First Sikh State

The First Sikh State was a breakaway and short lived sovereign Sikh state during the 18th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent that existed from 1709 to 1715. It was established by Banda Singh Bahadur after the Battle of Samana and lasted until his defeat in the Battle of Gurdas Nangal.

Conquest of the Mughal territories
The Khalsa Army under the command of Jathedar Banda Singh Bahadur captured the Mughal town of Samana on 26 November 1709, established the First Sikh State and appointed Fateh Singh as the Governor of Samana.

After establishing the Sikh rule in Samana Banda Singh captured Kapuri and executed Kapuri's chief Qadam-ud-din for his crimes of forced marriages and religious persecutions.

In 1710 Banda Singh captured Sadhaura whose chief Osman Khan had ordered the torture and execution of Pir Syed Badruddin Shah, an ally of Guru Gobind Singh and his atrocities of slaughtering cows in front of Hindu homes and his ban on cremation. The town was captured with the assistance of local peasants and Osman Khan was hanged by the Khalsa Army. Banda Singh appointed his own governor in Sadhaura.

On 12 May 1710 the Sikhs planned to wage dharamyudh against Sirhind, its Nawab Wazir Khan and Dewan Sucha Nand. A number of Jat, Gujjar and Rajput plunderers had amassed to take the opportunity to plunder the riches of Sirhind. Both the troops of Banda Singh and Wazir Khan faced each other at a village named Chappar Chiri. Upon the firing of the Mughal artillery, the third class of Banda's army, consisting of bandits and irregulars fled. Banda Singh Bahadur was waiting for the right time with 1/3 of his army. When the information came that the bandits had fled. To encourage his army, Banda Singh himself rushed into the battle, severely attacking the Mughal Army, leading to Nawab Sher Muhammad Khan and Khwaja Ali of Malerkotla and many Mughal soldiers being killed. Wazir Khan was also killed which led to the defeat and retreat of his army to Sirhind, where many were killed during Banda's pursuit of them.

After the defeat of the Mughal Army at the battle of Chappar Chiri, the Siege of Sirhind took place where the Sikhs and irregulars besieged, stormed, plundered and razed the city of Sirhind On 14 May 1710, Banda and his army entered and captured Sirhind, and an immense destruction of life and property ensued shortly after. Sucha Nand was captured alive and later executed, whereas other Hindus who contributed to the crimes of Wazir Khan were punished. Banda seized two crores (20 million) worth of government treasury and moveable property which was moved to the Sikh capital of Lohgarh.

After the conquest of Sirhind, Banda Singh ousted the Muslim officers from all 28 parganahs of the Sirhind division and replaced them with his own men. He appointed Baj Singh as the Governor of Sirhind and Ali Singh of Salaudi as his deputy. Coins and stamps in the name of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh were minted and issued from Lohgarh. Banda Singh appointed his own faujdars, dewans and kardars (tax officers), and used his own inscribed and authorized seal on his orders. He further abolished the zamindari (feudal) system and distributed land among the peasants.

In July 1710 the Khalsa Army with the assistance of Gujjars attacked and captured Saharanpur after Banda learned that Jalal Khan and Ali Hamid Khan, the faujdars of Jalalabad and Saharanpur were harassing Sikhs in the area. The Khalsa Army marched upon Saharanpur on their way to Jalalabad. The local faujdar Ali Hamid Khan and all those who could, fled to Delhi. Most of the inhabitants left before the Khalsa Army attacked the city. The place was plundered like Sirhind previously. Many noble men and respectable families fell fighting. The Sikhs captured the entirety of the city. The Sikhs punished and plundered the people of Behat and Nanauta as well for atrocities against Sikhs and others.

