Siege of Gwalior (1518) (South Asia)

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The siege of Gwalior was a military expedition launched by Emperor Ibrahim Lodi of the Delhi Sultanate in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. This expedition was led by his trusted courtier, Azam Humayun Lodi, and aimed to suppress the rebellion of the Tomaras and Jalal Khan at Gwalior Fort. The expedition played a major role in the complete decline of the Tomara dynasty of Gwalior. It was launched in the year 1518 A.D. during the rule of Vikramjeet Tomar, the last ruler of the Tomara dynasty of Gwalior.

The Sultan then redirected his focus to Gwalior, as the city had provided asylum to the rebel Jalal Khan, and therefore needed to be subdued. This was consistent with the expansionist policies of the Lodi Kings. Jalal Khan, who was a trusted courtier, had rebelled against Ibrahim Lodi and sought refuge in the fort of Gwalior. Hence, this rebellion was the primary reason why Ibrahim Lodi needed to reduce the fort of Gwalior. The siege of Gwalior by Ibrahim Lodi in 1518 took place within the larger context of the Delhi Sultanate's efforts to consolidate and expand its territories. The Delhi Sultanate, under Lodi's rule, faced several challenges from rebel factions and regional powers. The Tomara dynasty was one such force that the Sultanate sought to subdue during this period. Gwalior, under Vikramjeet Tomar, was a stronghold where rebels, including Jalal Khan, had sought refuge.

Vikramaditya, the son and successor of Raja Man, was a respected leader who undertook the task of fortifying the defenses of the fortress. During the siege, the besiegers employed fireballs and rockets to attack the outer citadel of Badalgarh. In response, the Rajputs countered by throwing burning bags of cotton soaked in oil at the enemy, causing casualties on both sides. Meanwhile, Jalal Khan, seeking to avoid further embarrassment for the host, left for Malwa. As the siege continued, the royalists strategically mined the walls, creating numerous breaches and using sabäts to penetrate the outer walls of the fortress. After the severe destruction and defeat of the Rajput forces, Vikramjeet understood that continued resistance would be pointless.

Therefore, he took the lead in initiating peace negotiations in the presence of the emperor. As a result, he surrendered the fort of Gwalior to Ibrahim Lodi, who in turn treated him with respect. This account provides a detailed and compelling depiction of the compelling events that unfolded during the siege of Gwalior. According to certain sources, Vikramjeet was reportedly taken captive during a military expedition and subsequently transported to Agra as a prisoner of war. It is believed that his capture was orchestrated by Azam Humayan, who commanded the operation.

After initially rebelling against Ibrahim Lodi, Jalal Khan retired to Malwa, but later retreated to Garha Katanga near Jabalpur. Here, the Gond king imprisoned him and subsequently sent him to Agra. Jalal Khan was ordered to be incarcerated in the fort of Hansi, where, it may be noted, other brothers of Ibrahim Lodi were already detained. While en route to Hansi, Jalal Khan was murdered by poisoning.