c. 261 BCE★★★★★
Kalinga War
Emperor Ashoka conquers Kalinga; the war's devastation leads him to embrace Buddhism.
WarReligion· India
Timeline
15 events3rd century BCE
11th century
- 1025★★★★★
Chola invasion of Srivijaya
The fleet of the Chola king Rajendra I raids Srivijayan ports along the Strait of Malacca, weakening the maritime empire.
War· India, Indonesia, Malaysia
12th century
- 1192★★★★★
Second Battle of Tarain
Muhammad of Ghor defeats Prithviraj Chauhan, opening northern India to Muslim rule.
War· India
14th century
- 1398★★★★★
Timur sacks Delhi
Timur's army defeats the Delhi Sultanate and devastates the city, gravely weakening the sultanate.
War· India
16th century
- 1510★★★★★
Portuguese conquest of Goa
Afonso de Albuquerque seizes Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate; it becomes the capital of Portuguese India until 1961.
WarPolitics· India, Portugal - April 21, 1526★★★★★
First Battle of Panipat and founding of the Mughal Empire
Babur, using artillery and firearms, defeats Ibrahim Lodi, ending the Delhi Sultanate and founding the Mughal Empire.
WarDynasty· India - 1556★★★★★
Second Battle of Panipat secures Akbar's throne
Mughal forces defeat Hemu, securing the throne of the young Akbar, whose reign brings the empire to its zenith.
WarPolitics· India
18th century
- 1739★★★★★
Nader Shah sacks Delhi
Nader Shah of Persia defeats the Mughals at Karnal and sacks Delhi, carrying off treasures including the Peacock Throne.
War· India, Iran - 1756 – 1763★★★★★
Seven Years' War
A global conflict among the European powers fought in Europe, North America and India; Britain gains colonial supremacy and Prussia confirms its great-power status.
War· United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Russia, Spain, United States, Canada, India - June 23, 1757★★★★★
Battle of Plassey
The East India Company under Robert Clive defeats Siraj ud-Daulah, Nawab of Bengal, beginning British dominance in India.
War· India, United Kingdom - January 14, 1761★★★★★
Third Battle of Panipat
Ahmad Shah Durrani's Afghan army defeats the Maratha Empire in one of the bloodiest battles of the 18th century.
War· India, Afghanistan
19th century
- 1824 – 1826★★★★★
First Anglo-Burmese War
Britain defeats Konbaung Burma, which cedes Assam, Manipur, Arakan and Tenasserim under the Treaty of Yandabo.
War· Myanmar, India, United Kingdom - May 10, 1857 – 1858★★★★★
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Sepoys mutiny at Meerut, sparking a widespread uprising against East India Company rule across northern and central India.
WarRevolution· India, United Kingdom
20th century
- October 20, 1962 – November 21, 1962★★★★★
Sino-Indian War
China and India fight a Himalayan border war over Aksai Chin and present-day Arunachal Pradesh, ending in a unilateral Chinese ceasefire.
War· India, China - March 26, 1971 – December 16, 1971★★★★★
Bangladesh Liberation War
East Pakistan declares independence as Bangladesh; after nine months of war and Indian intervention, Pakistani forces surrender in Dhaka.
WarRevolution· Bangladesh, Pakistan, India