Battle of Mandalgarh and Banas

In A.D. 1442 Rana Kumbha left Chittor to invade Haraoti. Finding Mewar unprotected, the Sultan of Malwa, Sultan Mahmud Khilji, burning with a desire to take revenge and wipe off his disgrace of his defeat in A.D 1440 (Battle of Mandavgad), invaded Mewar.^[1]

Destruction of Bana Mata Temple

Destruction of Bana Mata Temple
Date 1442 Location Kumbalmer, India Result Malwa Sultanate Victory, Bana Mata temple razed.
Belligerents
Mewar	Malwa Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Deep Singh  †	Mahmud Khilji

Arriving near Kumbalmer the Sultan prepared to destroy the temple of Bana Mata in Kelwara. A Rajput chieftain named Deep Singh collected his warriors and opposed the Sultan. For seven days Deep Singh successfully repulsed all attempts of the Sultans army to take possession of the temple. On the seventh day, Deep Singh was killed and the temple fell into the hands of the Sultan. He razed it to the ground and burned the stone image that was kept in the temple. Flushed with success, he started for Chittor, and leaving a part of his army to take the fortress, advanced to attack Rana Kumbha, sending his father, Azam Humayun, towards Mandsaur to lay waste to the Rana's country.^[2]

Battle of Mandalgarh

Battle of Mandalgarh
Rana Kumbha
Date 1442 Location Mandalgarh, India Result Rajput Victory
Belligerents
Mewar	Malwa Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Rana Kumbha	Mahmud Khilji

When Rana Kumbha heard of these events, he left Haraoti to return to his dominions and came upon the Sultam's army near Mandalgarh. A battle was fought here without any decisive result.^[3] A few days later the Rana made another attack on the Sultan who was utterly defeated and fled towards Mandu.^[4][5]

Battle of Banas

Battle of Banas
Date 1446 Location Banas River, India Result Rajput Victory
Belligerents
Mewar	Malwa Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Rana Kumbha	Mahmud Khilji

To retrieve this disaster, Mahmud set about preparing another army, and four years later, on 11-12 October 1446 A.D. he went towards Mandalgarh with a large army. Rana Kumbha attacked him while he was crossing the Banas River, and having defeated him drove him back to Mandu.^[6]

Aftermath

Mahmud Khilji suffered defeats at the hands of Rana Kumbha and was humbled thrice. For about 10 years after these defeats, Mahmud Khilji did not venture to take offensive against Rana Kumbha.^[7]

References

1. Har Bilas Sarda "Maharana Kumbha: sovereign, soldier, scholar" pg 47
2. Har Bilas Sarda "Maharana Kumbha: sovereign, soldier, scholar" pg 48
3. Ferishta vol IV, pg 210
4. Ferishta vol IV pg 210
5. Har Bilas Sarda "Maharana Kumbha: sovereign, soldier, scholar" pg 49
6. Har Bilas Sarda "Maharana Kumbha: sovereign, soldier, scholar" pg 49
7. Har Bilas Sarda "Maharana Kumbha: sovereign, soldier, scholar" pg 49