Battle of Chappar Chiri

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Battle of Chappar Chiri
Part of
Mughal-Sikh Wars

Illustrated folio of ‘Tawarikh-i Jahandar Shah’, Awadh or Lucknow, ca.1770, showing the climax of the Battle of Sirhind fought in 1710
Date12 May 1710 [1]
Location
A village named Chappar Chiri
near Sahibzada Ajit Nagar (Mohali)
Result Sikh victory[2]
Belligerents

First Sikh State

Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders

Banda Singh Bahadur

Wazir Khan (Sirhind) 

  • Sher Muhammad Khan 
  • Sucha Nand
Units involved
70,000[3][a] 5-6,000 Cavalry
7-8,000 Musketeers and Archers
100 Elephants
24 Cannons
5,000-8,000 Ghazis
Total 20,000-25,000[5][6]
Casualties and losses
Unknown

The Battle of Chappar Chiri, also called Battle of Sirhind,[9] was fought between Mughal Empire and the Sikhs on 12 May 1710 at Chappar Chiri, located 20 kilometers from Sirhind.[10][11]

Background

The Sikhs were planning to wage

Samana, Shahabad, Mustafabad and Sadhaura by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's troops as they could provide military assistance to the Mughal government of Sirhind.[14][15] The number of plunderers also amassed, who were looking forward to prey upon the riches within the walls of Sirhind and followed Baba Banda Singh and his troops on the march to Sirhind.[16] Both the troops of Baba Banda Singh and Wazir Khan faced each other at a village called Chappar Chiri.[17]

Pre-Battle maneuvers

Sikh cavalry charge during the battle, ca.1770 illustrated manuscript

Before the battle began, Wazir Khan and Sucha Nand sent Sucha Nand's nephew with 1000 men to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in a plot to deceive the Sikhs, by falsely claiming to have deserted the Mughals and have come joined the Sikhs for their cause.

Jats, Gujars and Rajputs intent on plunder alone.[20]

The Battle

20th century painting of the battle

Upon the firing of artillery by the

Mughal army, the third class of Banda's army, consisting of bandits and irregulars fled, and soon after Sucha Nand's nephew along with his 1000 men took to flight as well.[17] Banda Singh Bahadur was waiting for the right time with 1/3 of his army. When the information came that the bandits had fled. To encourage his army, Banda Singh himself rushed into the battle, severely attacking the imperial army, leading to many Mughal soldiers being killed, including Sher Muhammad Khan and Khwaja Ali of Malerkotla.[17][21] Wazir Khan was also killed which led to the defeat and retreat of his army to Sirhind, where many were killed during Banda's pursuit of them.[17][21][11]

Aftermath

After the defeat of the Mughal army at the battle of Chappar Chiri, the

Popular culture

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Ganda Singh claims that the 70,000 figure to be an exaggeration.[4]

References

  1. .
  2. ^ .
  3. . After destroying a number of neighbouring towns and villages, he rushed to Sirhind. By this time, his position had become formidable, as 70,000 people gathered under him.
  4. ^ Singh 1990, p. 62.
  5. ^ a b Sikh Digital Library (17 April 1935). Life Of Banda Singh Bahadur Based On Contemporary And Original Records - Dr. Ganda Singh. Sikh Digital Library. Sikh Digital Library. pp. 59–60.
  6. .
  7. ^ Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. p. 31.
  8. ^ Irvine, William (1904). Later Mughals. Atlantic Publishers & Distri.
  9. .
  10. ^ Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. p. 32.
  11. ^ .
  12. .
  13. ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (1944). Studies in Later Mughal History of the Panjab. The Minerva Book Shop. p. 47.
  14. .
  15. ^ Gandhi, Surjit (1999). Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. p. 28.
  16. ^ a b Sagoo 2001, p. 129.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h Singh, Ganda (1990) [1935]. Life of Banda Singh Bahadur. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. pp. 55–66.
  18. ^ Sagoo 2001, p. 126.
  19. ^ Sagoo 2001, p. 139.
  20. .
  21. ^ a b Sagoo 2001, p. 131.
  22. .
  23. .
  24. ^ "Featured Movie News | Featured Bollywood News". Bollywood Hungama. 10 February 2017. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  25. ^ "Poster launch:Chaar Sahibzaade 2 – Rise of Banda Bahadur". Thehansindia.com. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  26. ^ "Badal inaugurates tallest victory tower". MSN. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  27. ^ Bajwa, Harpreet (1 December 2011). "Fateh Burj, India's tallest victory tower, thrown open". Indian Express. Retrieved 18 November 2012.