Second Battle of Laghman

Last updated
Second Battle of Laghman
Part of Ghaznavid campaigns in India
Stark contrasts in Afghanistan - 080907-F-0168M-071.jpg
Present day Laghman
Date991 CE
Location
Result Ghaznavid victory
Territorial
changes
Ghaznavid empire extends till Peshawar
Belligerents
Old Ghaznavid Flag.png Ghaznavid Empire
Commanders and leaders
Old Ghaznavid Flag.png Sabuktigin Jayapala
Strength
Unknown number of Squadrons consisting 500 men each. 100,000 cavalry+

The Second Battle of Laghman was fought between the Ghaznavid forces under Sabuktigin and the Hindu Shahi under Jayapala near Laghman in 991 AD. It took place near Laghman, present day Afghanistan.

Contents

The Ghaznavids defeated the Hindu Shahis and emerged victorious in the battle. This battle laid the foundation for the Ghaznavids to establish their dominance over parts of present-day Afghanistan and northern India.

Background

Ghaznavids had defeated the Hindu Shahis at the first battle of Laghman in 988. The Hindu Shahi King Jayapala, who was forced to sign a treaty after the battle, returned to his capital Multan, and made preparations to avenge his defeat. [1] [2]

Jayapala orchestrated the formation of a confederacy comprising Hindu chiefs from the Tomara dynasty, Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty, Chahamanas, and Chandelas. [3] This alliance was aimed at preparing for a pivotal battle. Jayapala amassed a substantial force, which included 100,000 cavalry and an immense contingent of foot soldiers. [2] [4] [5] [6] [7] [ excessive citations ]

Battle

Jayapala led a contingent of Rajput allies as they advanced from Multan toward Laghman. Sabuktigin, leading his outnumbered army, confronted Jayapala and recognized the significant disparity in their forces. To increase his chances of victory in the battle, he made strategic preparations to engage the Shahis. He divided his troops into squadrons of 500 men each, and directed them to attack the enemy on one particular point. Sabuktigin successfully executed his strategy, leading the Ghaznavids to overcome the Hindu Shahi forces. After having high casualties, Hindus gave up but they were driven with dreadful slaughter beyond the Indus. [8] [9]

The Hindoos, being mounted than cavalry of Subooktugeen(Sabuktigin), were unable to withstand them, and wearied out by the maneuvre just mentioned, began to give way. Subktigin perceiving their disorder, made a general assault: the Hindoos were every where defeated, and fled, and were pursued. with great slaughter, to the banks of the Neelab.

Firishta

Following this triumph, Sabuktigin appointed a governor in Peshawar with a force of 10,000 troops. He then proceeded to incorporate the territory between Laghman and Peshawar into his empire. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muslim conquests of Afghanistan</span> 7th to 19th-century Muslim conquests in present-day Afghanistan

The Muslim conquests of Afghanistan began during the Muslim conquest of Persia as the Arab Muslims migrated eastwards to Khorasan, Sistan and Transoxiana. Fifteen years after the battle of Nahāvand in 642 AD, they controlled all Sasanian domains except in Afghanistan. Fuller Islamization was not achieved until the period between 10th and 12th centuries under Ghaznavid and Ghurid dynasties who patronized Muslim religious institutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laghman Province</span> Province of Afghanistan

Laghman is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country. It has a population of about 502,148, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. Laghman hosts a large number of historical landmarks, minarets, monuments, and other cultural relics that are manifestation of its old history and culture. The city of Mihtarlam serves as the capital of the province. In some historical texts the name is written as "Lamghan" or as "Lamghanat".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghaznavids</span> Medieval Muslim Turkic dynasty and state

The Ghaznavid dynasty or the Ghaznavid Empire was a Persianate Muslim dynasty and empire of Turkic mamluk origin, ruling at its greatest extent, large parts of Iran, Khorasan, and the northwest Indian subcontinent from 977 to 1186. The dynasty was founded by Sabuktigin upon his succession to the rule of Ghazna after the death of his father-in-law, Alp Tigin, who was an ex-general of the Samanid Empire from Balkh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabuktigin</span> Founding Amir of the Ghaznavid Empire from 977 to 997

Abu Mansur Nasir ad-Din wa'd-Dawla Sabuktigin was the founder of the Ghaznavid dynasty, and amir of Ghazna from 977 to 997. Sabuktigin was a Turkic slave who was bought by Alp-Tegin, the commander of the royal guard of the Samanid dynasty. Alp-Tegin established himself as the governor of Ghazna in 962, and died a year later in 963. Afterwards, Sabuktigin built his prestige among other slave soldiers in Ghazna until he was elected by them as their ruler in 977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahmud of Ghazni</span> Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire from 998 to 1030

Abu al-Qasim Mahmud ibn Sabuktigin, usually known as Mahmud of Ghazni or Mahmud Ghaznavi, was Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire, ruling from 998 to 1030. During his reign and in medieval sources, he is usually known by his honorific Yamin al-Dawla. At the time of his death, his kingdom had been transformed into an extensive military empire, which extended from northwestern Iran proper to the Punjab in the Indian subcontinent, Khwarazm in Transoxiana, and Makran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghilji</span> Pashtun tribe

The Ghiljī also spelled Khilji, Khalji, or Ghilzai and Ghilzay (غلزی), are one of the largest Pashtun tribes. Their traditional homeland is Ghazni and Qalati Ghilji in Afghanistan but they have also settled in other regions throughout the Afghanistan-Pakistan Pashtun belt. The modern nomadic Kochi people are predominantly made up of Ghilji tribes. The Ghilji make up around 20–25% of Afghanistan's total population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayapala</span> Ruler of Hindu Shahi dynasty

Jayapala was a ruler of the Hindu Shahi dynasty from 964 to 1001 CE. He ruled over the area which stretched from Laghman in the west, to Kashmir in the east and from Sirhind to Multan. He was the son of Hutpal and the father of Anandapala. Epithets from the Bari Kot inscriptions record his full title as "Parama Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Sri Jayapaladeva".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zabulistan</span> Historical region in southern Afghanistan

Zabulistan, was a historical region in southern Afghanistan roughly corresponding to the modern provinces of Zabul and Ghazni. Following the Ghaznavid rule (977–1186), "Zabul" became largely synonymous with the name of its capital and main city, Ghazni.

