The Second Battle of Tarain

The following year Sultan Muḥammad Shahābuddīn Ghorī returned to India with a large force numbering 120,000.

When he reached Lahore, he sent his envoy to Prithvirāj Chauhān to demand his submission, but he refused to comply. Prithvirāj Chauhān then issued a fervent appeal to his fellow Rajput chiefs to come to his aid against the Muslim invader. About 150 Rajput chiefs responded to his call, though this time he lacked the support of Jaychāndra.

Prithvirāj too came up with a large army, a huge portion of which consisted of Indian war elephants, and proceeded with it to meet Sultan Muhammad Shahābuddīn Ghorī in Tarain where a year before he had inflicted a crushing defeat on his adversary, confident of defeating Ghori again. Sultan Muḥammad Ghorī delivered an ultimatum to Prithvirāj that he convert to Islam or be defeated. Prithvirāj countered with an offer that Muḥammad consider a truce, be allowed to retreat with his army. Sultan Muḥammad Shahābuddīn Ghorī decided to attack.

Ghori divided his troops into 5 parts and attacked the Rajput armies in the early morning hours sending waves of mounted archers to attack the Rajput forces, but retreated as the Rajput elephant phalanx advanced. Ghorī deployed four parts to attack the Rajputs on four sides keeping a fifth part of his army in reserve. Khānde Rāo (the General of Prithvirāj), was killed. The enthusiasm of Prithvirāj also dampened against these reverses. At dusk, Ghori led a force of heavily-armored horsemen to the center of the Rajput line which collapsed into confusion, Prithviraj deserted the battlefield and attempted to escape, but was captured and killed by Ghori. The Rajput Army also broke ranks and fled, giving victory to Sultan Muhammad Shahab-ud-din Ghori.