Battle of Maheskar

BelligerentsMalwa Sultanate Bahmani SultanateCommanders and leadersMahmud Khalji
Ghiyath Shah (WIA)
Sher Khan
Taj Khan
Khawas Khan
Yaqan Khan
Mubarak Khan
Qiwam Khan
Mukhtas Khan
Yusuf Khan
Malik Firuz
Nusrat Khan
Mahabat Khan †
Zahir-ul-Mulk †
Nizam-ul-Mulk GhoriNizam-Ud-Din Ahmad III
Mahmud Gawan
Nizam-ul-Mulk Turk
Khwaja-i Jahan Turk
Sikandar Khan (AWOL)Strength 40,000 cavalry
60 elephants 31,000 cavalry
240 elephantsCasualties and losses Unknown 107 elephants captured

The Battle of Maheskar, was a major military conflict between the Malwa Sultanate under Sultan Mahmud Khalji and the Bahmani Sultanate under the young Nizam-ud-Din Ahmad III. It was Mahmud Khalji's second major attempt to expand into the Deccan, following an unsuccessful invasion in 1453 during the reign of Alau'd-din Ahmad Shah. Mahmud Khalji fought a decisive battle at Maheskar on 12 February 1462 near the Manjira River through effective tactics against Bahmani war elephants. He proceeded to besiege the Bahmani capital of Bidar. Although the battle was a decivise victory for Malwa, the campaign ultimately ended in failure when the timely intervention of Gujarati forces under Mahmud Begada, combined with Bahmani resistance, forced Khalji into a difficult retreat through Berar, resulting in heavy losses.