The battle was fought during a succession crisis following the death of Jai Singh II, which left Jaipur without effective leadership.

[7][8][9][10][11][12] Jai Singh II, Maharajah of Jaipur and head of the powerful Kachhwaha caste, was a major geopolitical force in his lifetime.

Madho Singh's revolt was defeated at the Battle of Rajamahal, but the claimant escaped and began to gather forces to assist him in ousting his brother.

In desperation, Ishwari asked Suraj Mal - a longtime ally of his late father - for aid, and Surajmal readily accepted, personally leading his army of 10,000 men to Jaipur city.

[14] According to contemporary source Peshwa Daftar,the two armies engaged each-other around the town of Bagru on 20 August 1748.

[14] He bribed the Maratha soldiers (and allowed them to keep the wealth they had looted), and agreed to surrender the town of Bundi to Ummed Singh.

[14] While Suraj Mal's actions during the battle at Bagru won him praise for his martial skill, the defeat humiliated Ishwari.