Mughal sieges of Kandahar (1649–1653)
Sieges of Kandahar | |||||
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Part of the Mughal–Safavid war (1649–1653) | |||||
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Belligerents | |||||
Mughal Empire | Safavid dynasty |
During the Mughal–Safavid war of 1649–1653, the Mughal Empire laid siege to the city of Kandahar in Afghanistan three times. All three sieges failed, and thus the Mughal Empire was unable to retake control of Kandahar from the Safavids.
History
Background
In the mid 17th-century, rising tensions between the
In 1647, a Mughal attempt to conquer
Sieges
First siege
The loss of Kandahar was seen as a major strategic loss for the Mughal Empire. Furthermore, the Mughals saw the defeat as a blow to the empire's prestige, and Emperor Shah Jahan was determined to see the city returned to Mughal control.[2] To this end he outfitted an expedition of 50,000 soldiers led by Prince Aurangzeb, Sadullah Khan (an adviser of the Mughal Court), and Jai Singh I of Jaipur. They advanced on Kandahar in April 1649, and spent several months fighting against Safavid forces in the flat countryside outside of the city.[2] However, the Mughal army faced severe supply issues, and the army lacked sufficient artillery to destroy or breach the walls of Kandahar. On 5 September 1649, the Mughal army retreated, having lost 3,000 men and thousands of draft animals.[2][4]
Second siege
With the first siege defeated, the Mughals began to prepare for a second attempt to retake the city. For the second siege, the Mughals invested more in artillery by ordering the casting of larger siege cannons. The second expedition was also better funded, and employed camels as draft animals. As with the first expedition, Prince Aurangzeb, Sadullah Khan, and Jai Singh were in command.[2][1]
The second expedition arrived outside of Kandahar on 2 May 1652, where the force began digging siege trenches. However, the Safavid defenders of Kandahar possessed more accurate gunners (due to the Safavid Empire often warring with the Ottoman Empire in Persia),[2] while the Mughal artillery was noted as being inaccurate.[2] This issue was compounded when the Mughal Emperor ordered that no assault be conducted before the city walls had been breached, which the outgunned and outfought Mughal army was unable to do. In light of this, the emperor ordered that Auragzeb withdraw his army to Kabul, an order which was followed out on 9 July 1652.[2]
Third siege
The Mughals attempted to recapture Kandahar in the spring of 1653. Having failed twice, Prince Aurangzeb was replaced by his brother, Prince
The third expedition arrived in Kandahar in April, where the army attempted to find a way to breach the city walls.
References
- ^ ISBN 9780816065776.
- ^ ISBN 9788176258418.
Battle of Raona.
- ^ ISBN 9788124110669. pp. 226
- ISBN 978-3700172024.