The First Battle of Tarain took place on 14 January 1191 near Tarain (present day-in Haryana) in Chauhan Dynasty.

BACKGROUND

Prithviraja Chauhan took over the throne when he was eleven after his father passed away in 1177 CE and his mother became a regent.

Ghurid Dynasty in the present-day Afghanistan was ruled by two brothers- Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad, the elder brother and Mu’izz al-Din Muhammad ibn Sam (Muhammad Ghori), the younger brother. Ghiyath al-Din Ghori focused on expanding the empire westward while Muhammad Ghori focused his attention eastwards, on India.  

He first captured Sindh (Pakistan) and moved towards present day Gurajat (India). At his first attempt, Muhammad Ghori was defeated by Mularaja II of Chaulukya Dynasty in Mount Abu so he changed his target and concentrated on Punjab. He quickly captured Lahore on continued towards Ajmer which was ruled by Prithviraj Chauhan.

In 1191, Muhammad Ghori successfully captured a fort in Bathinda (present day) which was a key strategic point for the expansion and planned to return to his kingdom. But he got the news the Prithviraj Chauhan army war marching towards the fort to re-capture it and turned back.

Muhammad Ghori and Prithviraj Chauhan met in Tarain.  

BATTLE STRENGTH AND STRAGETY USED

Prithviraj led the army of united Rajput forces with the army strength is estimated to around 50,000. Muhammad Ghori army was less than Prithviraj’s, the exact number of the both the armies is unknown while there many had debated the number.

Muhammad Ghori had positioned archer on horses in the vanguard position. The formation was divided into three sections-a strong centre with two division on the left and right respectively. On the other side, Prithviraj Chauhan army was made to stand in linear formation with a strong centre. The elephants were placed on the vanguard position.

The battle began with Ghori’s vanguard moving ahead and attacking Prithviraj army with arrows. In response, Prithviraj commanded his army to directly charge forward engaging in close combat which caught Ghori’s army off-guard.

The momentum of the Prithviraj army push back Ghori’s army and flank attack took place from both sides. Muhammad Ghori was injured in the battle and a Khalji solider helped him escape.   

RESULT

Muhammad Ghori fled back to Ghazni and trained a new army for thirteen months while soilders led by Qazi Zia ud-Din Tulaki successfully delayed Prithviraj Army. The Second Battle of Tairain was fought in 1192.