Why was the Third Battle of Panipat significant
for the British?
Answers
The battle was significant as it marked the end of Maratha dominance in India. At the time of this battle Afghans were under the authority of Ahmed Shah Abdali and the Marathas under the administration of Peshwas had set up control crosswise over Northern India.
Answer:
After the death of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, there was a sudden rise of the Marathas. The Marathas reversed all his territorial gains in the Deccan and conquered a considerable part of India
The decline was hastened by the invasion of India by Nader Shah, who also took away Takht-i-Taus (the Peacock Throne) and the Kohinoor Diamond in 1739
Ahmad Shah Durrani planned to attack the Marathas when his son was driven out of Lahore
By the end of 1759, Durrani with his Afghan tribes reached Lahore as well as Delhi and defeated the smaller enemy garrisons
The two armies fought at Karnal and Kunjpura where the entire Afghan garrison was killed or enslaved
The massacre of the Kunjpura garrison infuriated Durrani to such an extent that he ordered for crossing the river at all costs to attack the Marathas
Smaller battles continued through months and forces from both the sides amassed for the final assault. But food was running out for the Marathas
The battle started in the wee hours on January 14, 1761
Since the Afghan forces were larger in number, by the end of the first day of the Third Battle of Panipat, most of the Maratha forces had fled, been killed or taken prisoner
One of the other reasons was that the Afghans' artillery was more effective
More than anything, the Marathas' inability to persuade the Rajputs, Jats and Sikhs to fight on their side proved fatal for the Marathas
After the victory, the Afghan cavalry ran wild through the streets of Panipat, killing thousands of Maratha soldiers and civilians
The women and children were taken in Afghan camps as slaves and children over 14 years of age were beheaded before their own mothers and sisters
Although the Third Battle of Panipat changed the power equations in India, the Afghans could hardly rule any further.