The Sikhs addressed a letter to Faujdar of Jalandhar Shamas Khan, ordering him to hand over his treasury to the Khalsa or meet a similar fate. Jihad was declared by the Muslims of the Lahore province and thousands of Muslims gathered with a large Haidri Jhanda (Flag of Haidar)



The Sikhs in July–August 1710 besieged Jalalabad after Banda Singh was notified that Sikh people were imprisoned and persecuted in the village of Unarsa, and the conditions were distressing for the Hindus, facing cruel treatment and tyranny in the town of Jalalabad, ruled by Jalal Khan Rohilla. Sikh emissaries sent by Banda Singh to Jalalabad were mistreated and paraded on horses in the town before being sent back. The sanguinary battle took place for 3–4 days where the Sikhs caused heavy casualty on the Mughal camp and on the other side while Jalal Khan didn't move outside of Jalalabad, his relatives inflicted heavy losses on the Sikh encampments during their night attacks. Jalal Khan's nephews Jamal Khan and Pir Khan were ultimately killed along with Hazbar Khan and numerous ghazis, resulting in the repulsion of the Mughal Army back into the town walls. The Sikhs bombarded the fort with wooden cannons and tried to burn the town gates but remained unsuccessful due to the thick and strong the town walls and flooding of the waters of the River Krishna around the walls. Banda Singh lifted the siege and retreated back to Punjab after the Sikhs of central Punjab sent him urgent requests appealing for help against the Mughal faujdars and approaching reinforcements of Emperor Bahadur Shah I advancing to take back the lost territories from the Sikhs.

On 13 November 1710 the Mughal Army recaptured Thanesar in a battle between the Khalsa Army under the command of Governor Binod Singh and the Mughal Army under the command of Nawab Feroz Khan. The Mughal Army won all four engagements and captured Thanesar and took hundreds Sikhs prisoner who were strung up by Firoz to the road-side trees, their long hair being twisted to perform the office of a rope.

In September 1710 the Siege of the Kotla Begum fort was fought between the Sikh forces and the Mughal Army led by Mir Muhammad. After Banda Singh's return from the Battle of Saharanpur, thousands of mujahedeen from the Lahore province gathered under a large green flag which was called the Haidri Jhanda (Flag of Haidar). A Sikh contingent of 700 soldiers hid in the Kotla Begum fort which was then besieged by the mujahedeen. When the Mughals arrived at the fort, the Sikhs immediately attacked them and a fierce battle ensued. When the battle escalated into a sword fight, the Mughals began taking heavy losses and decided to retreat. Instead of pursuing the retreating Mughals the Sikhs plundered the abandoned battle materials and tented to their wounded. The Mughals put up a camp in a village named Bhilowal. The Sikhs attacked the camp and inflicted further heavy losses. Another Sikh contingent then went to Bharatpur after the failed Mughal siege of Kahnuwan and hid in the mansion of Kshatriya Bhagwant. A Mughal contingent found out about the Sikhs hideout and laid siege to the mansion. The Sikhs routed this contingent and took this as a chance to escape. The Mughals delayed their march to Lahore. The Sikhs suddenly fell upon them. The horses were standing so the Sikhs took them and went to battle. The Sikhs ran out of bullets and drew out their kirpans and routed the Mughal Army.

The Battle of Rahon was fought between Sikhs and Mughal Empire on 11 October 1710. Banda Singh's success encouraged other local Sikhs who resided in the Jalandhar Doab, to pick up arms, appoint their own tehsildars and thanedars and considering themselves capable enough to face Shamas Khan, the Faujdar of Jalandhar Doab. The Sikhs arrived at Rahon, hastily built a fortress, and issued threatening orders to the revenue payers and revenue officers for their submission. Shamas Khan and his army reached Rahon and surrounded the fort from all sides. The Sikhs responded by shelling the Mughal Army with cannons. The Sikhs realizing that they were outnumbered, retreated back to the fort of Rahon where they were besieged for several days. The Sikhs realizing they outnumbered deceived the Mughal Army and departed surreptitiously in the middle of the night. Shamas Khan stopped the pursuit only after a few miles as he assumed a reinforcement by Banda Singh could arrive. Content with the seizure of the fort of Rahon and some treasure, Shamas Khan assumed the campaign to be a success and subsequently ordered the breaking up of the camp and the demobilization of his troops who were sent to their homes, stationed a garrison at the fort of Rahon, and returned to Sultanpur Lodhi. The Sikhs remained hidden around the neighborhood of Rahon, and right after the evacuation, one thousand Sikhs attacked the garrisoned troops stationed in the fortress, routed them out and recaptured the fort.

