Battle of Mardanpur

In 1794, a large force led by Lakshmi Rao, Anta Rao and Lachhman Rao crossed the Yamuna and marched towards Patiala.[4] The army numbered around 100,000 men.[3] Raja Bhag Singh of Jhind, Jodh Singh of Kalsia, Bhanga Singh and Mehtab Singh of Thanesar and the Bhadaur sardars Dip Singh and Bir Singh agreed to join her while Sardar Tara Singh Ghaiba sent a detachment. These forces combined numbered around 7,000. They marched to meet the Marathas at Mardanpur.[5]

A fierce battle occurred in which Patiala lost a third of their force while the Marathas lost half of their army. Sahib Kaur killed Ranjit Rao, a Marathan general in a one-on-one duel. The fight ended in the evening, with soldiers falling back to their camps.[2] Patiala's force would have retreated soon if Bibi Sahib Kaur didn't inspire the army of Patiala with her motivational speech to fight until the last breath.[3][5] Patiala feared that the Marathas will get reinforcements so they decided to launch a surprise attack at midnight.[2] The surprise attack changed the status of the battle. Patiala's defeat turned into an undisputed victory. When Ghanta Rao and Lakshmi Rao saw Bibi Sahib Kaur fighting bravely they decided to retreat out of fear.[3] Anta Rao retreated to Karnal since large Sikh reinforcements were about to arrive.[5]

"Uncountable dead bodies lay dead. Apart from dead bodies, the enemy cannons, ammunition, ration and treasury were left behind. Bibi Sahib Kaur distributed the wealth to each Sikh warrior equally and captured the cannons and ammunition and returned it to Patiala."[3]

• Nihang
• Martyrdom and Sikhism