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{{Short description|Battle in northern India}}
{{About|a siege that took place in the year 1704|other sieges conducted at the same location|Battle of Anandpur (disambiguation){{!}}Battle of Anandpur}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Second siege of Anandpur
| partof = the Mughal-Sikh Wars and [[Hill States-Sikh Wars]]
| image = Painting depicting the Battle of Anandpur of 1704 or 1705, also known as the Second Siege of Anandpur, circa 19th century.jpg
| caption = 19th century painting depicting the battle of Anandpur
| date = May – 19 December 1704<ref name="VSM 2018">{{Cite book |last=VSM |first=D. S. Saggu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ghlfDwAAQBAJ&dq=siege+of+anandpur&pg=PT39 |title=Battle Tactics And War Manoeuvres of the Sikhs |year=2018|publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-64249-006-0 |language=en}}</ref>
| place = [[Anandpur Sahib|Anandpur]]
| result = Mughal and Hill Raja victory{{sfn|Jacques|2006|p=49}}
| combatant1 = [[File:Sikh flag.jpg|25px]] [[Khalsa]] ([[Sikhs]])
| combatant2 = [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] [[Mughal Empire]] Alliance of 22 [[Hill States of India|Hill Rajas]]
| commander1 = [[File:Sikh flag.jpg|25px]][[Guru Gobind Singh]] supreme general and in charge of Anandgarh
[[File:Sikh flag.jpg|25px]] [[Uday Singh (Sikh warrior)|Udai Singh]] in charge of Fatehgarh [[File:Sikh flag.jpg|25px]] [[Mohkam Singh]] in charge of Holgarh [[File:Sikh flag.jpg|25px]] [[Ajit Singh (Sikhism)|
Ajit Singh]] in charge of [[Takht Kesgarh Sahib|Kesgarh]] [[File:Sikh flag.jpg|25px]] [[Jujhar Singh]], Nahar Singh and Sher Singh in charge of Lohgarh [[File:Sikh flag.jpg|25px]] [[Alam Singh Nachna]] in charge of Agampur {{Executed}} [[File:Sikh flag.jpg|25px]] [[Daya Singh]] in charge of Northern Anandpur<ref name="Sagoo 2001 75">{{Cite book |last=Sagoo |first=Harbans |title=Banda Singh Bahadur And Sikh Sovereignty |publisher=Deep & Deep Publications |year=2001 |page=75 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Macauliffe |first=Max Arthur |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.45273 |title=The Sikh Religion Vol.5 |date=1909 |page=171}}</ref>
| commander2 = [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]][[Aurangzeb]] [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]][[Wazir Khan (Sirhind)|Wazir Khan]] [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]]Zaberdast Khan [[File:Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg|25px]] Dilwaar Khan [[File:Bilaspur_flag.svg|25px]]Ajmer Chand [[File:Bilaspur_flag.svg|25px]][[Bhim Chand (Kahlur)|Bhim Chand]] Bhup Chand
| strength1 = *500 hundred in each of the five [[fort]]s of Anandpur and 500 hundred in reserve
*Total of 3,000–10,000<ref name="Sagoo 2001 75" /><ref name="Saggu">{{Cite book |last=Saggu |first=D.S |title=Battle tactics and war manoeuvres of the Sikhs |date=7 June 2018 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1642490060 |quote=The Guru's troops were around 10,000 whereas the collation forces are estimated to be 10–15 times more.}}
</ref><ref name="Guru Gobind Singh">{{cite book |last1=Gajrani |first1=Shiv |title=Guru Gobind Singh |date=2000 |publisher=Vision & Venture |isbn=978-8186769133 |page=71 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKzXAAAAMAAJ|quote="Before any fight took place Guru Gobind Singh had about 10,000 men. However, they were not well equipped. On the other hand, the Mughal army was consisted of over a hundred thousand well-equipped men. Moreover, they were accustomed to fighting and could face the troubles and hardships of war."}}</ref>
*2 cannons in Anandgarh<ref name="Sagoo 2001 75" />
| strength2 = 100,000<ref name="Guru Gobind Singh">{{cite book |last1=Gajrani |first1=Shiv |title=Guru Gobind Singh |date=2000 |publisher=Vision & Venture |isbn=978-8186769133 |page=71 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKzXAAAAMAAJ|quote="Before any fight took place Guru Gobind Singh had about 10,000 men. However, they were not well equipped. On the other hand, the Mughal army was consisted of over a hundred thousand well-equipped men. Moreover, they were accustomed to fighting and could face the troubles and hardships of war."}}</ref>
}}
{{Campaignbox Mughal-Sikh Wars}}{{Campaignbox Hill States-Sikh Wars}}

The '''second siege of Anandpur''' (''anadapura dī ghērābadī''), also known as the '''second battle of Anandpur (1704)''' {{efn|Called 2nd Anandpur by Tony Jacques{{sfn|Jacques|2006|p=49}}}} (''anadapura dī dūjī laṛā'ī sāla satārāṁ sau cāra''), was a siege at [[Anandpur Sahib|Anandpur]], between [[Sikhs]] and the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] governors, dispatched by Aurangzeb, Wazir Khan, Dilwaar Kahn and Zaberdast Khan, and aided by the vassal [[Raja]]s of the [[Sivalik Hills]] which lasted from May 1704 to 19 December 1704.{{sfn|Fenech|2013|p=18}}<ref name="VSM 2018">{{Cite book |last=VSM |first=D. S. Saggu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ghlfDwAAQBAJ&dq=siege+of+anandpur&pg=PT39 |title=Battle Tactics And War Manoeuvres of the Sikhs |year=2018|publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-64249-006-0 |language=en}}</ref>

