Sacking of Burhanpur (1681)

The sacking of Burhanpur (31 January 1681 - 2 February 1681) refers to the looting of the wealthy city of Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh by the Maratha ruler Chatrapati Sambhaji Raje. The Maratha army commanded by Chatrapati Sambhaji maharaj and Sersenapati Hambirrao Mohite attacked and plundered the city for three days. The Marathas got a huge back amount and returned to Raigad by evading Mughal forces.Marathas also sacked aurangabad after this sack.

Sacking of Burhanpur (1681)
Part of Mughal-Maratha Wars
Date31 January 1681 - 2 February 1681
Location
Burhanpur, Burhanpur District Madhya Pradesh
21.3°N 76.23°E / 21.3; 76.23
Result

Maratha Empire Victory

  • Marathas sack Burhanpur.
  • Marathas sack Aurangabad.
  • Mughals lose more than 2 crores to marathas.
  • Maratha Army captures the city fort.
Belligerents
Maratha Empire Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj
Sarsenapati Hambirrao Mohite
Kavi Kalash
Suryaji Jakhde		 Bahadur Khan Kokaltash
Kakar Khan (POW)
Units involved

5,000 cavalry under Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj

15,000 cavalry under Hambirrao Mohite

7,000 under Suryaji Jakhde
Strength

20,000 at Burhanpur

7,000 near Aurangabad

8,000 at Burhanpur

Estimated ~ 20,000 at Aurangabad
Casualties and losses
Negligible

500-600 killed

Many captured

Sacking of Burhanpur

Hambirrao Mohite reached the forests near Burhanpur with a 15,000 strong cavalry force. Kakar Khan gathered civilian forces and decided to attack Hambirrao at midnight. As he came out of the city gates, Chatrapati Sambhaji Raje himself attacked from the old trenches with a cavalry force of 4,000.chatrapati Sambhaji Raje's force routed the ill-prepared Mughal garrison. Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj then left 200-300 soldiers at the main city gate and left for Bahadurpura, the richest suburb of the city.Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj started to gain the amount from the houses of the richest merchants which were shown to him by his spies. Hambirrao's force soon joined Sambhaji Raje and the combined Maratha force started to get amount of loot from the city. Hambirrao, then sealed the city's entrances to ensure that the word of the attack doesn't spread out. Marathas looted the city consecutively for three days. Marathas earned a loot estimated to be around 2 crore rupees.[1]

References
  1. Bahekar, S.A. (1999). Martiyar Sambhaji. Jalgaon: Kasab Publications. p. 353.
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