DEORAI, BATTLE OF

(April 1214, 1659), victory of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb that confirmed his possession of the throne. It was fought at Deorai, in northeastern India, between Aurangzeb and his brother and rival prince Dara Shikoh. Dara challenged Aurangzeb, relying on the promised support of Jaswant Singh of Marwar, but Jaswant then deserted him, and Dara was left to face Aurangzeb's superior army alone. Defeated after three days' resistance, he was captured and later executed.