The Battle of Tarain, also known as the Battle of Taraori, was a series of two battles fought between Prithviraj Chauhan iii of Ajmer and Ghurid ruler Muzz al-Din Muhammad or Mohd. Ghori in 1191 and 1192 A.D. The battles took place near Tarain (Taraori), near Thanesar in present day Haryana.
In 1191, Ghori crossed the Khyber Pass into India and captured the Bathinda fortress. This brought him to Prithviraj Chauhin's kingdom's northwest frontier.Recognizing their condition, the Hindu princes of north India formed a confederacy under the command of Prithiviral Chauhan. Prithviraj's army, led by his vassal prince Govind Tai, marched on to Bhatinda and met his enemy at Tarain (also called Taraori)
It has also been stated that Ghori's army surrendered and Muhammad was taken prisoner. Prithviraj pardoned Muhammad of Ghor after he begged for mercy.
Ghori returned to Ghazni after the first battle and began making plans to avenge the defeat. When he arrived in Lahore, he dispatched an envoy to Prithviraj to demand his submission, but the Chauhan ruler refused.
Ghori challenged Prithviraj in 1192, and a battle took place at the same location (Tarain). Ghori and Prithviraj both increased the size of their armies. Ghori, on the other hand, changed his strategy because he did not want to engage in melee combat with the disciplined Rajput warriors. He divided his massive army into five sections, with four units sent to attack the Rajput flanks and rear. Ghori ordered his fifth unit to retreat quickly, expecting a Rajput attack. The Rajputs charged the fleeing Ghurid unit, just as Ghori had predicted. The Ghurids then sent a new cavalry unit of 12,000 men, who successfully repelled the Rajput advance.
Ghori won the second battle of tarain and prithviraj was captured in the battle field and executed.
