List of wars in the Indian subcontinent

This is a list of known battles, wars, and conflicts in the Indian subcontinent before the beginning of British Indian Empire in 1858 CE.

Ancient India (c. 15th to 1st century BCE)

Name of conflict Belligerents Belligerents OutcomeBattle of the Ten Kings (c. 14th century BCE)BharatasTen King AllianceBharatas Victory Bharatas settle in Kurukshetra. Emergence of Kuru kingdom.Kurukshetra WarPandavas of Kuru kingdomKauravas of Kuru kingdomPandavas Victory Kuru dominance in North and Central India.Kosala-Kashi war(c. 650 BCE)Kosala kingdomKasi kingdomKosala Victory Kosala annexation of KāsīKosala conquest of Gaṇasaṅghas(c. 600 to 550 BCE)Kosala kingdomGaṇasaṅghas Kālāma Shakya KoliyaKosala Victory Kosala annexation of three GaṇasaṅghasGandhāra-Avanti war(c. 575 BCE)Gandhāra kingdomAvanti Pradyota dynastyGandhāra Victory Pushkarasarin of Gandhāra defeated Pradyota of AvantiMagadha-Anga war(c. 535 BCE)Magadha Haryanka dynastyAnga KingdomMagadha Victory Magadhan annexation of AngaAchaemenid conquest of the Indus Valley(c. 535/518BCE–450 BCE)Mahajanapadas Gandhara Sindhu-Sauvīra KambojasAchaemenid EmpireAchaemenid Victory Persian rule established over the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinentAvanti-Magadhan wars(c. 510 BCE–400 BCE)Magadha Haryanka dynasty Shishunga dynastyAvanti kingdomMagadha Victory Magadhan annexation of AvantiMagadha-Kosala war(c. Late 5th century BCE)Kosala kingdomMagadha Haryanka dynastyMagadha Victory Magadhan annexation of Kosala and KasiMagadha-Vajji war(c. 484 BCE–468 BCE)Magadha Haryanka dynastyVajjika League led by the LicchavisMagadha Victory Magadhan annexation of Vajji confederacyIndian campaign of Alexander the Great(c. 327 BCE–325 BCE)

Battle of the HydaspesMacedonian Empire League of Corinth Persian allies Indian alliesNorth-western Indian Kingdoms

Aśvaka Guraeans Pauravas Mallians Oxydracians AmvasthaPartial Macedon Victory Macedonia conquers up to the Beas River, yet has to stop its advance in the Indus.Nanda conquest of Northern India (c. 4th century BCE)Magadha Nanda dynastyNorth Indian states

Maithalas Kasheyas Ikshvakus Panchalas Shurasenas Kurus Haihayas Vitihotras Kalingas AshmakasNanda Victory Expansion of the Nanda Empire in Northern India.Mauryan conquest of the Nanda Empire(c. 323 BCE–322 BCE)Magadha Nanda dynastyHouse of Maurya Maurya Victory Fall of Nanda dynasty. Consolidation of the Maurya dynastyChandragupta's conquest of North-western India (322-317 BCE)Magadha Maurya dynastyAlexander's governors and their states Nicanor PhilipMauryan Victory Mauryan annexation of North-western India.Chandragupta's conquest of Deccan (4th century BCE)Magadha Maurya dynastySouthern statesMauryan VictorySeleucid–Mauryan war(c. 305 BCE–303 BCE)Magadha Maurya dynastySeleucid Empire Maurya Victory Maurya annexation of all of the Macedonian Satrapies in the Indus River Valley along with conquest of Persian territories such as Arachosia, Gedrosia and Paropamisadae by the Mauryans Strabo, Geography, xv.2.9Kalinga War(c. 262 BCE–261 BCE)Magadha Maurya dynastyKalinga kingdom Maurya Victory Maurya annexation of KalingaShunga-Greek War(2nd Century BCE)Magadha Shunga dynastyGreco-Bactrian kingdomShunga VictoryEarly Chola invasion of Anuradhapura Battle of Vijithapura(c. 162/161 BCE)Chola dynastyAnuradhapura KingdomAnuradhapura VictoryShunga-Vidarbha War (145 BCE)Magadha Shunga dynastyVidarbha kingdomShunga Victory