The result of the battle is disputed among historians. According to some accounts, the Sikhs would occupy the fort of Rahon and would subsequently capture the Jalandhar Doaba. According to Hari Ram Gupta, following the capture of Rahon by the Sikhs. The Mughals would fight a battle with the Sikhs in the garden of Yaqub Khan. The Sikhs were defeated in the garden, forcing their retreat towards the fort of Rahon. After a short siege, Rahon fell in November 1710, and the Sikh forces were forced to retreat. After the capture of Rahon, the Mughals under Shamas Khan would advance and capture Sirhind, resulting in the death of 1,000 Sikhs. However, according to Ganda Singh, the Mughal Army, under the command of Shamas Khan, advanced upon Sirhind. Sukha Singh and Sham Singh would fight the Mughals in the garden of Yaqub Khan. The Sikhs were defeated, Sukha Singh was killed, and the Sikhs were forced to retreat towards the fort of Sirhind.

Fall of the Sikh capital
Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah I's army moved towards Lohgarh, Bilaspur where they engaged with the Sikhs to capture the fort on 16 December 1710. Near the foot of the hill, heavy fighting took place, resulting in a large number of Mughal casualties and the Sikhs being repulsed and retreating up the hill. Later, the Mughal troops attacked the fort in great numbers. The Sikhs with the disadvantages of being outnumbered and having no source of food; many dying of starvation, decided to take a chance by cutting through the enemy lines. Gulab Singh, a recent Sikh convert disguised himself and pretended to be Banda Singh. The following day, during dawn, in the midst of the confusion resulting from simultaneous firings on both sides, Banda Singh and the surviving Sikhs escaped from the fort. The capital was captured and large amount of booty in the fort was retrieved by the Mughals.

Vassalage of the Hill States
After the loss of Lohgarh and Sadaura to the Mughal Empire, Banda Singh Bahadur launched an invasion of the Hill States.

Kahlur campaign
The first Hill State which was attacked by the Sikh State was Kahlur. The was because Kahlur was always a key enemy of Guru Gobind Singh. A messenger was sent to Raja Ajmer Chand of Kahlur to ask him to submit. Both states had a meeting in which they made discussions about a battle and what they would do it they won. Right after the discussion, the Raja Ajmer Chand placed 1,300 Mian Rajputs and 7 war elephants. Banda Singh sent 5 Sikhs to the battlefield who were accompanied voluntary by a large number of Sikhs. Banda Singh sent 5 Sikhs to the battlefield who were accompanied voluntary by a large number of Sikhs. Bhai Kehar Singh, Bhai Ranjit Singh and Baba Ranjor Singh finished all 7 of the war elephants. Baba Baghar Singh cleared the passage through enemy columns and destroyed the forces which were blocking the entrance of the fort. During all this time, the Khalsa reinforcements had arrived. Kahlur was defeated with 1,300 troops. Bilaspur's immense booty was plundered by the Sikhs. This defeat spread terror among other hill kings, forcing most of them to submit to the Sikhs. Many of them went to the Sikh camp to greet them and offer them allegiance and to pay tribute to the Sikh treasury.

Mandi campaign
The King of Mandi Raja Sudh Sain was informed that Banda Singh was about to attack Mandi next. Sudh Sain declared himself as a follower of Guru Nanak and surrendered.

Kullu campaign
Banda Singh visited the shrine of Mahesh at Kullu to visit the various Siddhas. However, when Banda Singh stepped into the territory of Kullu, the king immediately arrested him. The other Sikhs assisted by an enraged Sudh Sain launched a campaign, freed Banda Singh and chastised the King of Kullu.

Chamba campaign
King Udai Singh of Chamba sent his prime minister and signed a treaty with Banda Singh by offering him tribute which Banda Singh agreed and accepted and in return received his blessings.

