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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{undue weight|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Salher
| partof = [[Imperial Maratha Conquests]]
| date = February 1672
| place = [[Salher]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| territory = [[Marathas]] captured [[Salher]] and [[Mulher|Mulher Fort]] and surrounding [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] territories.
| result = [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] victory
| status =
| combatant1 = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Maratha Empire]]
| combatant2 = [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] [[Mughal Empire]]
| commander1 = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Prataprao Gujar]] [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] [[Moropant Trimbak Pingle|Moropant Trimbak]] [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Anandrao Makaji [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Suryaji Kakde {{KIA}} [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|25px]] Rupaji Bhosale
| commander2 = [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] [[Diler Khan]] [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] Bahadur Khan<ref>{{cite book |author=Jaswant Lal Mehta |title=Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India: 1526-1707 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BsIgAAAAMAAJ&q=salher+battle&dq=salher+battle&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CBsQ6AEwADg8ahUKEwj_8enZiJrHAhVKHo4KHT3SDqo |year=1981 |publisher=Sterling}}</ref> [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] Ikhas Khan [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] Bahlol Khan
| strength1 = 25,000 soldiers(infantry under Moropant and cavalry under Prataprao)
| strength2 = 50,000 soldiers(composing 25,000 infantry, 25,000 cavalry, war elephants, zamburak artillery, and gunnery)
| strength3 =
| casualties1 = 2000
| casualties2 = 10,000
| casualties3 =
| notes =
}}
The '''Battle of Salher''' was a battle fought between the [[Maratha Empire]] and the [[Mughal Empire]] in February 1672 CE. The battle was fought near the fort of [[Salher]] in the [[Nashik district|Nashik]] district. The result was a decisive victory for the [[Maratha Empire]]. This battle is considered particularly significant as it is the first battle in which the [[Mughal Empire]] lost to the [[Marathas]].<ref name=":0">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q5kVk6msxUcC&pg=PA27&dq=salher+battle&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDsQ6AEwBmoVChMIqOPxvoOaxwIVwlKOCh33lw2F#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=From the Death of Shivaji to the Death of Aurangzeb|author=Y.G. Bhave|publisher=Northern Book Centre|year=2000|pages=42}}</ref>

==Background==
The [[Treaty of Purandar (1665)]] required [[Shivaji]] to cede 23 forts to the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://creativeindiamag.com/india/the-decisive-battle-where-shivaji-rewrote-history-and-the-mughal-rout/|title=The Battle Where Shivaji Rewrote History And Mughal Rout {{!}} Creative India|website=creativeindiamag.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015955/http://creativeindiamag.com/india/the-decisive-battle-where-shivaji-rewrote-history-and-the-mughal-rout/|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Strategically important forts, which were fortified with garrisons, such as [[Sinhagad]], [[Purandar fort|Purandar]], [[Lohagad]], [[Karnala Fort|Karnala]], and [[Mahuli]] were turned over to the Mughal empire.<ref name=":1" /> At the time of this treaty, the [[Nashik district|Nashik]] region, that contained the forts [[Salher]] and [[Mulher]], was firmly in the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal Empire's]] hands since 1636. The signing of this treaty resulted in [[Shivaji|Shivaji's]] visit to Agra and after his famous escape from the same in September 1666, 2 years of ‘uneasy truce’ followed.<ref name=":2" /> However, the destruction of the temples of Viswanath and Benares along with [[Aurangzeb|Aurangzeb’s]] rejuvenated anti-hindu policies resulted in [[Shivaji]] declaring war against the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]] once again.<ref name=":2" />

The period between 1670-1672 saw a dramatic rise in [[Shivaji|Shivaji’s]] power and territory. [[Shivaji|Shivaji’s]] armies successfully conducted raids at [[Baglan taluka|Baglan]], [[Khandesh]], and Surat and retook more than a dozen forts.<ref name=":1" /> This culminated with a decisive victory against a Mughal army of more than 40,000 on an open field near [[Salher]].<ref name=":1" />

