1- The battle took place between the Maratha empire and a coalition of Ahmad shah abdali with two Indian Muslim allies—the Rohilla Afghan the Doab, and shuja-ud-dula, the Nawab of Awdh.
2- Marathas had French-supplied artillery while afghans had mounted artillery (zamburak)
3- Background shah waliullah invited Ahmad shah abdali to counter the hindu empire of marathas which was becoming existential threat for indian muslims.
3- Durrani leaders and commanders
Ahmad shah durrani
Timur shah
Wazir Wali Khan[SUP][/SUP]
Shah Pasand Khan[SUP][/SUP]
Jahan Khan[SUP][/SUP]
**Rohilla** **lea****ders and commanders**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Panipat_%281761%29#cite_note-4) Najib ud daula
Hafiz Rahmat Khan[SUP][/SUP]
Dundi Khan[SUP][/SUP]
Banghas Khan[SUP][/SUP]
4- Strength
Around 90000 Durrani-afghans, Rohilla-afghans ,qizalbash and awadh forces. while more than 200000 maratha soldiers plus more than 100000 non-combatants.
5- Outcome
Crushing maratha defeat, Indian muslims rescued
Re: Afghans vs Marathas, the largest battle of 18th century
This was just a political war...no one coming to the rescue of some religion and no one conquering for religion. You really need to get a lot of facts straight before you go ahead harping on some site.
In fact, I've not heard of any Hindu ruler who went ahead and conquered any place to propagate religion. It was always for the power of land and wealth, nothing more.
Re: Afghans vs Marathas, the largest battle of 18th century
**I am wondering what the political landscape of subcontinent would have been, had Marathas won this war?!
**I am not sure if Indian Muslims had any 'existential threat' from Marathas but this battle did help bring down the power of very large Maratha Empire.
BTW, I read that Mughal emperor at that time supported Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Re: Afghans vs Marathas, the largest battle of 18th century
^ it seems as if the Mughals had become very weak, and they gave away Punjab, Sindh and Kashmir to the afghans to get guarantee that they will spare Delhi.
Maratha victory at Panipat would have led to **expulsion of budding English empire **from Bengal and Carnatic. It would also have doomed Hyderabad and Hyder Ali & Tipu Sultan. Afghans would be driven back beyond Khyber.
Re: Afghans vs Marathas, the largest battle of 18th century
^ it seems as if the Mughals had become very weak, and they gave away Punjab, Sindh and Kashmir to the afghans to get guarantee that they will spare Delhi.
Mughals also lost Koh-i-Noor and other precious stones to Afghans thanks to Muhammad Shah Rangeela. I don't know how Shah Waliullah felt after this all loot, as he invited them to fought Marahatas.
Re: Afghans vs Marathas, the largest battle of 18th century
Mughals also lost Koh-i-Noor and other precious stones to Afghans thanks to Muhammad Shah Rangeela. I don't know how Shah Waliullah felt after this all loot, as he invited them to fought Marahatas.
What about Muhammad Shah Rangeela in this context?
Re: Afghans vs Marathas, the largest battle of 18th century
There were different dynamic during this period. Weak Moghuls, facing resistance from Marhattas as well as invading Afghans. Amongst the ashes rose the Sikh empire which included Punjab and KPK of today. Sindh went under the control of Talpurs.
Re: Afghans vs Marathas, the largest battle of 18th century
In that case marathas would have absorbed muslim states of awadh, rohailkhand, hyderabad and ,mysore. English were foreign colonials, were interested more in ruling the subcontinent to loot its resources, were interested in religious conflicts but Maratha emerged against Aurangzeb so were carrying particular hate for muslims from the beginning. The question arises why they didnt massacred their mulsim subjects? …because they were not in position to do so neither it was their concern at that moment. But once they had conquered whole india, then might have followed the path of isabelle and Ferdinand of spain who decided to expel all Muslims after they conquered whole spain. Hindus saw indian muslims as products of foreign invasions and for marathas muslims were pain in the ass. Hazrat shah waliullah foresaw this thats why he invited ahamd shah abdali to nip the evil in the bud.
Another question arises. What if Ahmad shah abdali had installed himself as emperor of delhi or any other afghan on seat of delhi?. I read some where that najib ul daula gave suggestion of installing rohilla rule over delhi but abdali refused.
Re: Afghans vs Marathas, the largest battle of 18th century
Mughals also lost Koh-i-Noor and other precious stones to Afghans thanks to Muhammad Shah Rangeela. I don't know how Shah Waliullah felt after this all loot, as he invited them to fought Marahatas.
Wrong. Ko-e-noor, peacock throne and other diamonds were looted by nadir shah afsar from mughal emperor mohammad shah. Durranis then seized these diamonds in iran when nadir shah was killed by his own men.
you might be patron of art and dance then 