The Battle of Jammu
The Battle of Jammu was fought between the Sikhs under the command of Banda Singh Bahadur against the Mughal forces near the hills of Jammu on 22 January 1712. After the killing of Mughal commanders, Shamas Khan and Bayazid Khan near Bahranpur, the Sikhs under Banda Singh Bahadur began occupying the cities of Pasrur and Aurangabad. he Mughal forces under the leadership of Rustamdil Khan, the commander-in-chief of the Sikh campaigns in Jammu, with the assistance of Muhammad Amin Khan Turani were able to defeat the Sikhs near Pasrur and pursued the Sikhs into the hills of Jammu.

Muhammad Amin Khan soon joined both Rustamdil Khan and Aghar Khan and combined their forces in an attempt to encircle the Sikhs and killed 500 of them. However, the Sikhs along with Banda Singh were able to cut through the Mughal lines and escape. Rustamdil Khan then proceeded to commit atrocities on the villages of Parol and Kathua and sold its men and women in the slave markets of Lahore due to him suspecting the villagers to be Sikhs.

Sikh reconquest of lost territories
After the death of Bahadur Shah I, a civil war occurred between his sons. The eldest son Jahandar Shah won and became the emperor.

The Second Battle of Lohgarh was fought in between 1712 or 1713 by Sikh forces led by Banda Singh Bahadur and Mughal forces led by Jahandar Shah. Banda Singh took full advantage of the opportunity and recaptured Sadaura. After this, he recaptured Lohgarh. Here he remained undisturbed for around 2 months. The Fort of Lohgarh were repaired and strengthened, which again became the capital of the Sikh State for almost two more years.

The Battle of Kiri Pathan was fought on 27 March 1714 by the Sikh forces led by Jagat Singh and the Mughal forces led by Uman Ghazi. After Banda Singh and his followers were forced to vacate Sadhaura and Lohgarh after the first Siege of Lohgarh, all the garrison commanders of small villages started to fight against the Sikhs. Most of these commanders had gathered around at the village of Kiri Pathan. Because of this, all the Sikhs in Kahnuwan had all gathered under the leadership of Jagat Singh.

On 27 March 1714, the Sikhs attacked Uman Ghazi, the chief of the village Kiri Pathan at his own village and entered the Fort of Pathans and managed to capture the fort. 60,000 rupees were plundered from the villagers of Kiri Pathan and the neighbouring village by the Sikh forces.

Fall of the First Sikh State
The Siege of Gurdaspur took place in April 1715 between the First Sikh State and the Mughal Empire. The Sikhs were led by Banda Singh Bahadur and the Mughal Army was led by Governor Abd al-Samad Khan. Banda, at that time was carrying out operations and small raids to the north of Amritsar. During these operations, the Mughal Army confronted the Sikhs. When confronted, the Sikhs moved northward taking shelter in the fort of Gurdaspur. It had been recently extended to accommodate 60,000 horses, and stores of food, grain and fodder had also been collected there. The Mughal Army converged upon the fort from three sides. The Delhi force of 20,000 men under Qamar-ud-din Khan advanced from the east. The Governor of Lahore’s troops, consisting of 10,000 men under Abd al-Samad Khan marched from the south. Finally, Jammu troops numbering nearly 5,000, under Zakariya Khan, approached from the north. To the west of the fort was the River Ravi, which had no bridge over it. All the boats had been withdrawn to the opposite bank, which was closely guarded by numerous local chiefs and Mughal government officials. The Mughal pursuit made it so the Sikhs could not enter the fort at Gurdaspur. Thus, the Khalsa Army quickly turned west.

Due to all escape routes being barred, Banda Singh and his army rushed into the haveli of Duni Chand, which had a large open compound with a wall around it, at the village of Gurdas Nangal, 6 km to the west of Gurdaspur. In it, Banda accommodated 1,250 men along with a small number of horses.

The Sikhs constructed a moat around the fort filled with water from the canal flowing nearby. The Mughal Army dug trenches all around the fort. The battle then commenced at the beginning of April 1715. The news of the battle reached Emperor Farrukhsiyar on 17 April 1715. The siege lasted a little over eight months. The whole summer from April to June, the entire rainy season from July to September, and half of winter from October to the beginning of December passed during the siege, with frequent sorties and occasional skirmishes.

