Hill States–Sikh wars
The Hill States–Sikh wars, also known as the Sikh–Pahari Raja wars, was a set of battles and conflicts fought by the Sikhs and the Rajas of the Hill States located in the Sivalik Hills.
| Hill States–Sikh wars | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guru Gobind Singh shooting an arrow from Anandpur Fort | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Akal Sena (1682 - 1699) Khalsa Fauj (1699 - 1735) Dal Khalsa (1735 - 1799) Sikh Empire (1799-1815) | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Guru Gobind Singh Bhai Daya Singh Bhai Dharam Singh Bhai Himmat Singh † Bhai Mohkam Singh † Bhai Sahib Singh † Bhai Sangat Singh † Bhai Jati Mal † Sahibzada Ajit Singh † Sahibzada Jujhar Singh † Bhai Udai Singh † Bhai Kalyan Singh † Bhai Ishar Singh † Bhai Mani Singh Bhai Jiwan Singh † Banda Singh Bahadur Baba Baghar Singh Baba Ranjor Singh Bhai Bajar Singh Bhai Kehar Singh Bhai Ranjit Singh Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Jai Singh Kanhaiya Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya † Maha Singh Pir Budh Shah Maharaja Ranjit Singh | Raja Fateh Shah Raja Bhim Chand Raja Ajmer Chand Raja Kirpal Chand Raja Bir Sain Raja Wazir Singh Raja Karor Chand † Raja Hari Chand (WIA) Raja Gopal Chand Raja Alim Chand (WIA) Raja Balia Chand † Raja Ghumand Chand † Raja Bhup Chand General Jagatullah † Raja Kesari Chand † Raja Karam Chand Raja Dalip Singh Raja Dev Saran Raja Gaje Singh Raja Sudh Sain Raja Sansar Chand Katoch Raja Braj Dev † Raja Sampuran Dev | ||||||||
Prelude edit
Guru Hargobind came in contact with some of the chiefs of the Rajput States in the Gwalior fort where he along with the others were held captive under the orders of Jahangir.[2] He also helped Dharam Chand, a prince of Hindur to regain his throne after being released from Gwalior. The guru was also able to be the founder of the city Kiratpur Sahib by the Kahlur state.[2] The Raja of Kangra, Rai Jodh, aided Guru Hargobind in the Battle of Lahira against the Mughals.[3][4] This caused closer relationships between the two parties. However, when Bhim Chand became the ruler of Kahlur, he fought the Sikhs, making them their main enemy.
Conflict during Guru Gobind Singh's era edit
Kahlur attacked the Sikhs in 1682. There are several reasons to why. Bhim Chand, the ruler of Kahlur did not like the large gatherings and war-like activities in the vicinity of his capital. However, the main reason for the attack was that Guru Gobind Singh used to beat a huge kettle drum called Ranjit Nagara every morning and it echoed for miles. The Raja objected to this practice, declaring that it was the privilege of the ruler alone. The guru paid no heed to this protest. Therefore, Bhim Chand attacked the 16 year old Guru but was repulsed.[5][6]
After the clash in 1682, skirmishes frequently occurred between the two parties. Bhim Chand connived with the Raja of Kangra and Guler to expel the guru from Anandpur. They attacked Anandpur in early 1685 but were beaten off by the Sikhs.[7][8]
Battle of Bhangani edit
The Battle of Bhangani was a major battle fought between several different Hindu states and the Sikhs. An Alliance of the different Rajas of Sivalik Hills with Bhim Chand's Kahlur.[9][10]
During April 1685, the Guru shifted his residence to Paonta in Sirmur State. He was invited by Mat Prakash who was the king of Sirmur. This is believed to occur because of his differences with Bhim Chand in Anandpur.[11]
The town of Bhangani is located seven miles from the town of Paonta on the confluence of Jamuna and Giri rivers. Pir Buduh Shah joined the Guru with his four sons, two brothers and 700 disciples.[12]
The battle is believed to be fought for an entire day. The Sikhs numbered about 1,000 in strength and were later reinforced by a force of 507 troops. The Alliance of Hindu Chiefs strength numbered around 10,000.[13] The Guru came victorious and won the battle. Bichitar Natak mentions that the enemy forces fled the battleground. Hari Chand, the king of Hindur was slain.[14][15][16]
Temporary military alliance with Guru Gobind Singh edit
After the Battle of Bhangani, Bhim Chand and some other hill chieftains refused to pay tribute to the Mughal emperor which ultimately led to Battle of Nadaun. He sought for help to the Guru and made an alliance. The alliance of the Sikhs and Kahlur came out as the victors.[17][18]
The exact date of the battle remains disputed. The main guess of the date is believed to be 1691 by Tony Jaques.[19]
