Battle of Khanwa (1527) – Babur’s Struggle with Rana Sanga
Medieval History › Mughal Period · Topic 6.4
At the Battle of Khanwa in 1527, about 40 km from Agra, Babur defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar, who led a Rajput and Afghan coalition. Babur called the war a jihad, gave up wine to steady his troops and repeated the Panipat plan of wagons, trench, guns and flanking parties. Sanga's defeat and death ended the dream of a united Rajasthan reaching Agra.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Mughal Period
At a Glance
- Date 1527
- Place Khanwa, about 40 km from Agra
- Sides Babur against Rana Sanga, Hasan Khan Mewati and Mahmud Lodi
- Babur’s tactics Wagons, trench, musketeers on tripods and flanking parties
- Result Sanga defeated; Mughal hold on Delhi and Agra secured
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Mughal Period
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fourth topic of the category on the Mughal period. The previous topic described Babur’s problems after Panipat, and this topic describes the battle that solved the greatest of them. The next topic assesses Babur’s contribution. Previous topic: Babur’s Problems After the Battle of Panipat.
Who Was Rana Sanga?
In short: Rana Sanga was the ruler of Mewar who had made it the leading power of Rajasthan and who saw Babur as a threat to his hold on the east.
Rana Sanga, a grandson of Kumbha, ascended the gaddi of Mewar in 1508 after a long fratricidal conflict with his brothers. In 1517 he defeated Mahmud II of Malwa, who had fallen out with the Rajput leader Medini Rai, and carried him as a prisoner to Chittor. He is said to have released him after six months, keeping one of his sons as a hostage. Eastern Malwa, including Chanderi, passed under Sanga’s overlordship. Ibrahim Lodi invaded Mewar but suffered a sharp reverse at Khatoli. Sanga’s influence extended up to Piliya Khar, a small river near Agra.
Why Did the Conflict Arise?
| Cause | Detail |
|---|---|
| Threat | An empire in the Indo-Gangetic valley under Babur threatened Sanga, who prepared to expel him or confine him to the Punjab |
| Babur’s charge | Babur accuses Sanga of breaking an agreement: he says Sanga invited him and promised to join against Ibrahim Lodi, then made no move |
| Sanga’s hopes | The exact promises are unknown; he may have expected long warfare in which he would seize the areas he coveted, or that Babur would withdraw after sacking Delhi as Timur did |
| Change | Babur’s decision to stay in India changed the situation completely |
Who Joined Rana Sanga?
Many Afghans, including Mahmud Lodi, a younger brother of Ibrahim Lodi, rallied to Sanga in the hope of regaining the throne of Delhi if Sanga won. Hasan Khan Mewati, the ruler of Mewat, cast in his lot with Sanga. Almost all the Rajput rulers of note sent contingents to serve under him. This made the coalition a combined Rajput and Afghan force, not simply a Rajput one. Babur gives the numbers as more than 200,000, including 10,000 Afghan cavalry and an equal force from Hasan Khan, but these figures are probably greatly exaggerated, though Babur’s forces were undoubtedly smaller.
How Did Babur Prepare?
Sanga’s reputation and his early success against outlying Mughal posts such as Bayana demoralised Babur’s soldiers. To rally them Babur solemnly declared the war against Sanga to be a jihad. On the eve of the battle he emptied the wine jars and broke the wine flasks to show he was a staunch Muslim. He banned the sale and purchase of wine throughout his dominions and abolished customs taxes for Muslims. Having carefully chosen a site, he entrenched himself at Khanwa about 40 km from Agra. As at Panipat he lashed wagons together as an outer bastion and dug a trench in front. Gaps were left in the defences for his musketeers to fire and advance behind wheeled tripods.
How Did the Battle Go?
| Stage | Event |
|---|---|
| Sanga’s attack | Fierce attacks on Babur’s right almost breached it |
| Mughal fire | Artillery took a heavy toll and Sanga’s forces were slowly pushed back |
| Counter-attack | Babur ordered the centre, sheltering behind tripods, to attack, with the artillery advancing behind the chained wagons |
| Flanks | As at Panipat, flanking parties attacked from the side and rear |
| Result | Sanga’s forces were hemmed in and defeated after a great slaughter |
Rana Sanga escaped and wanted to renew the conflict, but his own nobles, who thought such a course dangerous and suicidal, poisoned him. With his death the dream of a united Rajasthan extending up to Agra received a serious setback.
