The Battle of Rohtas took place somewhere in December 1779, between Timur Shah Durrani and the Bhangi Misl. Timur Shah consolidated his rule through multiple attempts, and also attempted an earlier invasion in 1775, however realizing the weakness of his army in view of smaller in number, Timur Shah retired to Peshawar which proceeded with rebellion by Faizullah Khan,[5] who plotted to assassinate Timur Shah but was cunningly executed.[6] In late 1779, Timur Shah decided to conquer Multan.[7]
A year before the death of Ahmad Shah Durrani, the Sikhs conquered Multan in 1772.[8] Timur Shah ascended to the throne of the Durrani Empire after his father’s death.[9] Due to Sikhs having been in possession of the provinces of Lahore and Multan, these provinces served as a barrier for any attempt by Timur Shah to invade, many chiefs and nobility, dependencies of Durranis, paid no respect to the Durrani sovereignty, such as Sindh which reduced the amount of tribute and hardly paid it, mostly due to its concurrent civil war between the Talpurs, and the Kalhoras; Nasir Khan Baloch, the ruler of the Khanate of Kalat under Timur Shah did not acknowledge the authority of Afghan monarch, as a result, inducing other Durrani chiefdoms to do the same, including the chief of Bahawalpur, who treated the authority of Timur Shah with no respect.[10] Timur Shah thereupon tried to recover Multan by diplomacy and therefore sent Haji Ali Khan, as his agent, along with companions, to the Bhangi Sikh Chiefs to negotiate, with advise to behave and be polite, but instead, Haji Ali Khan threatened the Bhangi Chiefs to retire from Multan or face the royal wrath. The Bhangis tied Haji to the tree and shot him dead whereas his companions were left unharmed and sent back to report to Timur.[10][1]
Battle
Upon the news of death of his agent, Timur Shah detached a force of 18,000 men that included Yusafzais, Durranis, Mughals and Qizalbashes under general Zangi Khan,[11] with orders to march by less known routes and fall upon the Sikhs unaware and Zangi Khan gave strict orders to his army to keep the movement secret. Zangi Khan halted 25kms from the Sikh camps with orders to imprison anyone who goes in the direction of the Sikh camp to make the Sikhs aware of their presence. Timur Shah positioned himself in the centre, at the head of 5,000 Yusafzai men.[12] Little before daybreak, early morning, the Sikhs completely unaware of Afghan army’s presence, were attacked, and though unorganized, the Sikhs gave tough resistance but were eventually overwhelmed. About 3000 Sikhs were killed, and 500 others drowned in river Jhelum in trying to cross it during the Sikh retreat, while 2000 escaped by successfully reaching the opposite bank of the river.[2]
Aftermath
Following the victory, Timur Shah Durrani captured Multan after negotiations were held when the Afghans sieged it in February 1780, following which Timur Shah appointed Muzaffar Khan as the Nazim of Multan and Abdul Karim Khan Babar, a defected Muslim general of the Sikh army was appointed as Naib (Chief officer) of Muzaffar Khan.[13] Multan would remain under Afghan rule until its loss in 1818 to the Sikh Empire, during the Siege of Multan. Timur Shah would dawn many other campaigns in Punjab after this.
^ abMuhammad Katib Hazarah, Fayz (2012). "The History Of Afghanistan Fayż Muḥammad Kātib Hazārah's Sirāj Al Tawārīkh By R. D. Mcchesney, M. M. Khorrami". AAF: 61. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Drahm, Abdel (2020). "Afghanistan A History From 1260 To The Present". AAF: 148,153. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
^Khan Malik, Ajmal (1993). UNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (Thesis). Vol. 01. University of Peshawar, Pakistan. p. 158. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
^ abGupta, Hari Ram (2000). Studies In Later Mughal History Of The Punjab 1707-1793. Sang-e-Meel Publications. pp. 237–240. ISBN9789693507560.
^Muhammad Khan, Ashiq (1998). THE LAST PHASE OF MUSLIM RULE IN MULTAN (1752 - 1818) (Thesis). University of Multan, MULTAN. p. 157. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
^Hari Ram Gupta (2001). History of the Sikhs: The Sikh Commonwealth. Munshirm Manoharlal Pub Pvt Ltd. pp. 432–435. ISBN9788121501651.
