Battle of Medinipur

Battle of Medinipur
Part of Maratha Invasions of Bengal
Date December 1746 Location Midnapore,West Bengal Result Maratha Empire Victory Territorial changes Midnapore annexed into Maratha Empire
Belligerents
Bengal Subah	Maratha Empire Nagpur Faction
Commanders and leaders
Mir Jafar	Janoji Bhonsle Mir Habib
Strength
12000 foot 7000 horses	20000 foot 8000 horses

In December 1746, Mir Jafar decisively defeated a Maratha force led by Sayyid Hur at Midnapur. Despite Sayyid Nur's escape, the Marathas retreated towards Balasore, where Mir Habib camped and fortified positions on the Barabalong River. Mir Jafar, who had set up camp north of the Konkara River, learned of Janoji Bhonsle's arrival at Katak with a large army to support Mir Habib. With reports of Janoji’s forces potentially numbering 20,000, Mir Jafar, feeling overwhelmed, retreated to Burdwan, pursued by Janoji’s vanguard which captured some of his baggage and elephants.^[1][2][3]

Buland Khan and several other Afghans who had rebelled against Aliwardi sought Raghuji's assistance in Bihar.Raghuji marched to their aid, but Aliwardi pursued him and the two forces engaged in an indecisive battle at Mehib Alipur. By December 21, 1745, Aliwardi had driven Raghuji toward Murshidabad and delivered a decisive defeat at Ramdighi near Katwah. Disheartened, Raghuji retreated to Nagpur in January 1746. Before leaving, he made an agreement with Mir Habib to receive eleven lakhs of rupees for using his army to seize Orissa. Mir Habib then led three thousand Maratha cavalry and six to seven thousand Afghans, capturing and plundering Orissa and establishing a garrison at Midnapore, where they were joined by some Afghans previously dismissed by Alivardi.^[1][2][3]

Raghuji besieged the fort held by Durlabhram, who, fearing for his life and influenced by sanyasis, decided to surrender despite opposition from Abdul Aziz and others who wished to continue the defense. Abdul Aziz then took command and resisted the Marathas for over a month. During this period, Maratha raiding parties expanded their control over Orissa. The Nawab, facing threats from Mustafa in Bihar and unable to counter the Marathas, sought peace, but Raghuji demanded an exorbitant ransom. Negotiations stalled until Mustafa’s death in late June, after which talks ceased. With supplies running low, Abdul Aziz surrendered the fort on May 12, 1745, ensuring his safety. Raghuji subsequently advanced into Birbhum and extended Maratha control to areas including Midnapore, Hugli, and Burdwan.^[1][2][3]

The Maratha activities on the Orissa frontier forced Aliwardi to act. He appointed Sayyid Ahmad Khan as Governor of Orissa and Mir Jafar as his deputy. In November 1746, Mir Jafar commanding seven thousand cavalry and twelve thousand infantry, marched from Murshidabad to confront the Marathas.^[1][2][3]

After a few days' march in December, he delivered a decisive defeat to a group of Marathas at Midnapur on December 12, 1746, led by Mir Habib's lieutenant Sayyid Hur. Sayyid Nur managed to escape towards Katak, and several of Mir Habib's officers were killed. The Marathas fled towards Balasore via Jalesvar. Mir Habib set up camp two miles from Balasore town on the bank of the Barabalong River, where he focused on constructing batteries to counter Mir Jafar and outfitted vessels with cannons. Mir Jafar advanced some distance and camped on the northern side of the Konkara (Kamsin) River. He then received news that Janoji Bhonsle had arrived at Katak with a large army to support Mir Habib and launch an invasion into Bengal.^[1][2][3]

On December 8, a news-writer in Berar reported that Raghuji was recruiting soldiers but unable to pay them in cash. He planned to send a force into Bengal under Janoji Bhonsle, with contingents from various officers, though none commanded more than 100 to 500 men. They hoped to gather 10,000 troops, which seemed unlikely.^[1][2][3]

Feeling overwhelmed by the potential Maratha forces, Mir Jafar lost courage and retreated to Burdwan without attempting to hold Midnapur. He was vigorously pursued by the vanguard of Janoji’s army, resulting in the capture of some of his baggage and elephants.^[1][2][3]

After this defeat another battle took place in 1747 between the Bengal Subah and the Maratha Confederacy. Following Mir Jafar's dismissal by Alivardi Khan, a substantial army was assembled to defend against the Maratha invasion led by Janoji Bhonsle in Orissa. Alivardi Khan successfully repelled and defeated the Maratha forces in this battle.^[1][2][3]