Attacks on Anandpur edit
Following the creation of the Khalsa the Hill Rajas were quite alarmed and jealous of the Guru. The Rajas thus began raiding Sikhs causing further tension between the Sikh and Rajas.[21][22]
When Guru Gobind Singh was on a hunting trip Raja Balia Chand, and Alim Chand launched a surprise attack in hopes of capturing the Guru. They outnumbered the Sikh but Sikh reinforcements soon arrived. Balia Chand was shot dead by Bhai Udai Singh and Alim Chand had his hand cut off by Alam Singh. After the death and injury of the Rajas the army retreated.[23][24][25]
After this defeat the Hill Rajas sent a petition to Delhi (The Mughal Empire) requesting their immediate assistance in battle. In response to this letter Aurangzeb sent 10,000 soldiers under Painde Khan and Din Beg.[26][27] They were joined by 20,000 soldiers of the Hill Rajas. The Rajas and Mughals, whose combined army was 30,000, attacked the Sikhs who numbered 7,000.[28][29] The Sikhs defeated the Mughal and Raja army killing Painde Khan and wounding Din Beg. The Sikhs chased the army all the way to Rupar.[30][31]
Besieging Anandpur edit
The Hill Rajas were alarmed by the success of Guru Gobind Singh. In a meeting of the hill kings, they all decided collect high contingents of troops from every raja and attack the Sikhs in Anandpur.[9] They besieged Anandpur. The Sikhs took position in the 5 forts at Anandpur.[32] The Defence of Lohgarh was entrusted to Sher Singh and Nahar Singh, Udai Singh took charge of Fatehgarh and Sahibzada Ajit Singh took command of force defending Taragarh.[9] The Hill Chief forces were led by General Jagutallah and is believed to be numbered around 300,000 troops.[33]
For many days straight, the Rajput forces attacked the fortresses without success.[34] One of the rajas named Ghumand Chand's horse was shot by a warrior named Alim Singh while he was killed himself by the hands of Bhai Himmat Singh.[35][36]
The Rajas decided to send a peace treaty to Guru Gobind Singh after a council was held. They sent a letter which said, "Satguru, we are susceptible to the mistakes. We swear on the cow and the sacred thread that we will never raid the town of Anandpur. We are ashamed to show our faces to the hill people. If you abandon the Fort Anandgarh just once and come back later, it will help us to restore our dignity.[37] Guru Gobind Singh was hesitiant to accept the Rajas demands, but the Sikhs insited upon it. After meeting Sikh commanders who proposed leaving Guru Gobind Singh and the Sikhs left Anandpur.[37]
Mughal–Hill States alliance edit
In 1702, The Mughals and Hill Rajas made a plan to attack the Guru and the Sikhs at Nirmohgarh. The Rajas reinforced the Mughals and fought against the Sikhs in Battle of Nirmohgarh (1702).[37][38] At Basoli, the Mughal and Hill Chief forces failed to subdue the Sikhs and faced defeat by retreating.[39] In First Battle of Chamkaur, there was a small army of 500 soldiers with the Guru.[40] Alif Khan could not fight alone which made the entire enemy force including the hill rajas retreat.[41] In First Battle of Anandpur (1704), the commander of the Mughals was severely wounded while battling and retreated the force led by him.
The Mughals joined the Hill Kings. They besieged Anandpur with all supplies and communication cut off.[42] The strength of the Hill Rajas and Mughals was ten to fifteen times more than the Sikhs.[43] 8 months had passed without the Sikhs surrendering themselves to the enemy. Aurangzeb promised on the Quran while the Hill Rajas swore to their gods that the Sikhs will be safe if the Guru decides to leave the fort.[44] The Sikhs left the fort.
When the Sikhs arrived at the Sarsa, the Mughals and Hill Rajas broke their oath and attacked the Sikhs.[42] The Guru sent Bhai Jiwan Singh, Bhai Udai Singh and 48 other troops to Shahi Tibbi in order to defend the large army while everyone else tried to cross the river.[45] When the Battle of Shahi Tibbi was taking place, the rest of the caravan including the guru had reached the bank of Sarsa River.[46] The enemy forces had crushed the 50 Sikhs and reached Sarsa. There they reduced guru's forces from 400 men to 40. The next day, an army more than 700 times the size of the 40 Sikhs marched upon Chamkaur. However even after outnumbering them, they failed to capture Guru Gobind Singh.[47] This was the last battle fought between the Hill Rajas and Guru Gobind Singh.
