Battle of Gujrat (1765)

The Battle of Gujrat took place in December 1765 between the supreme leader of the whole Chaj Doab territory, Sultan Muqarrab Khan (owed allegiance to Ahmad Shah Abdali) and the Sikh Misls under Charat Singh and Gujar Singh. Muqarrab Khan was defeated in the battle and the Sikhs captured the city where Gujar Singh made Gujrat his capital after repairing and rebuilding the fort with stronger walls.[3][4][5]

Battle of Gujrat
Part of Afghan-Sikh wars
DateDecember 1765[1][2]
Location
Gujrat
Result Sikh victory
Belligerents
Durrani Empire Sikh Misls
Commanders and leaders
Sultan Muqarrab Khan Charat Singh
Gujar SIngh
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

Background

Gujrat was part of the Chaj Doab territory and in the middle of the town laid the fort that was built during the time of Emperor Akbar, consisted of 8,000 horses and populated with Muslim Gujars and Hindu Khatris.[6] Previously, Muqarrab Khan had defeated the Afghan Yusufzai of Hazara district and Jang Quli Khan Khattak, followed with the capture of Gujrat, establishing the town as his capital in 1758.[6] Muqarrab Khan was a vassal of the Durrani Empire and a supreme leader of the whole Chaj Doab who supported Ahmad Shah Abdali on his campaigns of India and also had his daughter married to the Durrani emperor.[6][7] To possess the territories that owed allegiance to Durrani empire, Gujar Singh decided to march from Lahore to Chaj Doab with a large army where Charat Singh too joined him.[7][8]

Battle

In December 1765, Gujar Singh and Charat Singh indulged in a hard-fought battle against Muqarrab Khan who gave a vigorous resistance, particularly at the west bank of River Chenab and then outside the walls of the town but was eventually defeated by the Sikhs, following which Muqarrab Khan rushed into the capital and locked himself inside the fort.[7][6][9] The Sikhs besieged the fort, cutting of all supplies, causing Muqarrab Khan to take a desperate step by riding on an elephant and cutting through the line of the besiegers.[7][8] With the Sikhs in pursuit, Muqarrab Khan came across a flooded stream and attempted to cross it in desperation but though the elephant made it across the other side of the stream, Muqarrab Khan was no where to be seens and presumed to be drowned.[7][8] According to Griffin, Muqarrab Khan did make it across the Jhelum river but was captured by rival Ghakhar chief Himmat Khan of Domeli who later executed him.[7][9]

Aftermath

After the victory and capture of Gujrat, the Sikhs completely sacked the city and Gujar Singh made the town his capital after restructuring the fort with stronger walls.[7][8] The whole district of Chaj Doab fell under the Sikh domination which was then divided between the two Sikh chiefs, Gujar Singh and Charat Singh.[7][8]

References
  1. Gupta, Hari Ram (1998). History of the Sikhs Volume 4. ‎ Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. pp. 226–227. ISBN 9788121505406.
  2. Gupta, Hari Ram (1999). History of the Sikhs Volume 2. ‎ Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. pp. 233–234. ISBN 9788121502481.
  3. Gupta 1998, p. 227.
  4. Gandhi, Surjit Singh (1999). Sikhs of the Eighteenth Century. Singh Bros. p. 453. ISBN 9788172052171.
  5. Nijjar, Bakhshish Singh (2008). Origins and History of Jats and Other Allied Nomadic Tribes of India. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. p. 103. ISBN 9788126909087.
  6. Gupta 1998, p. 226.
  7. Gupta 1999, p. 233.
  8. Gandhi 1999, p. 453.
  9. Nijjar 2008, p. 103.
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