Describe the conflict between Prithviraj Chauhan and Muhammad Ghori. What were the causes of the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan ?
Answers
Prithviraj was the ruler of Delhi and Ajmer when Ghori was marching towards Delhi after conquering several parts of Punjab. Prithviraj was able to unite some Rajput states to present a united front against the common enemy.
However Jai Chand, the ruler of Kanauj did not join the confederation of some Rajput states headed by Prithviraj, on account of his personal animosity. A fierce battle between Ghori and Prithviraj took place at Tarain.
Ghori was wounded and defeated. He was carried away from the battle-field by a Khalji soldier. His army fled. True to Indian traditions, the Rajputs did not follow the fleeing enemy—a blunder which India had to repent for centuries.
TOP 12 cavalry of all time.[no order] | Page 7
image source: img809.imageshack.us/img809/1706/fieldofgloryclashofempi.jpg
The second battle of Tarain (1192):
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Muhammad Ghori was determined to establish his authority over India. He was not disheartened over his defeat. He wanted to avenge his humiliation. He reorganised and strengthened his army. With a large cavalry of unrivalled marks-men, he again descended the plains of Tarain in 119.
Prithviraj again formed a confederation of the north Indian Kings. Nevertheless, Jai Chand of Kanauj, not only kept himself aloof from the battle but is also said to have helped Muhammad Ghori in order to wreck his vengeance on Prithviraj. Conflicting accounts of the defeat and ultimate fate of Prithviraj as well as Muhammad Ghori are given.
The numerical strength of the Rajput forces was far greater than Ghori’s army which, however, was better organised. The fighting quality of the Turkish cavalry decided the issue. A large number of Indian soldiers lost their lives. Prithviraj was captured and slain. Chandbardai, the court poet of Prithviraj has another version to tell.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
According to him Prithviraj was taken to Ghori as a prisoner. In a show of exhibiting his skill as an archer, the blind Prithviraj shot a sound-guided arrow at Muhammad Ghori killing him instantly. Prithviraj later committed suicide. Col-Todd, the well known historian of the Rajput period, does not attach credence to this version of Chandbardai.
The conflict between Prithviraj and Muhammad Ghori started for the fort of Tarabhinda (Bhatinda). The enemies met each other in the battlefield at Tarain known as the First Battle of Tarain in 1191 A.D. Muhammad was defeated in the battle and his forces were severely routed.