The Battle of Khatu Shyamji was fought between the

Shekhawat Shekhawat is a clan of Rajputs found mainly in Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. Shekhawats are descendants of Maharao Shekha of Amarsar. Shekhawat is the most prominent clan among Kachhwaha. The Shekhawati region was ruled by them for more ...

chiefs and the

Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...

under Murtaza Khan Bhadech, a Mughal officer of Delhi. Both sides suffered heavy casualties.

Background

In the month of August 1779, Murtaza Khan Bhadech attacked the Shekhawati region to extract fines from local Jagirdars. He entered

Jaipur state Jaipur State was a princely state in India during East India Company rule and thereafter under the British Raj. It signed a treaty creating a subsidiary alliance with the Company in 1818, after the Third Anglo-Maratha War. It acceded ...

from Taurawati pillaging two big towns of Thoi and Shree Madhopur. He then wrote to Rao Raja Devi Singh ji of Sikar asking him compensate for the expenditure for the attack (Fauz-Kharach) on Shekhawati, which Rao Raja Devi Singh ji refused at once saying that Sikar was a

vassal and Bhadech had nothing to do with Sikar. This scared Murtaza Khan Bhadech for a while. Najaf Khan too attacked Shekhawati but was defeated at Taurawati. Subedar Abdullah Khan also entered Jaipur state and just like Murtaza Khan and Najaf Khan, he also could not move ahead of Devli and was defeated there by the Shekhawati force. Murtaza Khan meanwhile looted

Reengus Reengus is a town in Shrimadhopur tehsil of Sikar district. Demographics India census, Reengus had a population of 26,139. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Reengus has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the n ...

and made partial amends to the preceding failures. When Murtaza Khan proceeded further, the feudal quotas of Jaipur joined the Jaipur forces which were sent under the charge of Chood Singh ji Nathawat of Doongri and Dalel Singh ji Khangarot of Sewa. Along with the Rajput forces of Chood Singh ji and Dalel Singh ji was the Zamaat of Nagas under their very brave Mahant Mangal Das, Rao Raja Devi Singh ji of Sikar, Sujan Singh ji Sadani of Jhunjhunu, Thakur Aman Singh ji of Danta, Thakur Bhagat Singh ji of Khur and Thakur Pirbadan Singh ji of Khachariawas.

Battle

Murtaza Khan Bhadech thinking Khatu as a central place with enough drinking water, decided to strike it first with a good park of artillery and well-disciplined Mughal troops. The battle ensued vigorously where the Rajputs fought desperately to keep their hearths and homes safe, and to preserve at all costs the sanctity of the holy and the most famous temple of Shyamji (Shree

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

bhagwan) which was situated at Khatu. The Rajputs charged the mughal guns desperately. In this charge, Chood Singh Nathawat and his two sons Surajmal and Dalel Singh lost their. Murtaza Khan Bhadech was killed along with his elephant. Mahant Mangal Das also lost his life along with his 1000 Dadupathies.

Aftermath

Thakur Pirbadan Singh ji of Khachariawas, son of Fateh Singh and grandson of Bhagwat Singh Ladkhani of Khachariawas, was severely wounded and was safely sent to Harsoli to dress his deep wounds. Good remuneration was given to the successors of the deceased in recognition and honour of the services rendered by them. Mahant Santokh Dasji succeeded Mahant Mangal Dasji, upon whom the Durbar conferred "Jangali bhalas, Chari, Nakkara, etc." as marks of great honour to the services of the deceased predecessor.

References

Sources

* {{coord missing, Rajasthan Khatu Shyamji History of Rajasthan Khatu Shyamji Khatu Shyamji