==The Battle==
[[Moropant Trimbak Pingle|Sardar Moropant Pingle]] and along with his army of 15,000 captured the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] forts Aundha, [[Patta Fort|Patta]], [[Trimbak]] and attacked [[Salher]] and [[Mulher]] in January 1671.<ref name=":1" /> This led Aurangzeb to send two of his generals Ikhlas Khan and Bahlol Khan along with 12,000 horsemen to reclaim [[Salher]]. In October 1671, the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]] laid siege on [[Salher]]. In return [[Shivaji]] commanded his two commanders Sardar Moropant Pingle and [[Prataprao Gujar|Sardar Prataprao Gujar]] reclaim the fort.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=Siva Chhatrapati, Being a Translation of Sabhasad Bakhar with Extracts from Chitnis and Sivadigvijaya, with Notes|last=Nath|first=Surendra|pages=103}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oJlyfJBXlUsC&pg=PA199&dq=salher+battle&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCEQ6AEwATgeahUKEwjns5GZhZrHAhWPGY4KHfdbBSs#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=Mahadev Govind Ranade, Volume 3|author=Verinder Grover|publisher=Deep & Deep Publications|year=1996|pages=199}}</ref>

50,000 Mughals had besieged the fort for more than 6 months. Shivaji knew the strategic importance of [[Salher]] as it was the main fort on important trade routes. Dilerkhan had also attacked [[Pune]] in the meanwhile and Shivaji could not save Pune because his main armies were away. Shivaji devised a plan to divert Dilerkhan by forcing him reach Salher. He ordered [[Moropant Trimbak Pingle|Moropant]] who was in South Konkan and [[Prataprao Gujar|Prataprao]] who was raiding near Aurangabad to meet and attack Mughals at Salher to relieve the fort. In his letter to his commanders Shivaji had written 'Go to the north and attack Salher and defeat the enemy'.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jadhav|first=Namdeorao|title=Ganimi Kava}}</ref> Both the Maratha forces met near the village of Vani, they bypassed the Mughal camp at Nashik and reached near Salher. The total Maratha strength was of 40,000(20,000 infantry + 20,000 cavalry). The terrain was not suitable for cavalry battle hence the Maratha commanders decided to lure, split and finish the Mughal forces at different places. As per the plan Prataprao Gujar stormed the Mughals with 5,000 cavalry and killed many unprepared soldiers. After half an hour the Mughals became fully ready and Prataprao started to flee with his army. The entire Mughal cavalry of 25,000 started chasing the Marathas. Prataprao lured mughal cavalry in a pass 25 km away from Salher where the 15,000 cavalry under Anandrao Makaji was hiding. Prataprao turned his back in the pass and attacked the Mughals once again. The 15,000 fresh cavalry under Anandrao blocked the other end of the pass and Mughals were surrounded from all sides. The fresh Maratha cavalry soundly defeated the tired Mughal cavalry in 2-3 hours. Thousands of Mughals fled the Battle.

Moropant later surrounded and attacked the 25,000 strong Mughal infantry at Salher with his 20,000 infantry. Prominent maratha sardar and Shivaji's childhood friend Suryaji Kakde was killed by a [[Zamburak]] cannon in the battle.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sabhasad|first=Krushnaji Anant|title=Sabhasad Bakhar|year=1697}}</ref>

The battle lasted for an entire day and it is estimated that around 10,000 men were killed on both the sides.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=deHZAUDHzYwC&pg=PA366&dq=salher+battle&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CC0Q6AEwBDhQahUKEwijmOaviZrHAhWSbY4KHegECo#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=Shivaji, the Great Maratha, Volume 2|author=H.S. Sardesai|publisher=Cosmo Publications|year=2002|pages=366}}</ref> The [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] military machines (consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery) were outmatched by the light cavalry of the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]].<ref name=":0" /> The imperial Mughal armies were completely routed and the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]] gave them a crushing defeat.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q5kVk6msxUcC&pg=PA27&dq=salher+battle&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDsQ6AEwBmoVChMIqOPxvoOaxwIVwlKOCh33lw2F#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=From the Death of Shivaji to the Death of Aurangzeb|author=Y.G. Bhave|publisher=Northern Book Centre|year=2000|pages=27}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BsIgAAAAMAAJ&q=salher+battle&dq=salher+battle&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CBsQ6AEwADg8ahUKEwj_8enZiJrHAhVKHo4KHT3SDqo|title=Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India: 1526-1707|author=Jaswant Lal Mehta|publisher=Sterling|year=1981|pages=404}}</ref> 6,000 horses, an equal number of camels, 125 elephants, and an entire [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] [[Train (military)|train]] were captured by the victorious [[Maratha Army]].<ref name=":2">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FIIQhuAOGaIC&pg=PA42&dq=salher+battle&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCAQ6AEwATgUahUKEwiFtIaQhJrHAhWCV44KHapBByE#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=The State at War in South Asia|author=Pradeep Barua|publisher=University of Nebraska|year=2005|pages=42}}</ref> Other than this, a large amount of goods, treasures, gold, jewels, clothes, and carpets were seized by the [[Maratha Mandal Engineering College|Marathas]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=Siva Chhatrapati, Being a Translation of Sabhasad Bakhar with Extracts from Chitnis and Sivadigvijaya, with Notes|last=Nath|first=Surendra|pages=104}}</ref>

