Hari Singh Dhillon

Sardar Hari Singh Dhillon (died 1765) was an 18th century Sikh warrior and the chief of Bhangi Misl. During the formation of the Dal Khalsa (Sikh army) he was acknowledged as leader of Tarna Dal, and he was made chief of Bhangi Misl following the death of Bhuma Singh Dhillion, who he was an adopted son of, in 1748. Hari Singh made the Bhangi Misl the most powerful of all the Misls. He was described as brave, fearless and a great warrior. Under Hari Singh the Bhang Misl expanded to Jammu, Lahore, Chiniot, Buria, Jagadhari, Firozpur, Kushab, Majha, Malwa, Sandal Bar and Jhang.

Biography
Hari Singh was born in Panjwar village near Amritsar. He was adopted by the chief of Bhangi Misl Bhuma Singh Dhillon and took Amrit from him becoming a Khalsa. After the creation of the Dal Khalsa in 1748 Hari Singh was made head of Tarna Dal and Bhangi Misl. Upon taking over Bhangi Misl he quickly grew its strength to 20,000 as well as ruling many Misldars under him.

Hari Singh set up his headquarters in Gilwali village in Amritsar district and later Amritsar where he built a fort named Qila Bhangian and captured the surrounding areas around Amritsar. Hari Singh next captured Karial and Mirowal. Hari Singh also joined other Misls in attack on Lahore in 1758 and 1760.

In 1757 Ahmed Shah Abdali raided Punjab and Delhi. Hari Singh joined hands with the Martatha empire along with other Sikh Misls to counter Abdali. On March 8, 1758, the joint force besieged an Afghan force of 15,000 in Sirhind. On March 21 Sirhind was captured by the force. On April 10 they captured Lahore and killed a force of 2,000 Afghans   and the prisoners were forced to rebuild the Harimander Sahib that they desecrated.

In 1760 Hari Singh joined a force of Sikh Misls that captured Lahore on Diwali 1760 and plundered the surrounding area. They left Lahore after receiving tribune of 30,000 rupees from the Governor.

In 1761 Hari Singh joined Sikh Misls in the Battle of Gujranwala where the Sikhs, numbering 10,000, defeated the Afghan force of 12,000. Following this Hari Singh and other Misls led by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia besieged Lahore and conquered the city on October 27, 1761, where they struck their own coins, and plundered the city.

In 1762 Hari Singh conquered Kot Khwaja Saeed, near Lahore, capturing the Afghan Governor's ammunition and 3 canons of his. Hari Singh then captured the surrounding area of Bahawalpur and then plundered and conquered Jammu leading a force of 12,000. Hari Singh also marched on the Indus and conquered the Majha, Malwa, and Sandal Bar area as well as conquering parts of the Multan.

In 1763 he sacked Kasur, along with Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and Jai Singh Kanhaiya. In 1764 he advanced towards Multan. At first he sacked Bhawalpur, Multan was ravaged and then he crossed the Indus river, received tributes from Baluchi Chiefs in the districts of Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Dera Ismail Khan. On his return to Gilwali he plundered Jhang, Sialkot, Chiniot and made the Jammu ruler, Ranjit Deo, his tributary.

Death and succession
He died in 1765 in battle against Ala Singh. According to Kushwaqt Rae Hari Singh was poisoned to death and was succeeded by his son, Jhanda Singh Dhillon.

Battles

 * 1) Battle of Kalanaur (1755)
 * 2) Battle of Sirhind (1755)
 * 3) Battle of Mahilpur (1757)
 * 4) Battle of Jalandhar (1757)
 * 5) Siege of Sirhind (1758)
 * 6) Battle of Lahore (1758)
 * 7) Battle of Lahore (1760)
 * 8) Battle of Gujranwala (1761)
 * 9) Sikh Occupation of Lahore (1761)
 * 10) Battle of Harnaulgarh (1762)
 * 11) Battle of Kup (1762)
 * 12) Battle of Khwajha Saeed Ka Kot (1762)
 * 13) Battle of Jammu (1762)
 * 14) Battle of Kasur (1763)
 * 15) Battle of Sialkot (1763)
 * 16) Battle of Morinda (1764)
 * 17) Battle of Sirhind (1764)
 * 18) Battle of Lahore (1764)
 * 19) Battle of Bahawalpur (1764)
 * 20) Battle of Multan (1764)
 * 21) Battle of Chenab (1764)
 * 22) Battle on the Sutlej (1765)
 * 23) Battle on the Beas (1765)
 * 24) Battle of Lahore (1765)
 * 25) Battle of Lang (1765)