Battle of Kashmir (1814)
An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion, which will decide whether or not to retain it. |
| Battle of Kashmir (1814) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Afghan-Sikh wars | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Durrani Empire | Sikh Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Azim Khan Fateh Khan Barakzai |
Ranjit Singh Hari Singh Nalwa Ram Dayal | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Heavy | ||||||
The Battle of Kashmir (1814) took place after the invasion of Attock. Ranjit Singh began planning to invade Kashmir, leading to the Sikh invasion led by Hari Singh Nalwa and Ram Dayal.[2] During the campaign, Sardar Muhammad Azeem Khan defeated Ranjit Singh's forces, inflicting heavy casualties.[3][4]
Background[edit]
Ranjit Singh established ambitions over conquering Kashmir as early as 1799 following the withdrawal of Zaman Shah Durrani after his invasions in the Punjab. Ranjit Singh mustered his forces under Sahib Singh Bhangi, but the force did not advance farther then Bhimber, as Ranjit Singh thought to first consolidate his position in Lahore first rather then face retaliation.[5]
In 1808, Ranjit Singh expanded his ambitions once again and deployed spies on the road to Kashmir, and began encroaching on it by subjugating Bhimber in 1811, and Rajouri in 1812. The Afghan governor of Kashmir at the time was Ata Muhammad Khan.[5]
Fateh Khan Barakzai, the Afghan Wazir, wished to depose Ata Muhammad Khan from his governorship due to his previous aid towards Shah Shuja Durrani, as well as he had never gave tribute to the government. The vast riches of the region also attracted Fateh Khan, leading to him creating an alliance with the Sikhs in case they attempted to cut off his forces while he campaigned in Kashmir.[6] Ranjit Singh also wished for his soldiers to accompany this expedition to acclimatize towards the harsh climate, and to secure the release of Shah Shuja Durrani and to take the Koh-i-Noor diamond from him.[7]
A treaty was thus made at Rohtas on 1 December 1812, where Ranjit Singh offered 12,000 men under Dewan Mokham Chand.[8]
The Battle[edit]
Ranjit Singh turned to Kashmir after establishing his dominance in Punjab and launched his First Attempt.[9] The Afghans repulsed the attacked and the Sikhs were forced to retreat.[10]
Aftermath[edit]
Kashmir remained part of the Durrani Empire until 1819 when it was finally conquered by the Sikhs.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (1991). History of the Sikhs: The Sikh Lion of Lahore, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 1799-1839. Munshiram Manoharlal. p. 124-126. ISBN 978-81-215-0515-4.
- ^ Siṅgha, Bhagata (1990). Maharaja Ranjit Singh and His Times. Sehgal Publishers Service. p. 83. ISBN 978-81-85477-01-5.
- ^ Gough, Sir Charles; Innes, Arthur Donald (1897). The Sikhs and the Sikh Wars: The Rise, Conquest, and Annexation of the Punjab State. A.D. Innes & Company. p. 34.
- ^ Chhabra, G. S. (2005). Advance Study in the History of Modern India (Volume-2: 1803-1920). Lotus Press. p. 115. ISBN 978-81-89093-07-5.
- ^ a b Gupta 1991, p. 121.
- ^ Lee, Jonathan L. (2022-03-08). Afghanistan: A History from 1260 to the Present. Reaktion Books. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-78914-019-4.
- ^ Gupta 1991, p. 121-122.
- ^ Gupta 1991, p. 122.
- ^ Hutchison, John; Vogel, Jean Philippe (1994). History of the Panjab Hill States. Asian Educational Services. p. 94. ISBN 978-81-206-0942-6.
- ^ Singh, Captain Amarinder (2012-08-10). The Last Sunset. Roli Books Private Limited. ISBN 978-81-7436-911-6.
- ^ Nath, Rajendra (1990). Military Leadership in India: Vedic Period to Indo-Pak Wars. Lancers Books. p. 221. ISBN 978-81-7095-018-9.