The [[Sabhasad Bakhar]] describes the battle as follows "As the fighting began, such a (cloud of) dust arose that for a space of a three-kilometer square, friend and foe could not be distinguished. Elephants were killed. Ten thousand men on the two sides became corpses. The horses, camels, elephants (killed) were beyond counting. A flood of blood streamed (in the battlefield). The blood formed a muddy pool and in it (people) began to sink, so (deep) was the mud."<ref name=":3" />

==Outcome==
The battle resulted in a decisive [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] victory which resulted in the liberation of [[Salher]]. Further, the nearby fort of [[Mulher]] was also taken from the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]] as a consequence of this battle.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N5mIVt_Zd-0C&pg=PP5&dq=shriman+yogi+shivaji+the+great&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjT2e-vqaTXAhWLNI8KHSyhBC4Q6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=shriman%20yogi%20shivaji%20the%20great&f=false|title=Shivaji the Great|date=2003|publisher=Balwant Printers Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=9788190200004|language=en}}</ref> 22 ''wazirs'' of note were taken as prisoners and Ikhlas Khan and Bahlol Khan were captured. Among the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] soldiers who were prisoners around one or two thousand escaped.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Siva Chhatrapati, Being a Translation of Sabhasad Bakhar with Extracts from Chitnis and Sivadigvijaya, with Notes|last=Nath|first=Surendra|pages=105}}</ref> The notable ''Panchazari'' Sardar of the Maratha army Suryajirao Kakade was killed in this battle and was revered for his ferocity during the battle.<ref name=":4" /> Approximately a dozen [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] ''[[Maratha titles|sardars]]'' were gifted for their remarkable achievements in the battle and the two officers ([[Moropant Trimbak Pingle|Sardar Moropant Pingle]] and [[Prataprao Gujar|Sardar Prataprao Gujar]]) were specially rewarded.

== Consequences ==
Most of [[Shivaji|Shivaji's]] victories until this battle had been through means of [[Guerrilla warfare|guerilla warfare]], but the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha's]] use of light cavalry on the [[Saltergate|Salher]] battlefield against the apparently superior [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] forces proved effective.<ref name=":0" /> This grand victory resulted in the saint Ramdas to write his famous letter to Shivaji in which he addresses him as Gajpati (Lord of Elephants), Haypati (Lord of Cavalry), Gadpati (Lord of Forts), and Jalpati (Master of the High Seas).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Grand_Rebel.html?id=4BY-DwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y|title=The Grand Rebel|last=Kincaid|first=Dennis|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|pages=172|language=en}}</ref> Although not as a direct outcome of this battle, a couple of years later in 1674 [[Shivaji Maharaj]] was crowned as an Emperor (or '''''[[Maratha titles|Chhatrapati]]''''') of his realm.

==See also==
*[[Imperial Maratha Conquests]]
*[[History of India]]
*[[Maratha Army]]
*[[Maratha Empire|Maratha India]]
*[[Battle of Panhala]]
*[[Battle of Saraighat]]
*[[Battle of Raichur]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

'''Bibliography'''

{{MarathaEmpire}}

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[[Category:1672 in India]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Maratha Empire|Salher]]
[[Category:History of Nashik]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1672|Salher]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Mughal Empire|Salher]]

Battle of Salher - Revision history

>Mukilteoedits at 16:07, 3 May 2021