Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How did Babur win the First Battle of Panipat against Ibrahim Lodi’s larger army?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Mughal dynasty
Emperors (from left, seated) Jahangir, Akbar, and Shah Jahan are depicted with their ministers (foreground) and Prince Dara Shikoh in a watercolor from India, c. 1630–40.
In the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, Babur overcame Ibrahim Lodi’s significantly larger force by utilizing superior military technology and innovative tactical formations influenced by Central Asian and Ottoman practices.12
Babur’s key strategies included:
- Tulughma Tactic: He divided his army into coordinated left, right, and center units, supported by flanking forces. This allowed his smaller army to effectively surround and pressure Lodi’s massive, less cohesive force.23
- Defensive Fortifications: Babur established a defensive line using hundreds of carts (arabas) tied together with rawhide. These carts provided a secure barrier behind which he positioned artillery and matchlock operators.23
- Technological Advantage: While Lodi’s army relied heavily on traditional units like cavalry and war elephants, they lacked the gunpowder weaponry that Babur deployed with precision.23
These coordinated maneuvers and the effective use of firearms caused the collapse of Lodi’s army, resulting in his death and the establishment of the Mughal Empire in India.14