battle, rohtas, 1779, battle, rohtas, took, place, somewhere, december, 1779, between, timur, shah, durrani, bhangi, misl, timur, shah, consolidated, rule, through, multiple, attempts, also, attempted, earlier, invasion, 1775, however, realizing, weakness, arm. The Battle of Rohtas took place somewhere in December 1779 between Timur Shah Durrani and the Bhangi Misl Timur Shah consolidated his rule through multiple attempts and also attempted an earlier invasion in 1775 however realizing the weakness of his army in view of smaller in number Timur Shah retired to Peshawar which proceeded with rebellion by Faizullah Khan 5 who plotted to assassinate Timur Shah but was cunningly executed 6 In late 1779 Timur Shah decided to conquer Multan 7 Battle of RohtasPart of Afghan Sikh warsLayout of Rohtas Fort DateDecember 1779LocationRohtas FortResultDurrani victoryTerritorialchangesDurrani Empire secures Rohtas FortBelligerentsDurrani EmpireBhangi MislCommanders and leadersTimur Shah Durrani Zangi Khan 1 UnknownStrength18 000 2 Unknown presumably around 5 500 3 Exaggerated estimates up to 30 000 4 Casualties and lossesUnknown3 000 Sikhs killed 2 500 drowned 2 Exaggerated estimates claim around 30 000 dead 4 2 Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 ReferencesBackground EditA year before the death of Ahmad Shah Durrani the Sikhs conquered Multan in 1772 8 Timur Shah ascended to the throne of the Durrani Empire after his father s death 9 Due to Sikhs having been in possession of the provinces of Lahore and Multan these provinces served as a barrier for any attempt by Timur Shah to invade many chiefs and nobility dependencies of Durranis paid no respect to the Durrani sovereignty such as Sindh which reduced the amount of tribute and hardly paid it mostly due to its concurrent civil war between the Talpurs and the Kalhoras Nasir Khan Baloch the ruler of the Khanate of Kalat under Timur Shah did not acknowledge the authority of Afghan monarch as a result inducing other Durrani chiefdoms to do the same including the chief of Bahawalpur who treated the authority of Timur Shah with no respect 10 Timur Shah thereupon tried to recover Multan by diplomacy and therefore sent Haji Ali Khan as his agent along with companions to the Bhangi Sikh Chiefs to negotiate with advise to behave and be polite but instead Haji Ali Khan threatened the Bhangi Chiefs to retire from Multan or face the royal wrath The Bhangis tied Haji to the tree and shot him dead whereas his companions were left unharmed and sent back to report to Timur 10 1 Battle EditUpon the news of death of his agent Timur Shah detached a force of 18 000 men that included Yusafzais Durranis Mughals and Qizalbashes under general Zangi Khan 11 with orders to march by less known routes and fall upon the Sikhs unaware and Zangi Khan gave strict orders to his army to keep the movement secret Zangi Khan halted 25kms from the Sikh camps with orders to imprison anyone who goes in the direction of the Sikh camp to make the Sikhs aware of their presence Timur Shah positioned himself in the centre at the head of 5 000 Yusafzai men 12 Little before daybreak early morning the Sikhs completely unaware of Afghan army s presence were attacked and though unorganized the Sikhs gave tough resistance but were eventually overwhelmed About 3000 Sikhs were killed and 500 others drowned in river Jhelum in trying to cross it during the Sikh retreat while 2000 escaped by successfully reaching the opposite bank of the river 2 Aftermath EditFollowing the victory Timur Shah Durrani captured Multan after negotiations were held when the Afghans sieged it in February 1780 following which Timur Shah appointed Muzaffar Khan as the Nazim of Multan and Abdul Karim Khan Babar a defected Muslim general of the Sikh army was appointed as Naib Chief officer of Muzaffar Khan 13 Multan would remain under Afghan rule until its loss in 1818 to the Sikh Empire during the Siege of Multan Timur Shah would dawn many other campaigns in Punjab after this References Edit a b Muhammad Khan 1998 p 157 a b c d e Gupta 2000 p 240 Gupta 2000 p 241 a b Muhammad Katib Hazarah Fayz 2012 The History Of Afghanistan Fayz Muḥammad Katib Hazarah s Siraj Al Tawarikh By R D Mcchesney M M Khorrami AAF 61 Retrieved 11 November 2021 Gupta 2000 p 236 Gupta 2000 p 237 Gupta 2000 p 238 Drahm Abdel 2020 Afghanistan A History From 1260 To The Present AAF 148 153 Retrieved 4 October 2021 Khan Malik Ajmal 1993 UNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR PAKISTAN Thesis Vol 01 University of Peshawar Pakistan p 158 Retrieved 4 December 2021 a b Gupta Hari Ram 2000 Studies In Later Mughal History Of The Punjab 1707 1793 Sang e Meel Publications pp 237 240 ISBN 9789693507560 Muhammad Khan Ashiq 1998 THE LAST PHASE OF MUSLIM RULE IN MULTAN 1752 1818 Thesis University of Multan MULTAN p 157 Retrieved 4 December 2021 Hari Ram Gupta 2001 History of the Sikhs The Sikh Commonwealth Munshirm Manoharlal Pub Pvt Ltd pp 432 435 ISBN 9788121501651 Muhammad Khan 1998 p 158 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Rohtas 1779 amp oldid 1138032702, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