Banda Singh Bahadur's invasion edit
After wrestling Punjab from the Mughals and being its sovereign, Banda Singh Bahadur launched an invasion on the Hill Kings.[48][49] The first Hill state he focused on was Bilaspur which is also known as Kahlur.[50] They sent a note to Raja Bhim Chand of Kahlur that he must face the wrath of the Khalsa. The main reason of attacking Kahlur was that they had always allied up with the Mughal Empire to fight Guru Gobind.[51] They both had a meeting and they made conditions on what they would do if they won the battle.[52] Right after the meeting, Raja Bhim Chand placed as many troops as possible in order to defend the Kahlur Fort. There were around 1300 Mians including 7 war elephants.[51][53] Banda Singh first sent 5 of his Sikhs to fight who were accompanied voluntary by a large number of Sikhs.[54] Bhai Kehar Singh, Bhai Ranjit Singh and Baba Ranjor Singh eliminated the 7 war elephants. Bhai Bajar Singh marched towards the fort and brought down both of its main doors. Bhai Baghar Singh cleared the passage through enemy columns and destroyed the forces which were blocking the entrance of the fort. During all this time, the Khalsa contingents had arrived which made the remaining mians flee. Around the entire army was slain including every war elephant.[51][50] Bilaspur's immense booty was looted by the Sikhs.
After Kahlur, Mandi was the next by the Sikhs. Sudh Sain was the Raja of Mandi.[55] He came to Mandi next as Raja Man Singh of Kullu attempted to capture Banda Singh but he dodged into Mandi.[1] Kullu and Chamba were the next two targets until Banda Singh left the hills.
During Dal Khalsa edit
The first Sikh to invade Kangra Hill States was Jassa Singh Ramgarhia. Kangra, the strongest of the hill states was ruled by Raja Sansar Chand Katoch.[56][57] In 1774, Sansar Chand laid siege on the Kangra fortress which was held by a Mughal garrison. Unable to take it by himself, he called in aid of Jai Singh Kanhaiya. The latter accepted his invitation and the garrison was compelled to surrender. The fort was ultimately occupied by the Kanhaiyas and they refused to give it to the Raja.[2][58][59]
On the Diwali day in 1784, all the Sikhs chiefs gathered at Amritsar, Jai Singh Kanhaiya behaved coldly with Maha Singh and refused his attempts to reconcile and called him Dancing boy. Maha Singh took this insult to heart.[60][61] He invited Sansar Chand and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia to join him against the Kanhaiya Misl. The Kanhaiyas were defeated and Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya was killed. Sansar Chand finally occupied Kangra fort.
Jammu was the principal state lying between Ravi River and Chenab River. Its most famous ruler Ranjit Dev was succeeded by Raja Braj Dev. Jammu was sacked twice by Maha Singh. Braj Dev was killed in a battle in 1787.[2] His son Raja Sampuran Singh succeeded with Jammu becoming an autonomous tributary under the Sikh Misls.[62][63]
Relations during Ranjit Singh's reign edit
In 1803, Sada Kaur's territory near Hoshiarpur was attacked by Raja Sansar Chand Katoch. Ranjit Singh drove him away.[2][64]
Amar Singh Thapa commanded his troops further to Kangra fort of King Sansar Chand. They rested on Jwalamukhi and ultimately captured the fort. King Sansar Chand aided by 1500 soldiers of Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh fought against forces of Amar Singh at Ganesh Valley and retreated back only to attack at the evening. Due to the attack in the evening, Gorkhali Army lost some positions and Amar Singh returned to Sutlej river as per agreement on 24 August 1809 AD.[65]
Sansar Chand was in war with Amar Singh Thapa and he had lost hope. He sought for Maharaja Ranjit Singh for help under the condition of giving Kangra Fort to the Sikh Empire. In August 1809, the Sikh army attacked the Gurkhas in Kangra. The Gurkha army collapsed and the Kangra fort was under the hands of Ranjit Singh.[66] This was the last ever encounter between the Sikhs and Hill States.
Battles edit
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Sagoo 2001, p. 191.
- ^ a b c d e Harbans Singh (1992). The Encyclopedia Of Sikhism - Volume IV S-Z. p. 194.
- ^ Gurbilas Patashai 6 Chapter 19
- ^ Macauliffe, Max Arthur (1909a). Sikh Religion Vol.4. p. 153.
- ^ Harajindara Siṅgha Dilagīra (1997). The Sikh reference book. p. 150. ISBN 9788170103011.
