The invasion of India by the Persian emperor Nadir Shah in 1739 is a major event in Indian history. He defeated the army of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah in the Battle of Karnal. This invasion shattered the power and grandeur of the Mughal empire. Entering Delhi in triumph, Nadir Shah not only ordered a massacre of its people but also took away the Kohinoor diamond and the Peacock Throne, and emptied the Mughal treasury. Because of this, Nadir is often seen as a plunderer and a killer. What is often overlooked is that he was also a brilliant military strategist.
Since his armies marched hundreds of miles, Nadir used to equip his army with small, lightweight weapons, very often light enough to be carried on camelback. In contrast, Indian kings used to rely on heavier weapons, especially cannons, relying essentially on their superior firepower.
Nadir also introduced precise drills for each formation and even distinct uniforms, making it easier for him and his fellow commanders to identify which unit was doing what on the battlefield. On the other hand, drills and uniforms were alien to Indian military tradition till the arrival of the Europeans.
Nader invaded India with around 60,000 troops. To counter them, Muhammad Shah marched out with over 1,00,000 soldiers.
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Artillery was the backbone of both forces. The Mughal army marched from Delhi to Karnal in Haryana with hundreds of heavy cannons. In contrast, the Persian army had lighter cannons that could be mounted on camels. These were inferior in range, accuracy and firepower compared to the Mughal artillery.
Muhammad Shah followed the traditional deployment—artillery positioned at the rear, with infantry and cavalry in front. The idea was to weaken the enemy with cannon fire first, and then finish them off with infantry and cavalry.
Nadir, however, used a different tactic. He opened the battle by sending his cavalry behind the Mughal forces. But when the Mughals counterattacked, he quickly pulled them back. As the Mughal army advanced in pursuit, Nadir unleashed his camel-mounted artillery.
As the Persian cannons, mounted on camels, opened fire, the Mughal elephant formations panicked and began to retreat. The highly mobile camel artillery pursued them relentlessly.
While the heavy Mughal cannons remained stationary and kept firing from one position, the lighter Persian cannons moved swiftly across the battlefield, firing from multiple directions. Eventually, Muhammad Shah was forced to surrender and had no choice but to escort Nadir Shah into Delhi, leading to the subsequent plunder and massacre.