Classical India (c. 1st to 6th century CE) Name of conflict Belligerents Belligerents OutcomeSaka–Satavahana Wars (c. 1st–2nd century CE)Satavahana EmpireWestern KshatrapasSatvahana VictoryBattle of Venni (c. 130 CE)Cholas (Uraiyur)Chera dynastyPandya dynastyVelirChola VictoryParthian–Kushan War (between c. 130 CE to c. 140 CE)Kushan EmpireParthian EmpireKushan VictoryEarly Samudragupta's conquest Northern India (c. 4th century CE)Gupta Empire3 kings of AryavartaGupta VictorySamudragupta's conquest of Northern India (c. 4th century CE) Gupta Empire8 kings of AryavartaGupta VictorySamudragupta's conquest of Southern India (c. 4th century CE)Gupta Empire12 kings of DakshinapathaGupta VictorySamudragupta's conquests of Central India (c. 4th century CE)Gupta EmpireParivrajaka dynastyGupta VictoryGupta–Saka Wars (c. 375 to 413 CE)Gupta EmpireWestern SatrapsGupta VictoryChandragupta II's conquest of Bengal (c. 4th century)Gupta EmpireVangaGupta VictoryChandragupta II's conquest Balkh (Punjab and Afghanistan) (c. 4th century to 5th century CE)Gupta EmpireBalkh statesIndecisiveKumaragupta I's conquest of South-western India (c. 5th century CE)Gupta EmpireTraikutaka dynastyGupta VictoryBattle of Sondani(528 CE) Alchon Huns AulikarasGupta Empire Gupta and Aulikara victoryGauda–Gupta War (528 CE) Gauda Kingdom Gupta Empire Later Gupta dynasty Maukhari dynasty Gupta and Maukhari victory

Early Medieval India (c. 7th to 12th century CE) Name of conflict Belliegents Opponents Outcome Battle of Narmada(619 CE) Chalukyas of Vatapi Vardhana dynasty Chalukya victory Harshavardhana's South Indian expandation halted Part of imperial conquest of Pulakeshin II Battle of Pullalur(618–619 CE) Chalukyas of Vatapi Pallava dynasty Chalukya victory Result of battle is inconclusive by mostly historians Part of Chalukya–Pallava WarsBattle of Manimangala(642 CE) Chalukyas of Vatapi Pallava dynasty Pallava victory Manimangala is the first ever victory for the Pallavas against the Chalukyas. Part of Chalukya–Pallava Wars Battle of Vatapi(642 CE) Chalukyas of Vatapi Pallava dynasty Pallava victory Pallava victory and conquest of Vatapi Part of Chalukya–Pallava WarsUmayyad campaigns in India (712–740 CE)Indian kingdoms Gurjara-Pratihara Guhila dynasty Maitraka dynasty Chalukya dynasty Karkota EmpireUmayyad CaliphateIndian Victory Arab and later Muslim invasions halted in India for the next 250 years.Yaqub's campaigns to the east (861–870)ZunbilsKharijitesIndian kingdoms Hindu Shahis Buddhist tribal chiefs Abbasid Caliphate Saffarid dynastySaffarid Victory Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar conquered Bost, Kandahar, Ghazni, Kabul, Bamyan, Balkh and Herat.Battle of Thirupurambiyam (879) Chola–Pallava–Ganga victory Pandyas did not recover for two centuriesPala-Tibetan War ( 8th-9th CE )Pala EmpireTibetan EmpirePala Victory Dharmapāla subjugated the throne of Nepal which was under Tibetan rule Devapāla conquered up to the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet Devapāla successfully conquered the Tibetan principality of PunjabGhaznavid campaigns in India(10th and 11th centuries)Hindu ShahisRajput confederacyJattsChandela dynastyKachchhapaghata dynastyGurjara-Pratihara dynastyLodi dynasty of MultanTomara dynastyGhaznavidsGhaznavid Victory Beginning of Muslim rule in the Indian SubcontinentChalukya–Chola wars(992–1120 CE)Chola EmpireWestern Chalukya Empire Chola VictorySiege of Lohkot (1015) GhaznavidsLohara dynasty Sangramraja of kashmir defeated Mahmud of GhazniLohara-Ghazni conflict (1021) (1021) GhaznavidsLohara dynastyVictory for Sangramraja of Kashmir Devendra-Chalukya wars (1090–1100)Kingdom of DevendraWestern Chalukya EmpireInconclusiveChola conquest of Anuradhapura(993–1017 CE)Chola EmpireAnuradhapura Kingdom Chola VictoryChola Conquest of the Chera Kingdom and Pandya Kingdom(1018–1019 CE)Chola EmpireChera dynastyPandya dynastyChola Victory Cholas annexed the Cheras and Pandyas Chola expedition to North India(1019–1024 CE) Chola Empire Somavamshi dynastyPala EmpireKamboja-Pala dynasty Chandra dynasty Chola victory Kalinga and Bengal annexed as vassal states of the Chola Empire Part of imperial conquests of Rajendra Chola ISouth-East Asia campaign of Rajendra I (1025-1068 CE)Chola EmpireSrivijayaKadaramKingdom of PeguMayirudingamLangkasukaTalaittakkolam Chola Victory Much of Malay Peninsula sacked and conquered by the Cholas Expansion of Indian influence & culture into Southeast Asia Dissolution of Srivijayan mandala Conquest of Pegu (Burma) Later campaigns in the Philippines by other Cholas Establishment of Rajahanate of CebuChola invasion of Srivijaya(1025 CE)Chola EmpireSrivijaya Chola VictoryChola invasion of Kadaram(1068 CE)Chola EmpireSrivijaya Kadaram Chola Victory Sena revolution of Bengal(1070-1165 CE)Sena dynastyPala dynastyVarman Dynasty (Bengal) Sena victoryPandyan Civil War(1169-1177 CE)Chola dynastyPandya dynastyKingdom of PolonnaruwaPandya dynasty Chola Victory Pandyan civil conflict ends. Rival kingdoms abandon military intervention. Sinhalese-Vira Pandya alliance lost the war against CholasBattle of Nettur(1188 CE)Chola EmpirePandyan kingdom Chola VictoryIndian campaigns of Muhammad of Ghor (1175–1206) Battle of Kasahrada(1178 CE) First Battle of Tarain(1191 CE) Second Battle of Tarain(1192 CE)Rajput confederacySena dynastySoomra dynastyGhaznavidsQarmatiansTibetan tribesGhurid dynastyGhurid Victory Foundation of Delhi Sultanate

