Second Battle of Anandpur (1704)

The siege of Anandpur[lower-alpha 1] was fought at Anandpur, between Sikhs and the Mughal generals Wazir Khan and Zaberdast Khan aided by the vassal Rajas of the Sivalik Hills in May 1704.[2]

Siege of Anandpur
Part of the Mughal-Sikh Wars
DateMay 1704
Location
Anandpur
Result Mughal victory, Sikhs capitulated and Anandpur was captured by the Mughals[1]
Belligerents
Sikhs (Khalsa) Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Guru Gobind Singh

Wazir Khan
Zaberdast Khan

Background

The hill Rajas were concerned about Gobind Singh's rising power and influence in their region along with dislike for the Sikh movement.[3][4] In addition, the hill Rajas were frustrated by the raids on their villages by the Sikhs from Anandpur who sought to acquire supplies, provisions and cash.[5][6] Earlier in 1704, the Mughal troops were repulsed in northern Punjab at Basoli and Anandpur.[1] Consequently, the Rajas of several hill states (including Jammu, Nurpur, Mandi, Kullu, Guler, Chamba, Srinagar, Dadhwal, and Hindur) assembled at Bilaspur to discuss the situation. The son of Bhim Chand, Raja Ajmer Chand of Kahlur, suggested forming an alliance to curb the Gobind Singh's rising power. Accordingly, the Rajas formed an alliance with the Mughals, and marched towards Anandpur.[7]

They sent a letter to Gobind Singh, asking him to pay the arrears of rent for Anandpur (which lied in Ajmer Chand's territory), and leave the city to which Gobind Singh insisted that the land was bought by his father, and is therefore, his own property.[7]

Siege

In May 1704, Generals Wazir Khan and Zaberdast Khan, sent by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, joined by the Hill Rajas, besieged Anandpur in an attempt to remove Guru and his followers.[8][1] The army of the Guru kept the Mughals and hillmen at bay but being surrounded by heavy odds, took refuge in Anandpur fort, where they were besieged for many months, with all supplies and communications cut off.[8] Emperor Aurangzeb sent a written assurance by promising on the Quran, whereas Hill Rajas swore by their gods,[9][10] with the safety of all Sikhs if the Guru decided to evacuate the fort, and after a long drawn out siege, Gobind Singh and his followers, facing starvation, capitulated in return for safe passage, but the Sikhs were treacherously attacked at the Sarsa, with all assurances and solemn oaths betrayed by the Mughals and Hill Rajas.[1][8]

Notes
  1. Called 2nd Anandpur by Tony Jacques[1]

References
  1. Jacques 2006, p. 49.
  2. Fenech 2013, p. 18.
  3. Gandhi, Surjit Singh (2007). History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C.E. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. p. 823. ISBN 9788126908585.
  4. Gandhi 2007, p. 734.
  5. Fenech 2013, p. 161.
  6. Malhotra, Anshu; Mir, Farina (2012-02-21). Punjab Reconsidered: History, Culture, and Practice. Oxford University Press. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-19-908877-5.
  7. Johar, Surinder Singh (2007) [1978]. Guru Gobind Singh A Study. Marwah Publications. p. 108.
  8. Kaur, Madanjit (2007). Guru Gobind Singh: Historical and Ideological Perspective. Unistar Books. p. 25. ISBN 9788189899554.
  9. Macauliffe, Max Arthur (2013). The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors. Cambridge University Press. p. 181. ISBN 9781108055475.
  10. Grewal, J.S. (2019). Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708): Master of the White Hawk. OUP India. p. 117. ISBN 9780190990381.

Sources

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