Siege of Barabati (1745)
| Siege of Barabati | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Fourth Maratha invasion of Bengal | |||||||||
Gate of the Barabati fort in Cuttack | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Bengal Subah | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Durlabh Ram (POW) Mir Abdul Aziz |
Raghuji I Mir Habib | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 400 garrison |
14,000–24,000 cavalry 25,000 infantry 300 guns | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
Siege of Barabati Location within Odisha Siege of Barabati Siege of Barabati (India) | |||||||||
The Siege of Barabati (1745) was a significant military engagement during the Maratha invasions of Bengal. In February 1745, Raghuji Bhonsle instigated by Mustafa Khan advanced toward Orissa, catching Durlabh Ram, the Na’ib Nazim. Unaware of the approaching enemy, Durlabh Ram fled to Barabati Fort, which was swiftly surrounded by Raghuji's troops. Durlabh Ram's ill-advised visit to Raghuji's camp led to his capture, and he was held hostage. Despite his capture and imprisonment, his lieutenant Mir Abdul Aziz resisted the Marathas for a month until his surrender. Thus Raghuji’s Bargi forces swept over the territories of Medinipur, Burdwan, and Birbhum before advancing to Bihar, where they allied with Afghans rebels.