Battle of Ali Masjid (1839)
The Battle of Ali Masjid took place on the 27 July 1839 between the Sikh Empire and its allies against the Emirate of Afghanistan. In the battle, the Khalsa Army and its Afghan levies emerged victorious and subsequently marched into Kabul.[1][2]
| Battle of Ali Masjid (1839) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the First Anglo-Afghan War and Afghan-Sikh Wars | |||||||
 The fort of Ali Masjid (watercolour of 1890) | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Sikh EmpireSupported By  Durrani Kingdom |
 Emirate of Kabul | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Sheikh Basawan Timur Mirza |
Wazir Akbar Khan | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
5,000 Khalsa Army 4,380 Afghan Levies[4] |
2,500 Men 14 guns | ||||||
Background[edit]
With the intention of using the Khalsa Army to help reinstall the expelled Afghan Shah, Shah Shujah Durrani, on the throne in Kabul, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the latter engaged into a secret arrangement in 1833. The aims of the Tripartite Treaty of 1838,[5] which included Shah Shujah Durrani, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and Lord Auckland, were echoed in this covert agreement. The conditions stated that the Khalsa army was to protect the Khyber Pass and guarantee the safe passage of the Shazada to Kabul, while the British forces were to advance to Kabul via the Bolan Pass and Ghazni.[6][7]
Battle[edit]
After being tactically held in reserve, the Sikh army crossed the Indus River and assembled in Peshawar. Known for his recklessness, and as the son of Dost Muhammad, Wazir Akbar Khan had moved towards Dakka in order to prevent Col. Sheikh Basawan from crossing the Khyber Pass. As Akbar Khan stood at the entrance of the pass, waiting for the oncoming enemy, he was informed with dismay that Ghazni had fallen.[8] At the same time, people in the Khyber area swore loyalty to Shah Shuja Durrani, which led to rebellion in the Kohistan district in support of the latter. The young Barakzai prince quickly demolished his tent and withdrew north in response to all of this. Ali Masjid was effectively seized on July 27 by Colonel Sheikh Basawan's Khalsa Army.[9][10][11]
Aftermath[edit]
The British Government officially acknowledged Colonel Sheikh Basawan's leadership through dispatches, and in recognition of his military personnel bravery, the Governor-General Lord Auckland bestowed a sword upon him.[12] Dost Mohammed Khan recalled his son to Kabul once Ali Masjid fell to Col. Sheikh Basawan and Shahzada Timur's army on July 27, 1839.[13] Col. Sheikh Basawan and his Troops successfully reached Kabul and captured it later participated in the Victory parade of Shah Shujah Durrani's restoration to the Throne.[14][15][16] Following the victory, the Khalsa Army made their way back to Punjab. Through his envoy Mulla Muhammad Hussain, Shah Shujah Durrani offered horses, mules, swords, daggers, and pieces of kimkhab as a sign of friendship. Mulla Muhammad Hussain stated on April 16, 1840, that Dost Mohammed Khan's stolen property will provide the Lahore Darbar with seven weapons.[17]
References[edit]
- ↑ Singh, Khushwant (24 March 2009). Ranjit Singh. Penguin Books India. p. 246. ISBN 9780143065432. Search this book on
- ↑ Singh, Khushwant (1963). A History of the Sikhs: 1469-1839. Punjab (India): Princeton University Press. p. ix. Search this book on
- ↑ Mitchell, W. (1897). Journal of the Royal United Service Institution, Whitehall Yard. Royal United Service Institution (Great Britain). p. 502. Search this book on
- ↑ Lal Suri, Sohan (1961). pts.1-5.Chronicle of the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 1831-1839 A.D. Punjab (India): S. Chand. p. 673. Search this book on
- ↑ Cunningham, Joseph Davey (1849). A History of the Sikhs From the Origin of the Nation to the Battles of the Sutlej. Cambridge University Press. p. 395. ISBN 9780511873652. Search this book on
- ↑ Lafont, Jean Marie (2002). Fauj-i-khas Maharaja Ranjit Singh and His French Officers. Punjab (India): Guru Nanak Dev University. p. 12. ISBN 9788177700480. Search this book on
- ↑ Mathew, K.S. (1999). French in India and Indian Nationalism, 1700 A.D.-1963 A.D. Pondicherry University: B.R. Publishing Corporation. p. 121. ISBN 9788176461153. Search this book on
- ↑ "First Afghan War". Archived from the original on 2007-10-24. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Hasrat, Bikrama Jit (1968). Anglo-Sikh Relations, 1799-1849: A Reappraisal of the Rise and Fall of the Sikhs. Punjab (India): V. V. Research Institute Book Agency. p. 183. Search this book on
- ↑ Stocqueler, Joachim Hayward (1843). Memorials of Affghanistan: Being State Papers, Official Documents, Dispatches, Authentic Narratives, Etc., Illustrative of the British Expedition To, and Occupation Of, Affghanistan and Scinde, Between the Years 1838 and 1842 (reprint ed.). Saeed Book Bank. p. 45. Search this book on
- ↑ Singh, Gurpal (1982). Journal of Sikh Studies, Volume 9. Punjab (India): Punjab University. p. 67. Search this book on
- ↑ Singh, Harbans (19 December 2000). "Basawan, Sheikh". The Sikh Encyclopedia. Punjab University. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ↑ Noelle-Karimi, Christine (1995). The Interaction Between State and Tribe in Nineteenth-century Afghanistan: The Reign of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan (1826-1863). University of California, Berkeley. p. 75. Search this book on
- ↑ Hoiberg, Dale; Ramchandani, Indu (2000). Students' Britannica India: M to S (Miraj to Shastri). India: Encyclopaedia Britannica (India). p. 284. ISBN 978-0-85229-760-5. Search this book on
- ↑ Hadden, Jeffrey K; Shupe, Anson (1988). The Politics of Religion and Social Change. Paragon House. p. 197. ISBN 9780913757765. Search this book on
- ↑ Macrory, Patrick Arthur (2002). Kabul Catastrophe: The Invasion and Retreat, 1839-1842 (illustrated, reprint ed.). Prion. p. 267. ISBN 9781853754890. Search this book on
- ↑ Singh, Ganda (1952). The Panjab in 1839-40. India: National Archives of India. p. 10. Search this book on
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