What Followed Khanwa?
The victory secured Babur’s position in the Delhi-Agra region. He strengthened it by conquering the chain of forts east of Agra, such as Gwaliyar and Dholpur, and annexed large parts of Alwar from Hasan Khan Mewati. He then led a campaign against Medini Rai of Chanderi in Malwa. Chanderi was captured after the Rajput defenders died fighting to the last man and their women performed jauhar. Babur had to cut short further campaigns in the area on hearing of growing Afghan activity in eastern Uttar Pradesh, as described in Babur’s Problems After the Battle of Panipat.
As an analytical point, Khanwa was more important than Panipat in politics because it removed the one power that could have contested the Lodi succession in Delhi. The relations of later Mughals with Rajput rulers are described in Rajput States of Medieval India.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Consolidation Broke the Rajput confederacy
- Tactics Repeated and refined the Panipat plan
- Link Explains the shift in Rajput-Mughal relations
What Came Next?
The next topic assesses Babur’s contribution and the significance of his advent into India. Next topic: Babur’s Contribution and the Significance of His Advent into India.
Key People and Terms
- Rana Sanga Ruler of Mewar
- Hasan Khan Mewati Ruler of Mewat
- Medini Rai Rajput leader of Chanderi
- Jihad Holy war, declared by Babur
- Jauhar Rajput women’s mass self-sacrifice
- Tripod Wheeled stand for firearms
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Khanwa: 1527, about 40 km from Agra.
- Babur declared a jihad and broke the wine flasks.
- Hasan Khan Mewati and Mahmud Lodi joined Sanga.
- Sanga was poisoned by his own nobles.
- Chanderi fell after Khanwa.
Do Not Confuse With
- Khanwa and Panipat Against a Rajput-Afghan coalition versus against the Lodi sultan
- Khanwa and Khatoli Babur beat Sanga versus Sanga beat Ibrahim Lodi
- Hasan Khan Mewati and Mahmud Lodi Ruler of Mewat versus Ibrahim’s brother
Memory Hook
Sanga rises, Babur breaks the wine jars, wagons and tripods hold, the flanks close, Sanga falls.
Mains Angle
Questions on Khanwa ask about causes and consequences. These points add depth.
- Causes Babur’s decision to stay and Sanga’s ambition
- Tactics Defence first, then attack
- Consequences Rajput power checked and Mughal rule rooted
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Why was the Battle of Khanwa fought, and what was its significance?”
How to Answer
- Background Sanga’s rise.
- Causes Babur’s decision to stay.
- Battle Wagons, guns, flanks.
- Result Rajput setback; Chanderi taken.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Battle of Khanwa fought?
The Battle of Khanwa was fought in 1527 at Khanwa, about 40 km from Agra. Babur defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar, who led a coalition of Rajput rulers and Afghans including Mahmud Lodi and Hasan Khan Mewati.
Why did Rana Sanga fight Babur?
Babur's empire in the Indo-Gangetic valley threatened Sanga's hold over eastern Rajasthan and Malwa, and Babur's decision to stay in India changed the situation. Sanga prepared to expel him or confine him to the Punjab.
What tactics did Babur use at Khanwa?
Babur lashed wagons together as a bastion, dug a trench in front and left gaps for musketeers behind wheeled tripods. After Sanga's attacks were checked by artillery, he ordered the centre to charge while flanking parties attacked.
Why did Babur call the war against Sanga a jihad?
Sanga's reputation and early successes at places like Bayana had demoralised Babur's soldiers. By declaring a jihad, giving up wine and abolishing customs taxes for Muslims, Babur tried to rally his men for the decisive fight.
How did Rana Sanga die?
Rana Sanga escaped from Khanwa and wanted to renew the fight against Babur. His own nobles considered this dangerous and suicidal, so they poisoned him, which ended the dream of a united Rajasthan reaching Agra.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Battle of Khanwa was fought in 1527.
Babur defeated Rana Sanga.
2 Babur declared a jihad against Rana Sanga.
He also gave up wine before the battle.
3 Hasan Khan Mewati fought on Babur's side at Khanwa.
He joined Rana Sanga.
4 Chanderi was captured by Babur after Khanwa.
Medini Rai's Rajput defenders died fighting.
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