Battle of Surat | |||||||
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Part of Maratha campaigns in Gujarat | |||||||
Early 20th century depiction of the Sack of Surat by Shivaji. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Maratha Kingdom | Mughal Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Shivaji | Inayat Khan | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
4000 cavalry[1] | 5000 garrisons[2] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Shivaji ordered the beheading of four Imperialist prisoners and the amputation of the hands of twenty-four others.[3] |
The battle of Surat, also known as the Sack of Surat, was a land battle that took place on 5 January 1664, near the city of Surat, in present-day Gujarat, India, between Shivaji, leader of the fledgling Maratha State and Inayat Khan, a Mughal commander. The Marathas defeated the Mughal military unit posted at Surat.
Surat was a wealthy port city used by the Mughals for maritime trade in the Arabian Sea. The city was populated mostly by Hindus, but there were Muslims & others as well; including the officials of the Moghal administration at the city. According to historian James Grant Duff, Surat was attacked by Shivaji on 5 January 1664; the attack was so sudden that the population had no chance to flee, the violent plunder of the Mahratta forces continued for six days & two-thirds of the city was burnt down. The loot was then transferred to Rajgad fort hidden in the Western Ghauts near Poona (Pune).
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