Before the Mughals, THIS hindu king ruled Delhi, won 22 battles, was called ‘Napolean of India’, his name was…

He, who served as a general and wazir of Adil Shah Suri of Sur Empire before he crowned himself king, was a pivotal player in history at a time when the Mughals and Afghans were vying for power and control of north India.

Before the Mughal Empire established its dominance over India, a courageous Hindu ruler, Hemu Vikramaditya, briefly ascended the throne of Delhi. Born into a humble family, Hemu rose through the ranks with his exceptional military skills and strategic brilliance. He served as the Prime Minister and General under the Suri dynasty, winning numerous battles. In 1556, he defeated the Mughals and declared himself the independent ruler of Delhi. His remarkable leadership and battlefield tactics earned him the title “Napoleon of India.” However, his reign was short-lived, as he was eventually defeated and executed by the Mughals, marking the end of Hindu rule in Delhi.

Hemu’s early life

Hemu was born in 1501 in the village of Machheri, near Rajgarh in Alwar, Rajasthan. He belonged to the Dhusar Brahmin (Bhargava) family. His father, Puran Das, was a priest and a deeply religious man. Later in life, Puran Das became a saint and moved to Vrindavan, where he lived with the well-known saint Harivansh of the Vallabha sect.

For better opportunities, Hemu’s family shifted to Qutabpur, a village of Dhusar Brahmins, in Rewari (Haryana). Hemu grew up and received his education there. He learned Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic. As a child, he was interested in wrestling and horse riding.

Rewari was located on a major trade route between Iran, Iraq, and Delhi. Hemu started his career as a trader, supplying food grains to Sher Shah Suri’s army. Later, he also began providing saltpeter, which was used to make gunpowder, to the army.

Hemu’s rise to power

Born in a humble family, Hemu rose to prominence through his intelligence and military skills. He served as the Prime Minister and General of the Suri Dynasty under Adil Shah Suri. According to historical records, he helped Adil Shah fight the Mughal forces under both Humayun and his son Akbar. His leadership and bravery in battle helped Adil Shah maintain control over large parts of northern India.

A fearless warrior

Hemu fought and won many battles against rivals, gaining a reputation as a powerful military commander. Hemu won 22 battles — including one against Akbar’s “mighty army”. Even his enemies admired his war strategies. His moment of glory came on October 7, 1556, when he defeated the Mughal army in Delhi. After this victory, he crowned himself as the independent ruler of Delhi and took the title of Vikramaditya.

The Battle of Panipat and tragic end

However, his reign was short-lived. Just a month later, on November 5, 1556, the Mughals, led by Akbar’s general Bairam Khan, attacked him in the Second Battle of Panipat. Although Hemu’s army was strong, he was struck by an arrow in the eye during battle, which caused confusion among his troops. He was captured and later executed.

The end of Hindu rule in Delhi

With Hemu’s death, Hindu rule in Delhi came to an end, and the Mughals firmly established their empire. His bravery and leadership continue to be remembered as an inspiring chapter in Indian history.