Battle of Bhilowal

Last updated
Battle of Bhilowal
Part of Mughal-Sikh Wars
DateOctober 1710
Location
Bhilowal, Lahore Subah
Result Sikh victory [1] [2] [3]
Belligerents
Kattar Dhal Talwar.png First Sikh State

Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Mughal Empire

Commanders and leaders
Kattar Dhal Talwar.png Banda Singh Bahadur Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Mir Mohammad 
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Attaullan Khan 
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Mohabbat Khan 
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Murtaza Khan 
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Pahar Mal 
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Haji Babar Beg 
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Mir Inayat Ali 
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Pir Muhammad 
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Mirza Naki (WIA)
Many Other Leaders Killed
Strength
20,000 50,000-60,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown Massive

The Battle of Bhilowal was fought in October 1710 by the Sikh forces led by Banda Singh Bahadur and the Mughal forces led by Mir Mohammad.

Contents

Background

In 1710 the Muslims of the Lahore province declared jihad on the Sikhs and led an expedition against the Sikhs called Haidri Jhanda (Flag of Haidar) to expel the entire Sikh population in one blow. [4] [5] The Mughals amassed an army of 50,000 while the Sikhs could only raise an army of around 20,000.[ citation needed ] The Mughal mujahedeen hoisted the Haidri flag. [6] The Mughals had first besieged an army of the Sikhs in Kahnuwan but after a month of fighting were defeated. A Sikh contingent went to Bharatpur in situated in the banks of Ravi River and hid in a mansion of a Kshatriya named Bhagwant.[ citation needed ] A Mughal contingent found out about the Sikhs hideout and laid siege to the mansion. The Sikhs routed this contingent and took this as a chance to escape.[ citation needed ] The Mughals then put up camp at Bhilowal, soon planning to march towards Lahore. The Sikhs after finding out about this marched quickly there to attack the Mughals.[ citation needed ]

Battle

The Mughals delayed their march to Lahore. The Sikhs suddenly fell upon them. The horses were standing so the Sikhs took them and went to battle. [7] The Sikhs were out of bullets so they drew out their kirpans. [8] A Muslim Rajput in the Mughal Army named Ataullan Khan shouted to his soldiers to flee or die. The Mughals left innumerable amount of bodies before fleeing. [9] [10] [11] [12] Bhagat Lachhman Singh in his Sikh Martyrs says "Some Turks (archaic word for Muslim) were cut down while fleeing, some struck against the trees and other impediments and fell; some broke their skulls, some lost their eyes." [13]

Aftermath

This battle left many important Mughal leaders to perish.[ citation needed ] They had collected immense booty and left for the hills.[ citation needed ] After this event, the Sikhs fought the Mughals again in the Battle of Rahon.

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References

  1. Harajindara Siṅgha Dilagīra (1997). The Sikh reference book. Sikh Educational Trust for Sikh University Centre, Denmark. p. 138. ISBN   9780969596424.
  2. Hari Ram Gupta (1978). History Of The Sikhs Vol. II Evolution Of Sikh Confederacies (1707-69). p. 16.
  3. Lahori, Muhammad Qasim (13 September 1854). Ibrat Namah. p. 32.
  4. After Banda Singh Bahadur's return from the Battle of Saharanpur, the Muslims of Lahore started a jihad against the Sikhs. Thousands of Muslims gathered with a large green flag which was called the Haidri Jhanda (Flag of Haidar)
  5. Sangat Singh (2001). The Sikhs in History (PDF). Uncommon Books. p. 92. ISBN   9788190065023.
  6. V D. Mahajan (2020). Studies Modern Indian History. S. Chand. p. 56. ISBN   9789352836192.
  7. Bhangu, Rattan Singh (1914). Panth Prakash Vol.2 English Translation. pp. 69–73.
  8. Surjit Singh Gandhi (1999). Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. Singh Bros. p. 93. ISBN   9788172052171.
  9. Teja Singh (1956). Sikh Tracts. p. 20.
  10. Vidya Dhar Mahajan (1967). India Since 1526. p. 205.
  11. Bakhshish Singh Nijjar (1972). Panjab Under the Later Mughals, 1707-1759. p. 106.
  12. Ganda Singh (1951). Patiala and East Panjab States Union. p. 29.
  13. Bhagat Lachhman Singh (2005). Sikh Martyrs. p. 105.

See also