List of early Hindu–Muslim military conflicts in the Indian subcontinent explained

The table below lists the early Hindu-Muslim military conflicts in the Indian subcontinent.[1]

MuslimHindu

(Color legend for aggressor)

YearAggressorLocationCommanderDetails
636MuslimTanah, near MumbaiCaliph UmarMajor Naval Raid[2]
c. 643MuslimDebalArabs invaded Debal at the mouth of the Indus river[3]
650MuslimZaranjCaliph UthmanCity of Zabul occupied by Muslims
660sMuslimBustIbn SamarahBust occupied; Kabul garrisoned
670HinduKabulunknownHindus recapture Kabul
680HinduKabulRatbil, Yazid ibn ZiyadHindu raiding parties harass Muslims
692MuslimBustAbu Dulhah, RatbilBust retaken by Muslim expedition
694MuslimKabulIbn Abi-Makrah, RatbilMajor Muslim siege fails to retake Kabul
708MuslimSijistanQutaya ibn Muslim, RatbilMajor punitive raid against Ratbil
710MuslimSri LankaAl-HajjajRaid on island
711MuslimDebalUbaidullah, DahirUbaidullah killed by Dahir expedition failed-
712MuslimDebalBudail, Jaisiah (Hullishah)Budail was killed and many Arabs taken prisoners raja Dahir was the king at that time
713MuslimMultanMuhammad ibn QasimIslamic conquest of urban Sindh completed
715HinduAlorHullishah, al-MuhallabHindu army retakes major city from Muslims.
715HinduMehranHullishah, al-MuhallabMuslims stall the Hindu counter-offensive
718HinduBrahmanabadhHullishah, al-MuhallabHindu attacks resume
721MuslimBrahmanabadh al-Muhallab, HullishahHullishah becomes a Muslim, likely due to military reversals.
725MuslimAvantiNagabhata IDefeat of large expedition against Avanti.
724-740MuslimUzain, Mirmad, Dahnaj, othersJunayd of SindhRaiding India as part of Umayyad Hindu policy.
740 MuslimChittorMauray of ChittorHindus repulse an Arab siege
743Muslimal-Bailaman, al-JurzJunaydAnnexed by Muslims.
750MuslimVallabhiJunayd of Sindh, Nagabhata IPratihara capital sacked in Muslim raid.[4] [5]
754-775Muslimar-Rukhraj, Kabul, Kandahar, KashmirCaliph Al-MansurHeavy raids and sieges but few annexations by Muslims
778MuslimsBarabadCaliph Al-MahdiMuslim amphibious assault annihilated.
Late 770sMuslimSijistanCaliph Al-MahdiRaja of Sijistan made vassal of Caliphate.
780-787MuslimFort Tharra, Bagar, BhaqmburHaji Abu TurabVigorous Muslim offensive captures several important Hindu outposts.
786-791MuslimKabulCaliph ar-RashidMajor Muslim siege effort fails.
800-810HinduSindh borderNagabhata II, Caliph Al-AminSeveral Muslim outposts fall to Pratihara incursions
810-820MuslimKabulCaliph Al-Ma'mun, Nagabhata IIKabul falls to Muslims, is then retaken by Hindus.
820-830MuslimFort Sindanal-Fadl ibn MahanSindan captured, but Hindu riots make pacification of Sindh impossible.
839HinduFort SindanMihira BhojaHindus expel Muslim garrison.
845HinduYavanaDharmpalaMuslim principality becomes vassal of Pratiharas.
845-860HinduPratihara-SindhMihira BhojaUneasy truce between Sindh and Rajputana.
860HinduRajputana-SindhKokkalla IKalachuri raids into Sindh to finance war with Pratihara kingdom
867MuslimHeratYakub ibn LaythSaffarid conquest
870MuslimKabulYakub ibn Layth, Lalliya ShahiSaffarid conquest
880-900MuslimSijistanAmr ibn Layth, Kamaluka ShahiFrequent raids by Muslims.
903-905HinduKabul regionShahi dynastyDisintegration of Saffarids allows major Hindu military achievements.
905-915HinduMultan regionMahipala PratiharaSeries of major but unsuccessful Hindu sieges of Multan.
940-950HinduMultan regionPratihara, Amir of MultanEvidences of war and reprisals prior to the Qarmatian take-over.
c. 948-963MuslimAlptiginPunjabAlptigin of Ghazni plunders Punjab several times.[6]
963MuslimAlptigin, Anuk LawikFort GhazniMuslims take fort from Hindus.
965-973MuslimLamghanSabuktiginHeavy raiding
973HinduGhaznaSabuktiginDefeat of Hindu expedition.
973-991MuslimLamghanSabuktigin, JayapalaLong series of engagements, eventual Muslim annexation of Lamghan
