Battle of Nimla (1809)

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Battle of Nimla (1809)
Part of Durrani Civil Wars
DateLate June – Early July 1809
Location
Kabul-Jalalabad Road
Result

Mahmud Coalition Victory

Territorial
changes
Durrani Empire usurped by Shah Mahmud
Belligerents
Coalition of Shah Mahmud Durrani Empire
Commanders and leaders
Mahmud Shah Durrani
Kamran Shah Durrani
Fateh Khan Barakzai
Dost Mohammad Khan[1]
Shah Shuja Durrani
Akram Khan 
Abd al-Ghafur 
Strength
~4,000[2] ~3,000[3]
Casualties and losses
Unknown, believed to be light. Unknown, believed to be heavy.

The Battle of Nimla took place between June–July 1809, due to a conflict between

Shah Shuja Durrani over the succession for the Durrani throne. The battle resulted in a victory for Mahmud Shah and allowed him to secure the throne, where he reigned from 1809 to 1818. This was his second reign before he was deposed.[4]

At the beginning of the conflict,

Shah Shuja had managed to depose Mahmud Shah in the wake of a greater conflict that had spilled over after the death of Timur Shah Durrani, leading to a succession crisis where Mahmud Shah would eventually take rule, and be deposed by Shah Shuja, as a result, Mahmud Shah had returned in 1809 and had occupied Kabul
, Shah Shuja had rallied his forces near Jalalabad to meet Shah Mahmud in battle near Nimla.

Background

Following the death of

Shah Shuja Durrani would attempt to thwart Mahmud Shah's attempts, but was repelled and was forced to flee.[6]

Shah Shuja would return with rebel leaders, Sher Muhammad Khan to topple Mahmud Shah and would succeed, placing himself on the throne in 1803, making Mahmud Shah's reign last just under 2 years.[7]

Kabul-Jalalabad Road near Nimla.[8] Shah Shuja had previously attempted a campaign in Kashmir, and his forces were repelled, hence he was unable to bring together a proper army to try and repel Mahmud Shah Durrani and his allies. Nonetheless the battle began.[8]

Battle

Depicted battle of Nimla

The Battle took place between June-July 1809, where

Shah Shuja Durrani was strategizing and aligning his army for battle against Shah Mahmud, upon his arrival. However, during the preparation, Shah Shuja and his forces were ambushed by Shah Mahmud's much larger army, while being strung out across the road. Shah Mahmud's cavalry made several quick attacks on Shah Shuja's split forces, with coordinated attacks, pulling and wiping them apart with lancers. Witnessing these string of victories by Shah Mahmud, many of the noblemen on Shah Shuja's side defected or fled, likely due to bribes from Fateh Khan, Wazir to Shah Mahmud. A split force from the road led by Akram Khan met Fateh Khan. Akram Khan prepared for battle against Fateh Khan and fired a shot at him, which missed and killed an officer next to Fateh Khan. Fateh Khan, infuriated, charged and struck off Akram's head, and raised it in the air. By the time Shah Shuja heard of Akram's death, his army had disintegrated and fallen, resulting in a victory for Shah Mahmud. Shah Shuja was forced to flee from the battle.[9][10][11]

Aftermath

With this victory, Mahmud Shah Durrani was able to usurp and secure the Durrani throne, starting his second reign on the Durrani Empire. Mahmud Shah Durrani reigned until his second deposition in 1818.[12]

References

  1. . Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  2. ^ Muhammad Katib Hazarah 2012, p. 130.
  3. ^ Dalrymple 2012, p. 44.
  4. ^ Lee, Jonathan (2018). "Afghanistan A History From 1260 To The Present". AAF: 174. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  5. ^ Lee 2018, p. 159.
  6. ^ Lee 2018, p. 163.
  7. ^ Lee 2018, p. 166.
  8. ^ a b Lee 2018, p. 174.
  9. ^ Muhammad Katib Hazarah, Fayz (2012). "The History Of Afghanistan Fayż Muḥammad Kātib Hazārah's Sirāj Al Tawārīkh By R. D. Mcchesney, M. M. Khorrami". AAF: 131. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  10. ^ Lee 2018, p. 175.
  11. ^ Dalrymple, William (2012). "Return of A King The Battle". AAF: 46. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  12. ^ Lee 2018, p. 176.