Battle of Shujabad (1780): Difference between revisions
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| Battle of Shujabad | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Afghan-Sikh wars | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Durrani Empire |
 Sikh Misls | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Timur Shah Durrani Muzaffar Khan |
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Gujjar Singh Banghi Haqiqat Singh Lahna Singh Bhanga Singh | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 12,000[2] | 15,000[2] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 2,000 killed or wounded[3] | ||||||
The Battle of Shujabad took place in February 1780, it was Afghan forces marching to relieve Shujabad from siege. The Afghans were led by Muzafar Khan, while the Sikhs were led by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, and several other Sikh chiefs.
Background
Early in January 1780, Timur Shah Durrani laid siege to Multan.[4][5] Though the Sikhs were smaller in number, Timur Shah believed his resources were not enough, and as a result, dispatched him alongside a small force to Bahwalnapur while leaving the majority of his force at Multan.[4] The Nawab of Bahwalnapur gave tribute to Timur Shah and supplied him with 12,000 men as reinforcements. News also came that Jassa Singh, Gujar Singh, Haqiqat Singh, Lahna Singh, and Bhanga Singh alongside several other Sikh chiefs were arriving from Lahore with an army of 15,000 to relieve the city of Multan.[3]
Battle
Muzafar Khan left Bahwalnapur and met the Sikh force at Shujabad, where a battle was fought on 8 February 1780. During the battle, a dust storm flew, and Muzafar Khan captured a Sikh drummer. Muzafar Khan spared the drummers life on the condition that he would beat the drum to bring the Sikhs into battle, as Muzafar Khan planned a trap.[2] The Sikh drummer began beating the drum and the Sikh forces who had heard it rushed into the dust storm, though facing poor visibility. Muzafar Khan arranged his forces into two straight columns, which was arranged in such a ay that when a Sikh force encountered them, one would grab him, and the other to kill him.[6] This continued until the Sikhs lost thousands of men from the trap, and realizing they lost the day, they retired to Lahore.[7] The Sikhs were defeated and lost 2,000 men which were killed or wounded.[3] The Sikh force fled to Lahore and Timur Shah dispatched a force of 20,000 men in pursuit of them. The force overtook the Sikhs at Hujra Muqim Khan, 40 miles west of Lahore and successfully defeated them before returning to Multan.[3]
Aftermath
Following this, the Afghans would reorganize at Multan and take it in the Siege of Multan (1780). Muzafar Khan would become governor of Multan following its capture by the Afghans.
References
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (2000). Studies In Later Mughal History Of The Punjab 1707-1793. Sang-e-Meel Publications. pp. 237–240. ISBN 9789693507560.
- ^ a b c Muhammad Khan 1998, p. 158.
- ^ a b c d Gupta 2000, p. 241.
- ^ a b Gupta 2000, p. 240.
- ^ Muhammad Khan, Ashiq (1998). THE LAST PHASE OF MUSLIM RULE IN MULTAN (1752 - 1818) (Thesis). University of Multan, MULTAN. p. 157. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
- ^ Muhammad Khan 1998, p. 158-159.
- ^ Muhammad Khan 1998, p. 159.