Battle of Amritsar (1757)

Battle of Amritsar
Part of Indian Campaign of Ahmad Shah Durrani and Afghan-Sikh Wars

19th century painting of a headless Baba Deep Singh fighting the Afghan forces at the Battle of Amritsar, by Gian Singh Naqqash
Date11 November 1757
Location
A village named Gohalwar near Amritsar[1]
Result Afghan victory
Belligerents
Durrani Empire Shaheedan Misl
Commanders and leaders
Timur Shah Durrani
Haji Atai Khan
Jahan Khan
Jamal Shah 
Qasim Khan
Mir Nimat Khan 
Baba Deep Singh 
Ram Singh 
Sajjan Singh 
Bahadur Singh 
Agarh Singh 
Hira Singh 
Kuar Singh 
Mana Singh 
Sant Singh 
Strength
20,000 or 22,000[2] 5,000 or 6,000[3]
20th century portrait of Baba Deep Singh during the Battle of Amritsar

The Battle of Amritsar, also known as the Battle of Gohalwar, was fought between the Durrani Empire and Shaheedan Misl of the Dal Khalsa on 11 November 1757.[1] Following the fourth invasion of Ahmad Shah Durrani, his army was attacked by Sikh bands under the command of Ala Singh and Baba Deep Singh.[4][5] Following the attacks, Ahmad Shah desecrated the Sikh holy site known as the Shri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar.[5][6] The news of the desecration reached Baba Deep Singh who vowed to liberate the holy site from the Afghans.[7] This resulted in a pitched battle being fought in the village of Gohalwar, near Amritsar.[4] The battle resulted in Baba Deep Singh being killed and an Afghan victory.[8]

  1. ^ a b Lansford 2017, p. 20.
  2. ^ Surjit Singh Gandhi (1999). Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. Singh Bros. p. 218. ISBN 9788172052171.
  3. ^ Singh, Bhagat (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Punjabi University, Patiala. p. 242. ISBN 978-8130201818.
  4. ^ a b Jacques 2006, p. 400.
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Singha 2000, p. 57.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gupta was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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