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (1984). History Of The Sikhs Vol. I The Sikh Gurus (1469-1708). pp. 226–228. ISBN 8121502764.
- ^ Gupta 1984, p. 226-228.
- ^ Sagoo, Harbans Kaur (2001). Banda Singh Bahadur And Sikh Sovereignty. p. 59.
- ^ a b c Amardeep S. Dahiya (2014). Founder of the Khalsa. ISBN 9789381398616.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
- ^ Gazetteer of the Sirmur State. New Delhi: Indus Publishing. 1996. p. 16. ISBN 978-81-7387-056-9. OCLC 41357468.
- ^ Brief History of The Sikhs (PDF). Sikh Missionary College. p. 64.
- ^ Gandhi, Surjit (2007). The History of The Sikh Gurus Retold 1606 - 1708. Atlantic. pp. 774, 775. ISBN 978-8126908592.
- ^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar (1970). Muslim Rule In India. S.Chand, New Delhi. p. 235.
- ^ Singh, Bhagat Lakshman. Short Sketch of the Life and Works of Guru Gobind Singh. Asian Educational Services. p. 78. ISBN 8120605764.
- ^ Guru Gobind Singh. Bachitar Natak.
- ^ Singh, Raj Pal (2003). The Sikhs: Their Journey of Five Hundred Years. Bhavana Books & Prints. ISBN 978-81-86505-46-5.
- ^ Singh, Kartar (1967). Guru Gobind Singh and the Mughals. Chandigarh: Guru Gobind Singh Foundation. p. 55. OCLC 49259.
- ^ Tony Jaques (2006). . p. 704. ISBN 9780313335365. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26.
- ^ Singh, Jvala (24 June 2020). "This painting is very likely a real contemporary painting of Guru Gobind Singh, who is seated on the right, with his famous blue horse lower in the image. He is seated here with Sidh Sen the King of Mandi, who commissioned the painting likely around 1701 while the Guru was 35". Twitter. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ G.S Chhabra (1960). Advanced History Of The Punjab Vol 1. p. 279.
- ^ Amardeep S. Dahiya (2014). Founder of The Khalsa. ISBN 9789381398616.
- ^ Macauliffe 1909b, p. 120.
- ^ Harbans Kaur Sagoo (2001). Banda Singh Bahadur And Sikh Sovereignty. Deep & Deep Publications. p. 68. ISBN 9788176293006.
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- ^ Jaques, Tony (2007). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A-E. Greenwood Publishing. pp. 48–49. ISBN 978-0-313-33537-2.
- ^ Singh, Dalip (2015). Life of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (6th ed.). CSJS. p. 175. ISBN 978-81-7601-480-9.
- ^ Singh, Dalip (2015). Life of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (6th ed.). CSJS. p. 174. ISBN 978-81-7601-480-9.
- ^ Gandhi 2007, p. 815.
- ^ Macauliffe, Max Arthur (1996) [1909]. The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings, and Authors. Low Price Publications. p. 125. ISBN 978-81-86142-31-8. OCLC 1888987.
- ^ Gandhi 2007, p. 816.
- ^ Suraj Granth Rut 4 Chapter 11
- ^ Ashok, Shamsher Singh. "AJIT SIHGH, SAHIBZADA (1687-1704)". Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Punjabi University Punjabi.
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- ^ Singh, Prithi Pal (2007). The History of Sikh Gurus. Lotus Books. p. 146. ISBN 978-81-8382-075-2.
- ^ a b c Bindra, Pritpal Singh. Guru Kian Sakhian Tales of the Sikh Gurus. pp. 142–148.
- ^ Singh, Dalip (1992). Guru Gobind Singh and Khalsa Discipline. Amritsar: Singh Bros. p. 256. ISBN 978-81-7205-071-9. OCLC 28583123.
- ^ Gandhi 2007, p. 820.
- ^ Macauliffe 1909b, p. 162.
- ^ Singh, Dalip (1992). Guru Gobind Singh and Khalsa Discipline. Amritsar: Singh Bros. pp. 188–189. ISBN 978-81-7205-071-9. OCLC 28583123.
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- ^ a b Sagoo 2001, p. 190.
- ^ a b c Sikh Digital Library (1935-04-17). Life Of Banda Singh Bahadur Based On Contemporary And Original Records - Dr. Ganda Singh. Sikh Digital Library. Sikh Digital Library. pp. 154–155.
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- ^ Bhangu 1914, p. 281.
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- ^ "Nepal – The Land and the People". Retrieved 2017-10-15.
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