| The first battle of Panipat took place in northern India, | | | | death of Ibrahim Lodhi who was at forefront. |
| and marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire. This | | | | After capturing Punjab, Babur proceeded towards |
| was one of the earliest battles involving gunpowder | | | | Delhi to meet Ibrahim Lodhi. The Sultan got the |
| firearms and field artillery. In 1526, the forces of Zahir | | | | message that Babur was proceeding towards Delhi |
| al-Din Muhammad Babur, the ruler of Kabul and of | | | | with a huge army and strong artillery. But Ibrahim |
| Timurid descent, defeated the much larger army of | | | | Lodhi's army was much bigger and he had war |
| Ibrahim Lodhi, the ruler of the large North Indian Delhi | | | | elephants. But Babur defeated the army with |
| Sultanate.The battle was fought on April 21 near the | | | | organization and skilled maneuvering. This historic battle |
| small village of Panipat, in the present day Indian state | | | | of Panipat took place on April 21st (1526) at the place |
| of Haryana, an area that has been the site of a | | | | called Panipat which is located in modern day Haryana. |
| number of decisive battles for the control of Northern | | | | This place has been the site many important battles in |
| India since the twelfth century. | | | | the history of India. |
| The battle started at six in the morning. Sultan Ibrahim | | | | Second Battle of Panipat (1556 AD) |
| Lodhi advanced rapidly . At about 400 yards Babur's | | | | On 24th January 1556 AD Mughal ruler Humayun |
| Cannons opened fire, noise and smoke from the | | | | slipped while climbing down the steps of his library and |
| artillery terrified the Afghans and the attack lost | | | | fell to his death. His son Akbar was only thirteen years |
| momentum. Seizing the movement Babur sent out his | | | | old when he ascended the throne. At the time of |
| flanking columns to envelop the Sultan's army. Here | | | | Akbar's accession to the throne, the Mughal rule was |
| the Afghans met for the first time the real weapon of | | | | confined to Kabul, Kandhahar, and parts of Punjab and |
| Mongols 'Turko-Mongol Bow'. Its superiority lay in the | | | | Delhi. Akbar was then campaigning in Punjab with his |
| fact that it was the weapon of the nobles, of the | | | | chief minister Bairam Khan. On February 14, 1556, in a |
| finest warriors. Such a bow in the hands of a Mongol | | | | garden at Kalanaur, Akbar was enthroned as emperor. |
| warrior would shoot three times as rapidly as musket | | | | Hemu (Hemchandra) was a military chief of the |
| and could kill at 200 yards. | | | | Afghan King Muhammad Adil Shah who had |
| Attacked from 3 sides the Afghans jammed into each | | | | established himself at Chunar and was seeking to |
| other. Elephants hearing noise of cannon at close | | | | expel the Mughals from India. Taking advantage of |
| range ran wildly out of control. Ibrahim Lodhi and about | | | | Humayun's death, Hemu marched to Agra and Delhi in |
| 6000 of his troops were involved in actual fighting. | | | | October and occupied it without difficulty, and became |
| Most of his army stretching behind up to a mile never | | | | the ruler under the title 'Raja Vikramaditya'. |
| saw action. Battle ended in about 3 hours with the | | | | |