Heavy Heavy Result Decisive Afghan Victory | Date 1544 Location Jaitaran | |
Similar Battle of Deeg, Battle of Sholinghur, Battle of Ambur, Battle of Porto Novo, Battle of Argaon | ||
The Battle of Sammel, also known as the Battle of Giri-Sumel, was fought in 1544 near the villages Giri and Sumel of the Jaitaran sub-division in the Pali district of Rajasthan between Sher Shah Suri and the Hindu Rajputs army led by the commanders Jaita and Kumpa of Rao Maldeo Rathore, king of Marwar.
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The battle
In 1543, Sher Shah set out against Marwar with a huge force of 80,000 cavalry. With an army of 50,000 cavalry, Maldeo advanced to face Sher Shah's army. Instead of marching to the enemy's capital Sher Shah halted in the village of Sammel in the pargana of Jaitaran, ninety kilometers east of Jodhpur. After one month, Sher Shah's position became critical owing to the difficulties of food supplies for his huge army. To resolve this situation, Sher Shah resorted to a cunning ploy. One evening, he dropped forged letters near the Maldeo's camp in such a way that they were sure to be intercepted. These letters indicated, falsely, that some of Maldeo's army commanders were promising assistance to Sher Shah. This caused great consternation to Maldeo, who immediately (and wrongly) suspected his commanders of disloyalty. Maldeo left for Jodhpur on 4 January 1544. with his own men, abandoning his commanders to their fate.
When Maldeo's innocent generals Pachain, Jaita and Kumpa found out what had happened, they did not lose their cool. When the king ordered withdrawal, they overheard the chat between the village woman worried about the Afghan Army. One of the women said we need not to worry as long as Pachain, Jaita and Kumpa are here to protect us. They decided that they would not leave the field even though they had just a few thousand men against an enemy force of 80,000 men and 40 cannons. Pachain said that the land we are leaving has been won and protected by our ancestors and we must not leave and flee. In the ensuing battle of Sammel (also known as battle of Giri Sumel), Sher Shah emerged victorious, but his army suffered heavy losses.
"The Rathore chieftains, with a few thousand cavalry, had decided to stay back and fight in order to prove their loyalty. Their cavalry charge pushed the Afghans back into their own army, causing the death of many."In the words of Tarikh-i Daudi: "Some of the chieftains such as Jaya (Jaita) and Goha (Kumpa) and others, came and attacked Sher Shah Suri, and displayed exceeding valour. Part of the Afghan army was routed, and a certain Afghan came to Sher Shah and shouted in his native tongue 'Mount for the infidels are routing your army' Sher Shah ordered his horse and was ready to retreat when news of victory was brought to the effect that Khawas Khan Marwat had slain Jaita and Kumpa. When Sher Shah learnt the valour and gallantry of Jaita and Kumpa, Sher Shah is said to have commented that "for a few grains of bajra (millet, which is the main crop of barren Marwar) I almost lost the entire kingdom of Hindustan."
The aftermath
After this victory, Sher Shah's general Khavass Khan took possession of Jodhpur and occupied the territory of Marwar from Ajmer to Mount Abu in 1544. But by July, 1555 Maldeo reoccupied his lost territories.