Battle of Phagwara

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Battle of Phagwara
Part of Early Mughal-Sikh Wars
Date29 April 1635
Location
Result Sikh victory
Belligerents
Akal Sena (Sikhs) Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Guru Hargobind
Bidhi Chand
Tegh Bahadur
Baba Gurditta
Bhai Desu 
Bhai Sohela 
Ahmad Khan 
Fateh Khan 
Zafat Khan
Jamal Khan
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Minor to heavy losses[1][2] Unknown

The Battle of Phagwara was fought between the Akal Sena forces led by Guru Hargobind and the Mughal forces led by Ahmad Khan.

Background[edit]

After the Battle of Kartarpur, Guru Hargobind along with some devotees left the plains and set out for Kiratpur Sahib which would be safer for the Sikhs as they expected revenge by the Mughals for their defeat.[3] The Guru had already suffered high amount of losses in men and material before during the Battle of Kartarpur.[4][5]

Battle[edit]

When the Guru and his troops were passing through Phagwara, they were attacked by a contingent of royal Mughal forces under the command of Ahmad Khan, the grandson of Abdulla Khan who was killed by Guru Hargobind in the Battle of Rohilla.[6] The Mughal forces failed to cause any major damage to the Sikhs.[3] Ahmad Khan and Fateh Khan were killed by the Sikh forces while Zafat Khan and Jamal Khan managed to survive.[7] As for the Sikhs, Bhai Desa and Bhai Sohela were killed in battle.[6]

Aftermath[edit]

This battle was the last major battle between the Sikhs and the Mughals during Guru Hargobind’s time. Guru Hargobind finally after reached Kiratpur.[3]

On the Sikh side, Bhatt Sona and Bhatt Sohela (sons of Balu Bhatt and grandsons of Mula Bhatt) were killed in the battle.[2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (1994). History of the Sikhs: The Sikh Gurus, 1469-1708. Munshiram Manoharlal. p. 170. ISBN 978-81-215-0276-4.
  2. ^ a b Dhillon 1988, p. 123.
  3. ^ a b c Dhillon, Darbir Singh (1988). Sikhism, Origin and Development. p. 123.
  4. ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (1939). History of the Sikhs, Volume 1.
  5. ^ Sagoo, Harbans Kaur (2001). Banda Singh Bahadur and Sikh Sovereignty. Deep & Deep Publications. p. 38. ISBN 9788176293006.
  6. ^ a b Surjit Singh Gandhi (2007). History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C.E. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. pp. 542–543. ISBN 9788126908585.
  7. ^ Nayyar,Gurbachan Singh (1995). The Sikhs in Ferment, Battle of the Sikh Gurus