Battle of Hisar Firoza

01A flank to clear

Babur crossed the Punjab in the winter of 1525–26 and moved south towards Delhi. On his right lay Hisar Firoza, the old town of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, where Hamid Khan held a strong body of Afghans for Ibrahim Lodi. Left alone, they could fall on his flank. Babur gave the task to Humayun with a picked force, and the Baburnama records that the young prince rode out against them in late February 1526.

02The prince’s first victory

Humayun’s advance guard struck the Afghans before they were ready, and Hamid Khan’s men broke and scattered into the countryside. Prisoners were taken and, as Babur records, some were put to death. Babur rejoiced at his son’s success, granted him Hisar Firoza with a large sum in cash, and wrote that this was the first time the boy had seen battle. Two months later, on 21 April, the Lodi army was destroyed at Panipat.