Ibrahim Khan Gardi (died 14 January 1761) was a Muslim general and artillerist of the Hyderabad State and the Maratha Confederacy.
Biography[]
Gardi in battle
Ibrahim Khan Gardi was born in southern India to a Muslim family of poor origin, and he became a mercenary and artillery expert after receiving training from France. He served the Nizam of Hyderabad State, fighting at the Battle of Palkhed and the Battle of Udgir, where he was captured by the Marathas. Some of the Marathi generals wished to have Gardi executed, claiming that his tribe was known for its disloyalty. However, Sadashivrao Bhau spared Gardi's life and had Gardi swear his allegiance to the Marathi peshwa Balaji Baji Rao and given command of 10,000 soldiers.
Gardi became deputy commander-in-chief, commander of artillery, and general of one of the Marathas' most powerful armies, and he fought alongside Sadashivrao at the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761. Gardi's battalion faced and repulsed the Afghan onslaught during the battle, and he held out against all of the Agfhan attacks on his battalion, slaying 12,000 Afghan cavalry and infantrymen and blasting the Afghans with artillery, killing or wounding 45,000 men. Gardi was ultimately wounded and captured by the Afghans, and he refused to enter Ahmad Shah Durrani's service, resulting in his torture until death.
Gallery[]
