Siege of Rohtas (1764)

Siege of Rohtas
Part of the Afghan–Sikh Wars
"Raje Gaut, the principal road to Rotas Ghur" engraving by Thomas Daniell, 1795
Date Summer, 1764 Location Rohtas Fort, near Jhelum, Punjab region Result Sikh victory Territorial changes Rohtas Fort captured by the Sikh Misls
Belligerents
Sukerchakia Misl Bhangi Misl	Durrani Empire
Commanders and leaders
Charat Singh Sukerchakia Gujjar Singh Bhangi	Sarbuland Khan (POW)
Strength
Unknown	12,000 soldiers [1]
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Siege of Rohtas in 1764 when Sikh leaders Charat Singh of the Sukerchakia Misl and Gujjar Singh of the Bhangi Misl laying siege to the Rohtas Fort, which was commanded by Durrani General Sarbuland Khan. The siege resulted in the capture of the fort by the Sikhs Misls.

Background

After the Battle of Sirhind in 1764, the Sikh Misls aimed to strengthen their control over neighboring territories, significantly weakening the Durrani influence in the Punjab region. Prominent leaders of the Taruna Dal, Charat Singh Sukerchakia and Hari Singh Bhangi, expanded their domains northwestward and southward, respectively. ^{[1] [2]}

In early summer, Charat Singh, accompanied by Gujjar Singh Bhangi, marched towards Rohtas. ^[2]

Siege and Battle

The Afghan Faujdar of Rohtas, Sarbuland Khan, the uncle of Ahmad Shah Abdali, resisted the advancing Sikh forces but was defeated and retreated to the Rohtas Fort. ^[3] The combined Sikh forces of Sukerchakia and Bhangi Misl laid siege to the Rohtas Fort. Seeing no progress, Charat Singh staged a feigned retreat, successfully luring the Afghan forces out of the fort. In the ensuing battle, the Afghans were defeated, and Sarbuland Khan was captured. ^[3] The Afghan Faujdar earned respect from the Sikhs, and, impressed by their kindness, he supposedly offered his service to Charat Singh. However, Charat Singh declined the offer, instead ransoming him for two lakhs of rupees and permitting him to return to his homeland. ^{[3] [4]}

Aftermath

Under Charat Singh's leadership, the Sikhs began to take control of the surrounding areas and successfully suppressed numerous rebellions. Charat Singh started building his own forts in Pind Dadan Khan and assigned them to his commanders for control. ^[4] After securing his control in the Jehlum region, Charat Singh captured parts of the Salt Range and once again deployed his men to patrol the area. Charat Singh now governed the region stretching from the Indus to the Jhelum and extending up to the Salt Range. ^[4]

References

Citations

1. Gupta 1999, p. 213.
2. Singh 1959, p. 294.
3. Singh 1959, p. 295.
4. Gupta 1999, p. 214.

Works cited

• Gupta, Hari Ram (1999). History of the Sikhs: Evolution of Sikh confederacies, 1708–1769 (3rd, illustrated ed.). Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. ISBN   978-81-215-0248-1.
• Singh, Ganda (1959). Ahmad Shah Durrani: Father of Modern Afghanistan. Asia Publishing House. ISBN   978-1-4021-7278-6.