Battle of Guler (1696)

Battle of Guler
Part of Mughal-Sikh Wars
Date 1696 Location Guler Result Sikh victory [1]
Belligerents
Akal Sena (Sikhs)	Mughal Empire Hill States
Commanders and leaders
Guru Gobind Rai Bhai Himmat Rai Bhai Alam Chand Sahibzada Ajit Singh Bhai Daya Ram Sobhi	Hussain Khan  † [2] Rajas of the Sivalik Hills [2]
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Almost all [1]

The Battle of Guler was fought between forces led by Sikh Guru Gobind Singh and Mughal forces, aided by the Rajas of the Sivalik Hills. ^[1]

Background

In an expedition against Guru Gobind Singh, Rustom Khan failed, and he returned humiliated. ^[3] Therefore, General Hussain Khan marched to besiege Anandpur, and on his way, Mudhkar Shah (ruler of Dadwal), along with his sons, were defeated by Khan. ^{[3] [2]} Moreover, others like Chand Katoch of Kangra and Bhim Chand of Bilaspur State submitted before the Mughal Army without a fight. ^[3] Hussain Khan demanded certain tribute from the rajas, but the Raja of Guler State, Raja Gopal, brought less money than demanded by Khan. In anger, Raja Gopal's fort was besieged. ^{[3] [2]}

Battle

Guru Gobind Singh sent his men to help the raja of Guler. A fierce battle was fought between Sikhs and Hussain's army southeast of Pathankot at Guler, in which Hussain Khan and his coalition rajas, Kirpal Chand Katoch and Himmat Singh, were killed by Guru's forces. Guru mentioned the battle in Bachittar Natak also. ^{[3] [2] [1]}

References

1. Jacques, Tony (2006). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges. Greenwood Press. p. 420. ISBN   978-0-313-33536-5. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26.
2. Fenech, E. Louis; Mcleod, H. W. (11 June 2014). Historical Dictionary of Sikhism. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 155. ISBN   978-1-4422-3601-1.
3. Sagoo, Harbans (2001). Banda Singh Bahadur and Sikh Sovereignty. Deep & Deep Publications. ISBN   9788176293006.