The Rajput victory temporarily halted Ghurid expansion into northern India, though it prompted Muhammad of Ghor to return with a larger force the following year.
Key Facts
- Date
- 14 January 1191
- Outcome
- Rajput Confederacy victory
- Ghurid garrison left behind
- 2,000 soldiers at Tabarhind (Bhatinda)
- Garrison held for
- 13 months
- Muhammad of Ghor's raised army
- 120,000 men for the Second Battle
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Muhammad of Ghor led Ghurid forces into northwestern India seeking to expand his empire's territorial control. His advance brought his army into conflict with the Rajput Confederacy under Prithviraj Chauhan, who mobilized to defend the region near Tarain in what is now Haryana.
On 14 January 1191, Ghurid and Rajput armies clashed near Tarain. The Rajputs routed the Ghurid forces, forcing them to retreat. Muhammad of Ghor was wounded during the battle but managed to escape to Ghazni, leaving behind a garrison of 2,000 soldiers to hold the fort of Tabarhind.
The defeated Ghurid garrison at Tabarhind delayed the Rajput advance for thirteen months. During this time, Muhammad of Ghor raised a new army of 120,000 men and launched a second invasion, leading to the Second Battle of Tarain, which ended Prithviraj Chauhan's rule over the region.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Muhammad of Ghor.
Side B
1 belligerent
Prithviraj Chauhan.