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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{more references|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Nepal-Sikh War
| date = March 1809 – August 1809
| place = [[Kangra Fort]]
| result = Sikh victory
* Nepalese retreat to the [[Arki Fort]]
| combatant1 = [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[Sikh Empire]]
| combatant2 = [[File:Flag of Nepal (1775–1962).svg|18px]] [[Kingdom of Nepal]]
| commander1 = [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]<br>[[Dewan Mokham Chand|Mokham Chand]]
| commander2 = [[Amar Singh Thapa]]<br>[[Bahadur Shah of Nepal|Bahadur Shah]]<br>[[Bhimsen Thapa]]<br>[[Nain Singh Thapa]]
| strength1 = 10,000 Sikh imperialists of the [[Sikh Khalsa Army]]
| strength2 = 16,000 Gurkha warriors
| casualties1 = 1,000 Sikh soldiers killed
| casualties2 = 12,000 Gurkha soldiers killed
}}
The '''Nepal–Sikh War''' was a large scale military conflict in 1809 between the forces of the [[Kingdom of Nepal]] under [[Amar Singh Thapa]] and the [[Sikh Empire]] under general [[Dewan Mokham Chand]].<ref name=":1">{{cite book|title= The Sikhs: Their Journey Of Five Hundred Years|author= Raj Pal Singh|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ra19YSPDliQC&pg=PA140|publisher= Pentagon Press|year= 2004|isbn= 9788186505465|page=139 & 140}}</ref><ref name=Pradhan>K. L. Pradhan, ''Thapa Politics in Nepal: With Special Reference to Bhim Sen Thapa, 1806–1839'' (New Delhi, 2012), pp. 42–43.</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Northey |first=W. Brook |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zMIZYF38ss0C&dq=gurkha+sikh+kangra&pg=PA56 |title=The land of the Gurkhas, or, The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal |date=1998 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-1329-4 |language=en}}</ref>

== Background ==
The confrontation between Nepal and the Sikhs had its genesis in the policy of the Nepalese to prevent more territories falling into foreign hands ''[[Mukhtiyar]]'' [[Bhimsen Thapa]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Company |first=Indus Publishing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8tCfhaVcul4C&dq=gurkha+sikh+kangra&pg=PA40 |title=Gazetteer of the Kangra District: 1883-84. Kangra |date=1994 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-024-8 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Kumaon Kingdom]] having been incorporated into Nepal in 1791, he endeavoured to add the hill country to its west as far as the river [[Sutlej]]. This expedition was entrusted to the ''[[Kaji (Nepal)|Kaji]]'' [[Amar Singh Thapa]], who was later reinforced by the ''Kaji'' [[Nain Singh Thapa]]. In 1807, [[Kangra Fort]], on the west bank of the Sutlej, was put under siege. By early 1809, most of the land of [[Kangra-Lambagraon|Kangra ''jagir'']] had been incorporated into Nepal, although the fort still held out. ''[[Raja]] [[Sansar Chand]]'' of [[Kangra district|Kangra]] took refuge among the [[Sikhs]] in the [[Punjab]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sijapati|first=Alisha|date=October 2, 2021|title=The Gorkhali defeat at Kangra|url=https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/the-gorkhali-defeat-at-kangra/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120070210/https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/the-gorkhali-defeat-at-kangra/|archive-date=November 20, 2021|access-date=2021-11-21|website=Nepali Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

At first, the [[Sikh]] ''[[Maharaja]]'' [[Ranjit Singh]] was reluctant to assist the ruler of Kangra,<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Abram |first1=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kAMik_6LbwUC&dq=gurkha+sikh+kangra&pg=PA459 |title=The Rough Guide to India |last2=Guides (Firm) |first2=Rough |date=2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-84353-089-3 |language=en}}</ref> but a Nepalese push towards the [[Kashmir Valley]] (which was his next target for Sikh military expansionism)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ahluwalia |first=Manjit Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tG0fnF0VRk0C&dq=gurkha+sikh+kangra&pg=PA28 |title=Social, Cultural, and Economic History of Himachal Pradesh |date=1998 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-089-7 |language=en}}</ref> changed his mind. Kashmir was effectively independent territory, riven by [[Durrani Empire|Afghan]] factions and coveted by both Sikhs and Gurkhas. The Sikh ruler dispatched a force which raised the siege of Kangra on 24 August 1809 and forced the Gurkha forces back across the Sutlej. Ranjit Singh then sent a proposal to Amar Singh Thapa to make the Sutlej the boundary between their states. Thapa forwarded the proposal to the [[Kathmandu Durbar Square|Kathmandu Durbar]], but Bhimsen Thapa rejected.

The [[Gurkha|Nepalese]] received British arms from the [[East India Company|British East India Company]], and the Nepalese allied with the and the [[Phulkian sardars|Phulkian Dynasty]] to fight against the [[Sukerchakia Misl|Sukherchakia Misl]]. All three lost against the Sikhs.

