Panipat, Battles of, took place around Panipat, which is now an Indian town and district in the state of Haryana. It stands in an open plain on the Yamuna River, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Delhi. Its position controls access to Delhi and, as a result, it has been the site of several important battles.
The Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi, was killed at Panipat in 1526 during a battle with the forces of the Mughal emperor Babur. This defeat ended the Delhi Sultanate and laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire.
In 1556, the forces of Babur’s grandson Akbar defeated the army of the general Hemu, in what is usually called the second battle of Panipat. This defeat helped to end threats to the power of the Mughal Empire.
The third battle of Panipat took place in 1761. In this battle, Afghan armies under the command of Ahmad Shah Durrani defeated Maratha forces that had threatened the Mughals.
