The Second Battle of Panipat was fought between the forces of Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, popularly called Hemu, the Hindu king who was ruling North India from Delhi, and the army of Akbar, on November 5, 1556. It was a decisive victory for Akbar's generals Khan Zaman I and Bairam Khan. Background On January 24, 1556, the Mughal ruler Humanyun died in Delhi and was succeeded by his son, Akbarat Kalanaur, who was only thirteen years old.