The beginning of the Mughal Empire and the end of the Sultanate rule in northern India was marked by the first Battle of Panipat. The battle took place in 1526 between Zahiral-Din Muhammad Babur,of Timurid descent and the ruler of Kabul who defeated Ibrahim Lodhi of the Lodhi dynasty, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. The battle was fought near Panipat(at present in the state of Harayana).

Babur`s forces consisted of 15,000 men and had only fifteen to twenty pieces of field artillery. Lodhi had 100,000 men along with 100 war elephants. However Babur scored over Lodhi because he had guns which he used to scare the elephants away. The scared elephants trampled Lodhi`s own men.The battle ended within three hours with the death of Ibrahim Lodhi on the batle field. He was abandoned by his vassals and generals. It marked the reign of the Mughals in India.

After two weeks victorious Babur entered Agra where he celebrated his victory in a lavish manner and occupied Delhi and Agra.

This battle was significant in a way because it was one of the earliest battles which involved the use of gunpowder firearms and field artillery.