Battle of the Purana Qila

01An emperor and his protectors

Shah Alam II had lived at Allahabad under Company protection since Buxar. In January 1772 the Marathas brought him home to Delhi and then, with him in their camp, crushed the Rohilla chief Zabita Khan. Quarrels followed over the spoil and over the lands the Marathas expected in return. Shah Alam, now advised by the able Persian commander Mirza Najaf Khan, decided to stand against them.

02Fighting in the old fort

On 17 December 1772 Tukoji Holkar and Visaji Krishna attacked the emperor’s troops, who made their stand among the ruined walls of the Purana Qila, the fort of Humayun and Sher Shah on the site long held to be Indraprastha. Najaf Khan fought hard, but the imperial army was far too small. Shah Alam gave in and granted the Marathas what they asked, Kora and Allahabad among them. The Company then refused to hand those districts over.

Dynasty · 1733–1948 CEHolkars of IndoreMalhar Rao Holkar, a shepherd’s son from Hol near Jejuri, rose under Bajirao I to hold western Malwa. His daughter-in-law Ahilyabai ruled from Maheshwar for twenty-eight years and rebuilt temples across Bharat, including the Kashi Vishwanath temple that stands today.Read →