Buxar (1764) signaled the end of effective Mughal rule, as the British gained control over Bengal and other key territories.
  • By the early 19th century, the Mughal Emperor had become merely a symbolic figurehead, while the British exercised real power in India.
  • This gradual decline culminated in 1857, when the British deposed the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah II, after the Revolt of 1857, formally bringing an end to the Mughal Empire.

 

Conclusion

The Battle of Karnal marked a turning point in Indian history, as it exposed the military, economic, and political weaknesses of the Mughal Empire. Nadir Shah’s invasion devastated Delhi, leading to a rapid decline in Mughal authority. Over the next century, the empire fragmented into smaller regional kingdoms, paving the way for British colonial rule in India by 1857.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/nadir-shah-battle-of-karnal-effectively-ended-mughal-power-9853867/