Raid of Panipat (1770)

The Raid of Panipat (1770) was a raid on 4 January 1770 by the Sikh forces led by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia against the Mughal forces led by Zabita Khan.

Fourth Battle of Panipat
Part of Mughal-Sikh Wars
Date4-10 January 1770
Location
Panipat
Result
Belligerents
Dal Khalsa Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
Baghel Singh		 Najib ad-Dawlah
Zabita Khan
Strength
20,000+[1][2] Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

Background

During the winter of 1767 after Diwali, the Sikhs moved near the territory of Panipat. Najib ad-Dawlah came with his army to fight against them. However, he realized that he couldn't fight the Khalsa and saw their control over places like Sirhind and Lahore. The Mughals were scared of the Sikhs attacking Delhi since they would most likely lose their capital. Therefore, Najib wrote a letter to the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II to resign his task of Delhi.[3]

In March 1768, Najib finally resigned. His son Zabita Khan was appointed the task to defend Delhi. He was told by his father to settle matters with the Sikhs either through a battle or by reaching a compromise.[3][4][5]

Battle

In January 1770, the Sikhs entered the estates of Najib.[6][7] The Sikhs raided and plundered Panipat on January 4th.[8][7] Zabita Khan came to oppose them. The Sikhs demanded a large sum as the price of their friendship. Zabita declined to even entertain such proposals.[9] The Sikhs advanced from Panipat plundering villages around Panipat, Sonepat and Karnal area.[1][10][11]

Aftermath

The Sikhs reached Delhi on 10th January. No action was fought due to the wait of reinforcements.[9] When they arrived, Zabita Khan put up strong resistance and the Sikhs offered Khan one lakh rupees to withdraw from the countryside around Delhi. Negotiations failed and the Sikhs were forced to retreat.[6][12] Najib ad-Dawlah died on 31 October 1770 which made Zabita Khan the second richest person in northern India.[4][13][14][15][16][17][18]

References
  1. Khushwant Singh (2004). A History Of The Sikhs, Vol. 1, 1469-1839. Oxford University Press. p. 172. ISBN 9780195673081.
  2. Journal of Sikh Studies. Department of Guru Nanak Studies, Guru Nanak Dev University. 1983. p. 94.
  3. Ganda Singh (1990). Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. pp. 179–181.
  4. Sarkar Sir Jadunath (1934). Fall Of The Mughal Empire 1754-1771. pp. 404–405.
  5. Dīwāna Siṅgha (1993). The Revolution of Guru Nanak. Peoples Publishing House. p. 178.
  6. Surjit Singh Gandhi (1999). Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. Singh Bros. p. 579. ISBN 9788172052171.
  7. University of Michigan (2005). The Sikh Review. Vol. 53. Sikh Cultural Centre. p. 28.
  8. The Journal of the Bihar Research Society. 1941. p. 449.
  9. Hari Ram Gupta (1944). History Of The Sikhs 1769 1799. pp. 40–41.
  10. Buddha Prakash (1970). Hariyana Through the Ages. Kurukshetra University. p. 84.
  11. Mittal, Satish Chandra (1986). "The Ascendency of the Sikhs". Haryana, a Historical Perspective. Atlantic Publishers & Distri. pp. 5–7.
  12. Proceedings. Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University. 1980. p. 130.
  13. Satish Chandra Mittal (1986). Haryana, a Historical Perspective. p. 6. ISBN 9788171560837.
  14. Sailendra Nath Sen (1994). Anglo-Maratha Relations, 1785-96. Vol. 2. Popular Prakashan. p. 8. ISBN 9788171547890.
  15. Tahmas Khan (1967). Tahmasnama. Popular Prakashan. p. 118.
  16. K.A. Acharya (1978). Maratha-Rajput Relations from 1720 to 1795 A.D. Acharya. p. 272.
  17. Ramesh Chandra Majumdar (1951). The History and Culture of the Indian People. Vol. 8. G. Allen & Unwin. p. 255.
  18. Sheikh Mohammad Ikram (1989). History of Muslim Civilization in India and Pakistan. Institute of Islamic Culture. p. 360. ISBN 9789694690018.

See also


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