== War ==
The Maharaja recalled [[Dewan Mokham Chand|Diwan Mohkam Chand]] from the Kangra expedition in March 1809 and directed him to reach Phillaur. After the settlement of affairs with the British government, Maharaja Ranjit Singh again turned his attention towards Kangra. The Gurkha general [[Amar Singh Thapa]] had been at war for quite some time with Raja Sansar Chand in the Kangra valley and had besieged the fort of Kangra. Sansar Chand lost hope for life. Therefore, he sent his brother Fateh Singh to the Maharaja to seek help. The Maharaja demanded the possession of the fort of Kangra in return for help; to which Sansar Chand agreed. The Maharaja set-out with full preparations and reached Kangra accompanied by a relatively small army<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brentnall |first=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayYbAvECXQwC&dq=gurkha+sikh+kangra&pg=PA315 |title=The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh |date=2004 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-163-4 |language=en}}</ref> by the end of May. All the feudal chiefs were present with their respective militias. According to Munshi Sohan Lal's estimate, there were about ten thousand irregular horse and foot with the Nepalese at that time.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ltd |first=Data and Expo India Pvt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wbw4CQAAQBAJ&dq=gurkha+sikh+kangra&pg=PT26 |title=RBS Visitors Guide India - Himachal Pradesh: Himachal Travel Guide |date=2015-04-01 |publisher=Data and Expo India Pvt. Ltd. |isbn=978-93-80844-84-8 |language=en}}</ref> The hill Chiefs who were well- acquainted with the routes of the hilly terrain were ordered to block all passages so as to stop all means of procurement of provisions and equipment for the Gorkha army.

Amar Singh Thapa sent a letter to Maharaja Ranjit Singh asking him to surrender and let them keep the fort from his forces and let the Gurkhas capture Kashmir.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parry |first=Jonathan P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QUnaAAAAQBAJ&dq=gurkha+sikh+kangra&pg=PT30 |title=Caste and Kinship in Kangra |date=2013-09-13 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-54592-4 |language=en}}</ref> Ranjit Singh did not accept.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite book |last=Broadcasting |first=India Ministry of Information and |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T5GpmoJ3BBIC&dq=gurkha+sikh+kangra&pg=PA79 |title=Himachal Pradesh |date=1956 |publisher=Bright Publications |isbn=978-81-7199-465-6 |language=en}}</ref> The next morning supply routes of the Gurkha army had been closed by the Sikhs.<ref name="auto3"/> They waited for ammunition and food of the Gurkhas to run out and after a few weeks the Gurkhas started eating their horses and camels,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Baker |first=J. Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DIkVCgAAQBAJ&dq=gurkha+sikh+kangra&pg=PA103 |title=The Kuhls of Kangra: Community-Managed Irrigation in the Western Himalaya |date=2011-06-01 |publisher=University of Washington Press |isbn=978-0-295-80091-2 |language=en}}</ref> diseases like Cholera started rising and many died due to lack of medical supplies.<ref name="auto">{{Cite book |last=Alka |first=Grover B. L. & Mehta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bkRxDwAAQBAJ&dq=gurkha+sikh+kangra&pg=PA140 |title=A New Look at Modern Indian History (From 1707 to The Modern Times), 32e |date=2018 |publisher=S. Chand Publishing |isbn=978-93-5253-434-0 |language=en}}</ref>

The Gurkhas in their mad frenzies of their 'last fight' before death madly ran into the muzzles of the Sikh forces, unplanned.<ref name="auto"/> After a month of starvation and bad conditions the Gurkhas made a charge onto the Ganesh Valley,<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kumar |first1=Niraj |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f-TzDwAAQBAJ&dq=gurkha+sikh+kangra&pg=PT36 |title=Himalayan Bridge |last2=Driem |first2=George van |last3=Stobdan |first3=Phunchok |date=2020-11-18 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-000-21551-9 |language=en}}</ref> Sikhs conquered the Kangra Fort and fired their superior artillery onto the Gurkhas, massacring them in the thousands.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite book |last=Chaudhry |first=Minakshi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GlRuAAAAMAAJ&q=gurkha+sikh+kangra |title=Himachal, a Complete Guide to the Land of Gods |date=2006 |publisher=Rupa & Company |isbn=978-81-291-1000-8 |language=en}}</ref> Their bow and arrows could not match to the Sikh cannons, after the gunpowder had finished 1,000 Sikh cavalrymen attacked the Gurkhas killing almost all of them. <ref name="auto2"/>The remaining forces of Nain Singh Thapa arrived at Guler Fort. The violence ended after some time.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite book |last=Johar |first=Surinder Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=04MeAAAAMAAJ&q=gurkha+sikh+kangra |title=The Secular Maharaja: A Biography of Maharaja Ranjit Singh |date=1985 |publisher=Manas |isbn=978-0-8364-1543-8 |language=en}}</ref>

The Maharaja finding an opportune time to drive them out of Guler<ref name="auto1"/> launched an attack and occupied their positions about a mile (1.06 km.) in front of the fort. A pitched battle ensued. The Gurkhas fought dauntlessly but the had to retreat. Thereafter, they gave a pitched battle near the Satluj where most Gurkhas froze in the river, surrendered or drowned.<ref name="auto1"/>

== Aftermath ==

After Gurkhas<ref name="auto1"/> suffered heavy losses and a shattering of pride during this war, the Gurkha Army surrendered to the power of the Khalsa.<ref name="auto1"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gurkha-Sikh War}}
[[category:Battles involving the Sikhs]]
[[category:History of Sikhism]]
[[category:conflicts in 1809]]
[[category:Wars involving Nepal]]

[[Category:1809 in Nepal]]

Nepal–Sikh War - Revision history

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