The recorded history of Lahore, the second largest city-district of Pakistan, covers thousands of years. Lahore is regarded as the post medieval or modern day capital and largest city of the Punjab region, it has since its creation changed hands from Ghaznavid, Hindu, Buddhist, Greek, Muslim, Mughal, Ghorid, Maratha, Sikh and the British, thereby becoming the cultural capital and the heart of modern-day Pakistan.

The history of Peshawar is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent. The region was known as Puruṣapura in Sanskrit, literally meaning "city of men". Being among the most ancient cities of the Indian subcontinent, Peshawar had for centuries been a center of trade between West Asia, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa</span>

The History of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa refers to the history of the modern-day Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Hindu Shahis also referred to as the Uḍi Śāhis were a dynasty established between 843 CE and 1026 CE. They endured multiple waves of conquests for nearly two centuries and its core territory was described as having contained the regions of Eastern Afghanistan and Gandhara, encompassing the area up to the Sutlej river in modern day Punjab, expanding into the Kangra Valley. The empire was founded by Kallar in c. 843 CE after overthrowing Lagaturman, the last Turk Shahi king.

Malak Yousaf Yasin khel, a Dilzak Afghan was the father of Ali. He is known among Pashtun people as Shaheed baba. Malak Yousaf was the commander of the Afghan Brigade in Ghaznavids Army. In 977, Sabuktigin captured Kandahar. So keeping this advancement in mind Jayapala ordered his army to march toward Ghazna but unfortunately he was defeated by Sebuktagin. Soon he (Sabuktigin) conquered Peshawar and extended his territories toward Neelab. In 992 he was killed with other Afghan soldiers against Raja Jay Pal. His mazar (shrine) is in Mardan. He is the grandparent of Yousaf Khel, a subbranch of Yasin Khel.

The Battle of Peshawar was fought on 27 November 1001 between the Ghaznavid army of Mahmud of Ghazni and the Hindu Shahi army of Jayapala, near Peshawar. Jayapala was defeated and captured, and as a result of the humiliation of the defeat, he later immolated himself in a funeral pyre. This is the first of many major battles in the expansion of the Ghaznavid Empire into the Indian subcontinent by Mahmud.

The Lodi dynasty was the last dynasty to rule over Emirate of Multan, from their capital city of Multan in the 10th century.

Sheikh Hamid Lodi/Lawi was the founder of the Lodi dynasty of Multan. He ruled the Emirate of Multan from 985 to 997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawik dynasty</span> Historical dynasty based in Ghazni and Gardez

The Lawīk dynasty was the last native dynasty which ruled Ghazni prior to the Ghaznavid conquest in the present-day Afghanistan. Lawiks were originally Hindus, but later became Muslims. They were closely related to the Hindu Shahis, and after 877, ruled under the Hindu Shahi suzerainty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Battle of Laghman</span> Battle between Ghaznavid and Hindu Shahi dynasties

The First Battle of Laghman was fought near Laghman in present-day Afghanistan, between the Ghaznavid empire under Sabuktigin and the Hindu Shahis under Jayapala in 988 CE. The Ghaznavids defeated the Hindu Shahis and Jayapala signed a treaty in which the Hindu Shahis paid tribute to Ghaznavids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghaznavid campaigns in India</span> Invasion of India by the Ghaznavid rulers

The Ghaznavid campaigns in India refer to a series of military expeditions lasting 54 years (973–1027) launched by the Ghaznavid Empire, a prominent empire of the 10th and 11th centuries, into the Indian subcontinent, led primarily by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, leaving a profound impact on the region's history and culture.

References

  1. Bose, Mainak Kumar (1988). Late Classical India. A. Mukherjee & Company. pp. 55–56.
  2. 1 2 University Of Pittsburg Press U.s.a. (1961). Cultural History Of Kapisa And Gandhara. p. 47.
  3. Dikshit, R. K. (1976). The Candellas of Jejākabhukti. Abhinav Publications. ISBN   978-81-7017-046-4.
  4. Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p. 342. ISBN   978-81-224-1198-0.
  5. Majumdar, R. C. (2016-01-01). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN   978-81-208-0435-7.
  6. Sandhu, Gurcharn Singh (2003). A Military History of Medieval India. Vision Books. p. 53. ISBN   978-81-7094-525-3.
  7. Jan, Changez (2022-07-18). Forgotten Kings: The Story of the Hindu Sahi Dynasty. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   978-93-92099-01-4.
  8. Martin, Robert Montgomery (1850). The British Colonies: Their History, Extent, Condition and Resources. London Printing and Publishing Company.
  9. Joglekar, Jaywant (2006-10-01). Decisive Battles India Lost (326 B. C. to 1803 A. D.). Lulu.com. p. 40. ISBN   978-1-84728-302-3.
  10. Eraly, Abraham (2015-04-01). The Age of Wrath: A History of the Delhi Sultanate. Penguin UK. ISBN   978-93-5118-658-8.