Eventually, the supplies of foodstuffs and fodder dwindled. All animals perished, and their flesh was eaten. Next, their bones and the bark of trees were powdered and eaten. Many Sikhs died of hunger and the rest were completely famished and reduced to a skeletal appearance. Seeing that resistance had completely ceased, the Mughal Army on 7 December 1715 broke into the enclosure. About 300 Sikh men, all on the verge of death, were beheaded and their bodies were then cut up in search of gold coins which the Mughal Army believed that they had swallowed. Banda Singh, along with his wife Susheel Kaur, son Ajay Singh and 750 followers were captured and taken to Delhi. This siege marked the end of the First Sikh State.

Banda Singh Bahadur was put into an iron cage and the remaining Sikhs were chained. Sikhs from towns and villages on the way were rounded up and either killed or captured to be taken to Delhi. The Sikhs were brought to Delhi in a procession with the 780 Sikh prisoners, 2,000 Sikh heads hung on spears, and 700 cartloads of heads of slaughtered Sikhs used to terrorize the population.

Banda Singh, his family and soldiers were imprisoned in the Red Fort and pressured to convert to Islam. The prisoners remained unmoved. On their firm refusal these non-converters were ordered to be executed. Every day 100 Sikhs were brought out of the fort and executed in public for seven days. Banda was told to kill his four-year-old son, Ajay Singh, which he refused to do. Ajay Singh was executed, his heart was cut out. Banda Singh did not break under torture and so after three months of imprisonment he was executed. on 9 June 1716, Banda's eyes were gouged out, he was dismembered, flayed, and then beheaded. Banda Singh's wife Susheel Kaur committed suicide by stabbing herself.

After the fall of the First Sikh State and the execution of Banda Singh Bahadur and his soldiers, the Sikhs formed bands of guerilla troops called Jathas and waged guerilla warfare on the Mughal Empire until the formation of the Sikh Confederacy in 1748.

Fort of Lohgarh
Lohgarh Sahib Fort, the Sikh capital established by Banda Singh Bahadur, is spread in about 7,000 acres, now in Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana and Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh in India. The circumference of the fort was about 30 km. Archaeological evidence and engineering formulas of time and motion study depicts that, it took almost 70 to 80 years for making fortifications in such a huge area.

Khalsa stamps and currency
Banda Singh Bahadur issued Khalsa currency from Lohgarh, Bilaspur, coins in the name of Guru Nanak-Gobind Singh with Persian inscription sikkah bar har do alam tegh-i-Nanak wahib ast, Fateh Gobind Singh shah-i-shahan Fazal-i-Sacha Sahib ast (Coin struck in the two worlds; the sword of Nanak is the granter of desires; Victory to Gobind Singh, the King of Kings by the Grace of the True Lord). Banda Singh also had a Khalsa government stamp inscribed, Degh Tegh Fateh Nusrait-i-Bedirang Yaft az Nanak Guru Gobind Singh (The cauldron {symbol to feed the poor} and the sword {symbol of power to protect the weak and helpless} are Victorious and Unhesitating Patronage has been Obtained from Guru Nanak-Gobind Singh).

List of battles involving the First Sikh State

 * 1) Battle of Samana
 * 2) Battle of Kapuri
 * 3) Battle of Sadhaura
 * 4) Battle of Ropar (1710)
 * 5) Battle of Chappar Chiri
 * 6) Siege of Sirhind
 * 7) Battle of Saharanpur
 * 8) Siege of Jalalabad (1710)
 * 9) Battle of Thanesar
 * 10) Siege of Kotla Begum (1710)
 * 11) Battle of Bhilowal
 * 12) Battle of Rahon (1710)
 * 13) Battle of Lohgarh
 * 14) Sikh invasion of the Hill States
 * 15) Battle of Bilaspur (1711)
 * 16) Battle of Jammu (1712)
 * 17) Second Battle of Lohgarh
 * 18) Battle of Kiri Pathan (1714)
 * 19) Battle of Gurdas Nangal
 * 20) Siege of Gurdaspur