Battle of Ropar (1710) explained

Conflict:Battle of Ropar
Place:Ropar
Partof:Mughal-Sikh Wars
Date:May 1710
Result:Sikh Victory
Combatant1: First Sikh State
Combatant2: Mughal Empire
Commander1: Banda Singh Bahadur
Commander2: Sher Mohammad Khan
Khizar Khan
Nashtar Khan
Wali Mohammad Khan
Strength1:Unknown
Strength2:Unknown
2 Guns

The Battle of Ropar was fought in May 1710 by the Sikh forces led by Banda Singh Bahadur and the Mughal forces led by Sher Mohammad Khan of Malerkotla.

Background

Wazir Khan, the governor of Sirhind found out that the Sikhs from Majha had assembled at Kiratpur Sahib. Therefore, when the Sikhs reached Ropar, Sher Mohammad Khan along with Khizar Khan, Nashtar Khan and Wali Mohammad Khan were there to block the Sikhs passage and offer them a battle.[1] The Mughals had weapons and a superior number of horses while the Sikhs had a small army with insufficient weapons.[2]

Battle

Both sides are said to show great signs of bravery and courage. As they were fighting, there came a bad dust storm which forced both parties to withdraw for the night.[3] On the next day, a fresh contingent of Sikhs arrived to reinforce the remaining Sikhs. Immediately a bullet struck Khizar Khan in the head which caused confusion.[4] [5] Nashtar and Wali Mohammad Khan tried to retrieve the dead body of Khizar Khan but were killed while doing so. Sher Mohammad Khan fled away due to being seriously wounded.[2] With most of their leaders killed, the remaining force retreated back to Sirhind.[6] [7]

Aftermath

After this battle, this force merged with Banda Singh Bahadur's force and crushed the Mughals in the Battle of Chappar Chiri.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Sagoo, Harbans Kaur. Banda Singh Bahadur and Sikh Sovereignty. 2001. 9788176293006. Deep & Deep Publications . 129.
  2. Book: Battle Tactics And War Manoeuvres of the Sikhs. D.S Saggu VSM. 2018. Notion Press . 9781642490060.
  3. Book: Dhillon . Harish . First Raj of the Sikhs . May 2013 . Hay House . 9789381398395 .
  4. Book: Sampath . Vikram . Bravehearts of Bharat . 26 October 2022 . Penguin Random House India Private Limited . 9789354928284 .
  5. Book: Nijjar . Bakhshish Singh . Panjab Under the Later Mughals, 1707-1759 . 1972 . New Academic Publishing Company . 47 .
  6. Book: Sikhism - Its Philosophy And History. Institute of Sikh Studies. 1997. 434. Institute of Sikh Studies . 9788185815039.
  7. Book: Singh . Patwant . The Sikhs . 2000 . Knopf . 9780375407284 . 72 .