Late Medieval India (c. 13th to 15th century CE) Name of conflict Belligerents Belligerents OutcomeBattle of Kakadadaha (1205) Chandelas of JejakabhuktiGhurid empire Chandela victory Mongol invasions of India (1221–1327) Delhi Sultanate Chagatai Khanate Delhi Sultanate Victory Mongol forces expelled from India Dehlavi-Ganga War Second seizure of Lakhnauti Battles of Umurdan

(1243–1256) Delhi Sultanate Eastern Ganga dynasty Eastern Ganga Victory Alauddin Khalji's conquest of Ranthambore(1301) Delhi Sultanate Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura Delhi Sultanate Victory Siege of Chittorgarh(1303) Delhi Sultanate Guhila dynasty Delhi Sultanate Victory Alauddin Khalji's conquest of Gujarat(1304) Delhi Sultanate Vaghela dynasty Delhi Sultanate Victory Alauddin Khalji's conquest of Malwa(1305) Delhi Sultanate Paramara dynasty Delhi Sultanate Victory Alauddin Khalji's conquest of Devagiri(1308) Delhi Sultanate Seuna dynasty Delhi Sultanate VictoryDehlavi-Kakatiya War (1318–1323) Delhi SultanateKakatiya dynastyDelhi Sultanate Victory End of Kakatiya EmpireMalik Kafur's invasion of the Pandya kingdom(1310–1311) Delhi SultanatePandya dynastyDelhi Sultanate VictoryBattle of Lahrawat(1320)Khusrau Khan's forcesTughlaq dynastyTughlaq VictoryBattle of Singoli(1336) Kingdom of MewarTughlaq dynastyRajput Victory Rana Hammir Singh defeated Tughlaq Army Muhammad bin Tughluq taken prisoner First Ekdala War(1353s) Delhi Sultanate Bengal SultanateDelhi Sultanate VictorySecond Ekdala War (1359) Delhi SultanateBengal SultanateBengal Sultanate Victory Jaunpur-Bhojpur War(1389–1489) Jaunpur Sultanate Ujjainiyas of Bhojpur Jaunpur Sultanate Victory Ujjainiyas flee into the forest and lead a guerilla warfare resistance. Timurid campaign of India(1398) Timurid Empire Delhi Sultanate Timurid Empire Victory Delhi is sacked and looted End of Tughluq dynasty Benga–Jaunpur War(1415–1420) Bengal Sultanate Diplomatic support: Timurid Empire Ming China Jaunpur Sultanate Bengal Sultanate VictoryRajput-Malwa War Battle of Mandalgarh and Banas Battle of Nagaur(1437–1457) Kingdom of Mewar Kingdom of MarwarMalwa SultanateGujarat SultanateNagaur SultanateRajput Victory Sultan Mahmud Khalji taken prisoner. Raisen, Chanderi, Bhilsa, Kalpi, and Ranthambore captured by Mewar.Battle of Devarkonda (1458) Gajapati EmpireBahamani Sultanate Gajapati Empire victory

Early Modern India (c. 16th to mid 19th century CE)

Name of conflict (Time) Belligerents Opponents OutcomeFirst Luso-Malabarese War (1500–1513)Kingdom of CalicutPortuguese victoryPortuguese-Mamluk naval war (1505–1517)

Battle of Chaul Battle of Diu Siege of Jeddah Mamluk Sultanate Kingdom of Calicut

Bijapur Sultanate

Gujarat Sultanate

Supported by:Portuguese victory Start of Ottoman–Portuguese confrontations on the Indian Ocean. Start of Gujarati–Portuguese conflicts on Indian subcontinent.Siege of Anjadiva (1506)Bijapur Sultanate Portuguese IndiaBijapur victoryBattle of Dabul (1508)Bijapur Sultanate Portuguese IndiaPortuguese victoryGujarati–Portuguese conflicts (1508–1573)

Battle of Chaul