Battle of Phagwara

Last updated
Battle of Phagwara
Part of Early Mughal-Sikh Wars
Date29 April 1635
Location
Result Sikh victory
Belligerents
Akal Sena Flag.svg Akal Sena (Sikhs) Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Akal Sena Flag.svg Guru Hargobind
Akal Sena Flag.svg Bidhi Chand
Akal Sena Flag.svg Tegh Bahadur
Akal Sena Flag.svg Baba Gurditta
Akal Sena Flag.svg Bhai Desu 
Akal Sena Flag.svg Bhai Sohela 
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Ahmad Khan 
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Fateh Khan 
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Zafat Khan
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Jamal Khan
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Minor to heavy losses [1] [2] Unknown

The Battle of Phagwara was fought between the Akal Sena forces led by Guru Hargobind and the Mughal forces led by Ahmad Khan.

Contents

Background

After the Battle of Kartarpur, Guru Hargobind along with some devotees left the plains and set out for Kiratpur Sahib which would be safer for the Sikhs as they expected revenge by the Mughals for their defeat. [3] The Guru had already suffered high amount of losses in men and material before during the Battle of Kartarpur. [4] [5]

Battle

When the Guru and his troops were passing through Phagwara, they were attacked by a contingent of royal Mughal forces under the command of Ahmad Khan, the grandson of Abdulla Khan who was killed by Guru Hargobind in the Battle of Rohilla. [6] The Mughal forces failed to cause any major damage to the Sikhs. [3] Ahmad Khan and Fateh Khan were killed by the Sikh forces while Zafat Khan and Jamal Khan managed to survive. [7] As for the Sikhs, Bhai Desa and Bhai Sohela were killed in battle. [6]

Aftermath

This battle was the last major battle between the Sikhs and the Mughals during Guru Hargobind’s time. Guru Hargobind finally after reached Kiratpur. [3]

On the Sikh side, Bhatt Sona and Bhatt Sohela (sons of Balu Bhatt and grandsons of Mula Bhatt) were killed in the battle. [2]

See also

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References

  1. Gupta, Hari Ram (1994). History of the Sikhs: The Sikh Gurus, 1469-1708. Munshiram Manoharlal. p. 170. ISBN   978-81-215-0276-4.
  2. 1 2 Dhillon 1988, p. 123.
  3. 1 2 3 Dhillon, Darbir Singh (1988). Sikhism, Origin and Development. p. 123.
  4. Gupta, Hari Ram (1939). History of the Sikhs, Volume 1.
  5. Sagoo, Harbans Kaur (2001). Banda Singh Bahadur and Sikh Sovereignty. Deep & Deep Publications. p. 38. ISBN   9788176293006.
  6. 1 2 Surjit Singh Gandhi (2007). History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C.E. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. pp. 542–543. ISBN   9788126908585.
  7. Nayyar,Gurbachan Singh (1995). The Sikhs in Ferment, Battle of the Sikh Gurus