First Battle of Anandpur

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict = First Battle of Anandpur


caption =
date = 1701
place = Anandpur
territory =
result = Mughal army retreats back
combatant1 = Guru Gobind Singh's Sikhs
combatant2 = Mughal army of viceroy of Delhi, Rajas of the Sivalik Hills
commander1 = Panj Piare
commander2 = Din Beg Painda Khan
strength1 = unknown
strength2 = 10,000The First Battle of Anandpur was fought at Anandpur, between the armies of the Sikh Guru Gobind Singh and the Mughal forces aided by the Rajas of the Sivalik Hills. The battle is dated 1701 by most authors.

Cause

The increasing power of Guru Gobind Singh, and his establishment of a military order (Khalsa) had alarmed the Rajas of the Sivalik hills. After some failed attempts to check the Guru's power, the Rajas pleaded the Mughals to help them against the Guru.

The Mughal viceroy of Delhi sent his generals Din Beg and Painda Khan, each with an army of five thousand men, to subdue the Guru. [cite book
last = Banerjee
first = Indubhusan
title = Evolution of the Khalsa
origyear = 1963
publisher = A. Mukerjee
location = Calcutta
oclc = 5880923
pages = 25] The Mughal forces were joined by the armies of the hill chiefs at Rupar. The Guru appointed the "Panj Piare", his five beloved Sikhs, as the generals of his army.

The battle

According to the Sikh chronicles, Guru Gobind Singh refused to play the role of an aggressor, as he had vowed never to strike except in self-defence. Painde Khan shot two arrows at the Guru, but missed the mark. Painde Khan's whole body, except his ears, was encased in armour. The Guru replied to his arrows by discharging an arrow at his ear, killing him.

After Painde Khan's death, Din Beg assumed the command of his troops. [cite book
last = Macauliffe
first = Max Arthur
authorlink = Max Arthur Macauliffe
title = The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings, and Authors
origyear = 1909
year = 1996
publisher = Low Price Publications
isbn = 978-8186142318
oclc = 1888987
pages = 125] However, he failed to overpower the Guru's forces. The hill Rajas fled from the battlefield, and Din Beg was forced to retreat after being wounded. He was pursued by the Guru's army as far as Rupar.

Aftermath

After the Mughal generals failed to evacuate the Guru from Anandpur, the hill Rajas formed an alliance and attacked Anandpur, leading to the Second Battle of Anandpur.

References