>Hohum at 01:28, 9 October 2021

2021-10-09T01:28:26Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Sammel
| date = 1544
| place = [[Jaitaran]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]
| result = Afghan victory{{efn|While Maldeo retreat with the bulk of his army, Sher Shah had little difficulty in overcoming the small band of Rajputs.{{sfn|Chandra|2005|p=80}}}}{{sfn|Chandra|2005|p=80}}
| territory = [[Bikaner]] and [[Merta]] become independent from [[Marwar]].
| combatant1 = [[Sur Empire]]
| combatant2 = [[File:Flag of Jodhpur alternate.svg|25px]] [[Jodhpur State|Kingdom of Marwar]]
| commander1 = [[Sher Shah Suri]] [[Khawas Khan Marwat]] [[Isa Khan Niazi]]
| commander2 = [[Rao Maldeo Rathore]] Jaita Rathore{{KIA}} Kumpa Rathore{{KIA}}
| strength1 = 80,000 [[Pashtuns]]{{sfn|Chandra|2005|p=80}} [[cannons]]{{sfn|Chandra|2005|p=80}}
| strength2 = 5,000 [[Rathore]]{{sfn|Chandra|2005|p=80}}
| casualties1 = unknown
| casualties2 = unknown
}}
'''The Battle of Sammel''', also known as the '''Battle of Giri-Sumel''', was fought in 1544 near the villages Giri and Sumel of the [[Jaitaran]] sub-division in the [[Pali district]] of [[Rajasthan]] between the Afghan Sur Dynasty under [[Sher Shah Suri]] and the Rathore army led by the commanders Jaita and Kumpa of Rao [[Maldeo Rathore]].

==Battle==
Sher Shah had been preparing for war with Marwar for four months, he made sure that no one got to know about the reason for the preparation. In 1543, Sher Shah set out against Marwar with a huge force of 80,000 cavalry.{{sfn|Chandra|2005|p=80}} With an army of 50,000, Maldeo advanced to face Sher Shah's army.{{sfn|Chandra|2005|p=80}} Sher Shah took the irregular path via Didwana (instead of Bayana), Kumpa had resisted Sher Shahs advance in Shekhawati, after which Sher Shah made sure to entrench at every stop and halted in the village of [[Sammel village|Sammel]] in the pargana of [[Jaitaran]], ninety kilometers east of [[Jodhpur]]. He entrenched his army with the river Sammel in front of him as a line of defense. Maldev was surprised by the sudden arrival of his foe and led his army to Girri, which was 12 miles away from Sher Shahs camp, the scrub forest there gave protection to the Marwar army and thus both armies were well-entrenched.<ref name=Hooja/> During this time the dispossessed rulers of Bikaner and Merta came to the aid of Sher Shah. Maldev remained in a defensive stance during this time as he was suspicious of his barons, Maldev had recently subjugated them and was therefore cautious about attacking recklessly. Sher Shah also knew that he was in a hostile desert with limited food and water. The digging of trenches had already taken a toll on his Afghan soldiers, who were not used to the terrain. After one month of skirmishing, Sher Shah's position became critical owing to the difficulties of food supplies for his huge army. According to contemporary chroniclers writing in Persian:<ref name=Hooja/> To resolve this situation, Sher Shah resorted to a cunning ploy. One evening, he dropped forged letters near Maldeo's camp in such a way that they were sure to be intercepted. These letters indicated, falsely, that some of Maldev's army commanders were promising assistance to Sher Shah. This caused great consternation to Maldeo, who immediately (and wrongly) suspected his commanders of disloyalty. Maldeo left for Jodhpur on 4 January 1544 with his own men, abandoning his commanders to their fate.{{sfn|Chandra|2005|p=80}}<ref name=Majumdar1>Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2006). ''The Mughal Empire'', Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, pp. 81-2</ref>

