The Battle of Chausa: Sher Shah Suri Versus Humayun

What battle brought the Mughal Empire to its knees, taking the reign of the Indian subcontinent away? This story guides you through the infamous Battle of Chausa between Sher Shah Suri of The Sultanate Dynasty and the second Mughal Humayun.

Battle of Chausa. Source: Google

History has taught us that the most significant battles have been fought between kings to possess this great land of India. The Mughals and the Afghans have ruled India for quite a few years. These battles were fought and blood was shed on the thresholds of these empires.

Sher Shah is credited with establishing the second Afghan rule in India after almost 14 years of Mughal domination. The kind of controversy that his conquest of the Rajputana caused was not merely due to his military strength. It was also his strategic planning and ambition.

The Battle of Chausa was a notable military engagement between the Mughal emperor Humayun and the Afghan warlord Shah Shah Suri. It was held on June 26, 1539, at Chausa, 10 miles southwest of Buxar in present-day Bihar, India. Sher Shah Suri was supported by his allies, the Ujjainya Rajputs of Bhojpur led by Commander Gazipati Ujjainia.

This wonder battle caused the Mughal army to retreat for the first time in history. Humayun fled the battlefield to save his life. At the Battle of Chausa on 26 June 1539, he defeated the Mughal emperor Humayun and succeeded to the throne of Farid al-Din Sher Shah. In May 1540 he again defeated Humayun at Kanauj. He expelled his enemies from Bengal, Bihar, Hindustan and Punjab.

The battle was fought fairly. Despite the upper hand, Sher Shah Suri could have had, he made sure it was a willing battle Humayun was fighting. In those days, honour and truthfulness were valued above all, especially by kings.

Before the battle, Shershah Suri sent representatives to Humayun to enquire about the situation of his army. Humayun's army experienced an outbreak of malaria. Humayun left for Agra with his small army. The two basic explanations for his pickpocket victory were the amazing guerrillas, the careful strategies he employed, and the many mistakes Humayun himself made. He had underestimated Shah's army and hoped for a swift victory. Humayun was also weak and used to remain ill most of the time. The battle changed history and Sher Shah Suri became a ruler with unusual powers.

It brought a period of the gap between the Mughal rule in India that triggered other historical events of significance