The Battle of Samuhgarh and the Transformation of Samuhgarh into Fatehabad

Abstract

The Battle of Samuhgarh, fought in 1658, was a decisive event in the Mughal War of Succession that followed Emperor Shah Jahan’s illness. The victory of Prince Aurangzeb over his brother Dara Shikoh not only determined the future of the Mughal throne but also left a lasting imprint on the regional history of northern India. The battlefield town of Samuhgarh (also spelled Samugarh) was later renamed Fatehabad to commemorate Aurangzeb’s victory. This paper examines the political background of the battle, its course, causes of Aurangzeb’s success, and the historical significance of the renaming of Samuhgarh as Fatehabad.