When Maldev's innocent generals Jaita and Kumpa found out what had happened, they were worried about how they would prove their innocence. When the king ordered withdrawal, they overheard the chat between the village women worried about the Afghan Army. One of the women said we need not to worry as long as Jaita and Kumpa are here to protect us. This statement made the proud chieftains regain their honour, they decided that they would not leave the field even though they had just a few thousand men against an enemy force of 80,000 men, [[cannons]] and [[war elephants]]. Jaita said that the land we are leaving has been won and protected by our ancestors and we must not leave and flee. In the ensuing battle of Sammel, Jaita, Kumpa and other chieftains attacked Sher Shahs centre wreaking havoc in his ranks. Sher Shah reacted to the charge by sending war elephants and reinforcements under Jalal Khan. The Afghans soon used their superior numbers and guns to overpower the attack. The battle continued until the Rathore's were slain to the last man. The Afghan victory was hard-won and gave birth to the famous Persian recorded quote about Sher Shah exclaiming that "for a handful of millet, I almost lost the Empire of [[Hindustan]]."<ref name=Hooja>{{Cite book|first=Rima|last=Hooja|title=Rajasthan, A Concise History|publisher=Rupa & Company|year=2018|pages=353–355|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=CfmEswEACAAJ&dq=rajasthan+a+concise+history&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y}}</ref><ref name=Mahajan>Mahajan, V.D. (1991, reprint 2007). ''History of Medieval India'', Part II, New Delhi: S. Chand, {{ISBN|81-219-0364-5}}, p.43</ref>

According to Satish Chandra - <blockquote>
Sher Shahs oft quoted remark "I had given away the country of Delhi for a handful of millets" is a tribute to the gallantry of Jaita and Kumpa and the willingness of the Rajputs to face death even in the face of impossible odds.<ref>Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals Part - II By Satish Chandra pg.80.</ref></blockquote>

In the words of Tarikh-i Daudi: "Some of the chieftains such as Jaya (Jaita) and Goha (Kumpa) and others, came and attacked [[Sher Shah Suri]], and displayed exceeding valour. Part of the Afghan army was routed, and a certain Afghan came to Sher Shah and shouted in his native tongue 'Mount for the infidels are routing your army' Sher Shah ordered his horse and was ready to retreat when news of victory was brought to the effect that his men had slain Jaita and Kumpa."<ref name="ReferenceA">Tarikh -i Daudi Farid bin Hasan Sur entitled Shir Shah fol 114</ref>

<blockquote>
The Rathore chieftains, with a few thousand cavalry, 
had decided to stay back and fight in order to prove their loyalty. 
Their cavalry charge pushed the Afghans back into their own army, 
causing the death of many.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
</blockquote>

==Aftermath==
Sher Shah emerged victorious, but several of his generals lost their lives and his army suffered heavy losses.<ref>Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals Part - II By Satish Chandra pg.80. —
Sher Shahs oft quoted remark " I had given away the country of Delhi for a handful of millets" is a tribute to the gallantry of Jaita and Kumpa and the willingness of the Rajputs to face death even in the face of impossible odds.</ref>

After this victory, Sher Shah's general [[Khawas Khan Marwat]] took possession of Jodhpur and occupied the territory of Marwar from [[Ajmer]] to [[Mount Abu]] in 1544.<ref name="Majumdar1"/> But by July, 1545 Maldeo reoccupied his lost territories.<ref name="Mahajan"/>

==See also==
* [[Rao Maldeo Rathore]]
* [[Nimaj]]
* [[Historical battles of Rajasthan|Battles of Rajasthan]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book |title=Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals |volume=II |first=Satish |last=Chandra |publisher=Har-Anand Publications |year=2005 }}
* Kalika Ranjan Qanungo (1965). ''Sher Shah and his times''. Orient Longmans
* Mahajan, V. D. (2007). ''History of Medieval India''. New Delhi: S. Chand
* Rottermund, H. K. (1998). ''A History of India''. London: Routledge.

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101008033218/http://www.worldtimelines.org.uk/world/asia/south/AD1526-1757 South Asia AD 1526-1757]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101214170223/http://therathore.com/udeka/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=27 Giri Sumel War]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090826152050/http://www.nimajpalace.com/activities.htm Battle field of Giri Sumel]

{{coord missing|Rajasthan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Sammel}}
[[Category:Islamic rule in the Indian subcontinent]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Indian kingdoms|Sammel]]
[[Category:1544 in India]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Rajputs]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1544]]
[[Category:Pali district]]
[[Category:History of Rajasthan]]

Battle of Sammel - Revision history

>Hohum at 01:28, 9 October 2021