Battle of Sirhind (1781)
| Battle of Sirhind | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mughal-Sikh Wars | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Dal Khalsa |
 Mughal Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Baghel Singh |
Mirza Shafi Khan | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | 40,000[1] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 10,000-15,000[1] | ||||||
The Battle of Sirhind was fought on 10 June 1781 by Sikh forces led by Baghel Singh and Mughal forces led by Mirza Shafi Khan.
Background[edit]
After Abdul Ahad Khan's expedition against the Patiala State in the Siege of Patiala (1779) failed, Mirza Najaf Khan needed to think of something to do against the Sikhs, who had become sovereign over the Northern India region.[2][3] Therefore, he sent the Mughal imperial army under Mirza Shafi Khan who was the grandnephew of the Mirza.[4][5] Shafi started his campaign in January 1780.[6]
Battle[edit]
A Marathi letter stated that " From Delhi Najaf Khan has sent his assistant Ambar Shah (Shafi) with 40,000 troops and artillery against the Sikhs. He went to Sirhind district and confronted the Sikhs.; The Sikhs defeated the imperial army, slew ten to fifteen thousand soldiers and seized all their guns. The imperial army fled back to Panipat."[1][7]
Aftermath[edit]
The entire campaign ended in June 1781 as an expensive loss after failing to stop the Sikhs.[2][8]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Maheshwar Darharanchi Batmipatren. p. 53.
- ^ a b The Panjab Past and Present. Vol. 17. Punjabi University (Patiala): Department of Punjab Historical Studies. 1983. p. 22.
- ^ Indian Historical Records Commission (1941). Proceedings of Meetings. Superintendent Government Printing, India. p. 96.
- ^ Singh, Khushwant (2004). A History of the Sikhs: 1469–1838 (2, illustrated ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 176. ISBN 9780195673081.
- ^ Sarkar, Jadunath (1964). Fall of the Mughal Empire: 1771-1788. Vol. 3 (3rd (reprint) ed.). Orient Longman. p. 151.
- ^ Gupta 1939, p. 94.
- ^ Gupta 1939, p. 123.
- ^ Journal of Sikh Studies. Vol. 10. Guru Nanak University: Department of Guru Nanak Studies. 1983. p. 99.
Bibliography[edit]
- Gupta, Hari Ram (1939), History of the Sikhs: Cis-Sutlej Sikhs, 1769-1799, S.N. Sarkar
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