Key Facts
- Date
- 11 August 1757
- Also known as
- Second Battle of Delhi
- Context
- Fourth invasion of India by Ahmad Shah Abdali
- Strategic prize
- Delhi, the Mughal capital
Strategic Narrative Overview
The Maratha Confederacy dispatched Raghunath Rao to counter the Rohilla occupation of Delhi. On 11 August 1757, Maratha forces engaged Najib-ud-Daula's Rohillas in direct battle for control of the city. The confrontation was a direct consequence of the destabilisation caused by Abdali's fourth invasion, with both sides seeking to dominate the symbolic and strategic heart of Mughal India.
01 / The Origins
By 1757, the Mughal Empire had weakened considerably, leaving Delhi under indirect Maratha control. Ahmad Shah Abdali's repeated invasions of India destabilised the region, and his Afghan allies, the Rohillas under Najib-ud-Daula, moved to seize Delhi. Najib-ud-Daula simultaneously served as paymaster of what remained of the Mughal Army, giving Afghan influence significant leverage over the imperial capital.
03 / The Outcome
The sources do not provide a definitive recorded outcome for the battle. The engagement was part of broader Maratha efforts to maintain their dominance over Delhi and check Afghan-backed Rohilla power. The contest for Delhi would continue to evolve, culminating in the decisive Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, which ended Maratha primacy in northern India.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Raghunath Rao.
Side B
1 belligerent
Najib-ud-Daula.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.