Battle of Behgy (1766)

Battle of Behgy
Part of Afghan–Sikh Wars
Date November 1766 Location Behgy, near Rohtas Fort, Punjab region Result Afghan victory
Belligerents
Durrani Empire	Sikh Confederacy
Commanders and leaders
Ahmad Shah Durrani	Ballam Singh  †
Strength
Unknown	7,000–8,000 horsemen
Casualties and losses
Minimal	Heavy Many killed, captured, or drowned in the Jhelum River

The Battle of Behgy, also known as the Battle of Beghian, took place in December 1766 near Rohtas in present-day Pakistan. It was part of the Afghan-Sikh Wars and took place during Ahmad Shah Durrani's eighth invasion of India. The battle was fought between the Sikh Confederacy and the Afghan forces led by Ahmad Shah Durrani. According to historical accounts, the battle resulted in a Sikh defeat, forcing them to retreat to Amritsar.

Background

Ahmad Shah sent his troops towards Panjab for the eighth time in November 1766. While Ahmad Shah was nearing Punjab, Ahmad had been invited by Mir Qasirn of Bengal to restore him to the throne of Murshidabad of which he had been ousted by the English. ^{[1] [2]}

Battle

Ahmad Shah crossed the Indus river in late November and arrived at Behgy, near Rohtas. Ballam Singh and other Sikhs had thrown up a number of strongholds in the country with garrisons of 7,000 or 8,000 horse, but, they were easily overpowered by the Afghans. A Sikh chief was slain and may of their army were killed, taken prisoners and drowned in the Jhelum. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Aftermath

The Shah later reached Lahore on the 22 of December, finding that the Sikhs had left the city unattended. The Afghans captured the city, while Ahmad Shah dispatched a contingent of 1,500 toward Sirhind. The Sikhs under Charat Singh brought a force of 20,000 men near Lahore, resulting in Ahmad Shah bringing his own host of 50,000 in response and dispatching Jahan Khan toward Amritsar, forcing the Sikhs to withdraw. ^[6]

References

1. Noelle-Karimi, Christine; Noelle, Christine (1997). State and Tribe in Nineteenth-century Afghanistan: The Reign of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan (1826-1863). Psychology Press. p. 112. ISBN   978-0-7007-0629-7.
2. Singh, Ganda (1959). Ahmad shah durrani, father of modern Afghanistan. Asia Publishing House, Bombay. p. 309.
3. Gupta, Hari Ram (1978). History of the Sikhs: Evolution of Sikh confederacies, 1708-1769. Munshiram Manoharlal. pp. 237–238.
4. Singh, Ganda (1959). Ahmad shah durrani, father of modern Afghanistan. Asia Publishing House, Bombay. pp. 309–310.
5. Chhabra, G. S. Advanced Study In The History Of Modern India Vol. 1 Ed. 2nd. p. 48.
6. Gupta, Hari Ram (1978). History of the Sikhs: Evolution of Sikh confederacies, 1708-1769. Munshiram Manoharlal. pp. 238–239.