1001MuslimPeshawarMahmud, JayapalaDefeat of major Hindu confederation.
1004MuslimBheraMahmud, Bijay RayMuslims annex city
1005–1006MuslimMultanMahmud, Fateh DaudSiege successful, Daud agrees to pay tribute to Mahmud
1005–1008MuslimPunjabMahmud, AnandapalaEnormous devastation by Muslim raids.
1009MuslimNagarkotMahmudCity razed
1009MuslimOhindMahmud, AnandapalaGhaznavid victory
1013MuslimNandanahMahmud, TrilochanpalaCity taken
1014HinduTosi riverMahmud, TrilochanpalaMuslims halted
1015MuslimLohkot (Lahore)MahmudUnsuccessful Muslim siege
1018MuslimKannauj and BaranMahmudTwo major Hindu capitals surrounded.
1021MuslimLohkot (Lahore)MahmudSecond siege also fails
1022MuslimFort GwaliorMahmud, NandaFort taken
1022MuslimFort KalanjaraMahmud, NandaChandela fort stalls Muslim advance.
1025MuslimSomnathMahmudCity taken.
1027MuslimIndus ValleyMahmud, JatsGhaznavid victory
1033MuslimSaraswa, near SaharanpurMasudGhaznavid siege successful
1033MuslimVaranasiAhmed Nialtigin, GangeyadevaMajor raid[7]
1037MuslimHansi (near Delhi)MasudGhaznavid victory
1040MuslimThanesarMahmud, Tomara dynastyMajor city taken.
1044HinduThanesar, Hansi, KangraMahipal of DelhiGrand counter offensive recaptures some ground.
1049MuslimThanesar, Hansi, KangraBu'Ali HasanMahipal forced to give up some reconquests
1052MuslimFort KangraNushtigin Ghazni, MahipalaRetaken by Muslims.
1060–1075MuslimRupal, Ajudhan, Buria, Sirhind, Dhangan, Fort DarahSultan IbrahimMuslim conquests.
1079–1081MuslimNavsariIbrahim.Muslims stall.
1084–1094MuslimBeyond Ganges.Mahmud ibn IbrahimPowerful but valueless expeditionary probe
1099–1115MuslimKannaujHajib Tughatigin, MadanachandraMassive raids and sieges after Hindu reconquest bring many marginal victories but Kannauj remains in the hands of the Hindu garrison.
1120–1124MuslimNagaurMuhammed BahlimMassive penetration raid 300 miles south of Lahore.
1160–1175HinduDhillika, Asika, AryavartaVigraharajaMajor successes in counter-offensive
1170HinduKannaujJayachandraHindus retake Kannauj
1170MuslimMultanGhuri, Muslim ruler of MultanGhurid victory
1178MuslimNahrwalahGhuriSiege fails
1178MuslimKayadaraGhuri, Mularaja IIMajor defeat for Ghurids
1179 MuslimNadolGhuriMajor fort taken.
1182MuslimGhuriUnknownMuslims halted.
1186MuslimLahoreGhuriGhurids take Lahore from the Ghaznavids.
1191MuslimTabarhindahGhuri, Rai Kolah PithoraMuslim victory ends Cahamen dynasty
1191MuslimTarainGhuri, Prithviraj ChauhanChauhan victory
1191MuslimTarainGhuri, Prithviraj ChauhanChauhan victory
1192MuslimTarainGhuri, Prithviraj ChauhanGhurid victory
1192MuslimTarainGhuri, Prithviraj ChauhanGhurid victory
1193MuslimChandawarGhuri, JaichandGhurid victory.
1202MuslimFort KalinjarQutb al-Din, Rai ParmarFall of the fort ends independent Hindu dynasties of Kannauj
1203MuslimMahobaQutb al-DinCapital of Kalpi province falls.
1205MuslimBrahmaputra areaMuhammad ibn BakhtyarMajor Muslim expedition to Tibet a failure.
1205HinduFort KalinjarChandelasFort recaptured.
1205HinduBetween Lahore and MultanGhurid, KhokharsKhokar rebellion put down by Ghurids

Notes and References

  1. Richards . J.F. . 1974. The Islamic frontier in the east: Expansion into South Asia. Journal of South Asian Studies. 4. 1. 91–109. 10.1080/00856407408730690.
  2. Book: The History and Culture of the Indian People . R. C. Majumdar. 3 . 167.
  3. Majumdar. 3. p. 169
  4. Book: Majumdar, R. C. . R. C. Majumdar . Pusalkar . A. D. . History and Culture of Indian People, Classical age . 150.
  5. Book: Blankinship, Khalid Yahya . Khalid Yahya Blankinship

    . Khalid Yahya Blankinship . The End of the Jihad State: The Reign of Hisham Ibn 'Abd al-Malik and the Collapse of the Umayyads . 10 May 2015 . 1994 . SUNY Press . 978-0-7914-1827-7. 187–189.

  6. Majumdar. 5. p. 2
  7. Book: Lal, Kishori Saran . The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India . Chapter 3: Muslims Invade India.