==Background==
The Hill Rajas were concerned about Guru [[Gobind Singh]]'s rising power and influence in their region, along with dislike for the Sikh movement.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Surjit Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vZFBp89UInUC&pg=PA823|title=History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606–1708 C.E|date=2007|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors|isbn=978-8126908585|pages=823 |language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|Gandhi|2007|p=734}} In addition, the Hill Rajas were frustrated by the raids on their villages by the Sikhs from Anandpur who sought to acquire supplies, provisions, and cash.{{sfn|Fenech|2013|pp=14, 161}}<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Malhotra|first1=Anshu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_vQtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT135|title=Punjab Reconsidered: History, Culture, and Practice|last2=Mir|first2=Farina|date=2012 |publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0199088775|pages=135|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Fenech |first=Louis E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mPYTEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA30 |title=The Cherished Five in Sikh History |date=2021 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-753284-3 |pages=30–31 |language=en |quote=It appears highly likely, moreover, that dharam occasionally lost out to the more brute contingencies of the day that raj demanded, as we note in the multiple raids led by Sikhs in the closing years of the seventeenth century and the opening years of the eighteenth against villages such as, for example, Alsun (which was ransacked after the Battle of Nadaun) in the Pahari kingdoms adjoining Anandpur, something about which Sri Gur- Sobha also speaks, though in a highly sanitized manner.}}</ref> According to Indubhusan Banerjee, the hill rajas and the Guru maintained harmony after the Raja of Kahlur had conceded villages adjacent to Anandpur, however with the proliferation of the Sikhs in Anandpur and the Guru's pursuit of expanding his territory, the Khalsa began to encroach upon the hill rajas' territory to coerce villagers for goods.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Banerjee |first=Indubhusan |url=http://archive.org/details/EvolutionOfTheKhalsa-Volume2 |title=Evolution Of The Khalsa - Volume 2 |pages=130–131 |language=English}}</ref>

Eventually they sent a petition to the [[Mughal emperor|Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]] and launched a joint attack with the Mughals in 1700 which failed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Dalip |title=Life of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji |publisher=CSJS |year=2015 |isbn=978-81-7601-480-9 |edition=6th |pages=174 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Guru Gobind |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NnbebvjLAPUC&dq=aurangzeb+guru+gobind+1693&pg=PT16 |title=Zafarnama |date=2015-09-15 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-595-4 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Macauliffe |first=Max Arthur |title=The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings, and Authors |publisher=Low Price Publications |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-86142-31-8 |pages=125 |oclc=1888987 |author-link=Max Arthur Macauliffe |orig-year=1909}}</ref> Afterwards they besieged Anadpur without Mughal assistance which also failed.<ref name="Khalsa">{{cite book |author=Amardeep S. Dahiya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UA09BAAAQBAJ |title=Founder of the Khalsa |date=2014 | publisher=Hay House |isbn=9789381398616}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Bindra |first=Pritpal Singh |title=Guru Kian Sakhian Tales of the Sikh Gurus |pages=142–148}}</ref> The Rajas decided to plan with the Mughals again and launched multiple joint attacks, all of which failed.<ref name="Dalip">{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Dalip |title=Guru Gobind Singh and Khalsa Discipline |publisher=Singh Bros. |year=1992 |isbn=978-81-7205-071-9 |location=[[Amritsar]] |page=256 |oclc=28583123}}</ref><ref name=":02"/>

==Siege==
News of all the defeats reached Aurangzeb, who was furious. He gave orders that the Guru and all of his followers should be killed.<ref name="Johar 1978">{{Cite book |last=Johar |first=Surinder Singh |url=http://archive.org/details/gurugobindsinghs0000joha |title=Guru Gobind Singh : a study |date=1978 |publisher=New Delhi : Marwah Publications |others=Internet Archive}}</ref> In May 1704, governors of [[Sirhind-Fategarh|Sirhind]], [[Subah of Lahore|Lahore]], and [[Mughal Kashmir|Kashmir]] Wazir Khan, Zaberdast Khan, and Dilwaar Khan were sent by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, joined by the Hill Rajas, and besieged Anandpur in an attempt to remove the Guru and his followers.<ref name="madan"/>{{sfn|Jacques|2006|p=49}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=VSM |first=D. S. Saggu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ghlfDwAAQBAJ&dq=siege+of+anandpur&pg=PT39 |title=Battle Tactics And War Manoeuvres of the Sikhs |date=2018-06-07 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-64249-006-0 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Johar 1978"/> Aurangzeb also dispatched the Governor of [[Peshawar|Peshwar]] to help lay siege. All were ordered to bring their full army to Anandpur.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Khazan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DEAsXfFqwJQC&q=governor+guru+gobind |title=History and Philosophy of the Sikh Religion |date=1914 |publisher=Printed at the "Newal Kishore" Press |pages=181 |language=en}}</ref> They were joined by the Hill Rajas consisting of the rulers of [[Bilaspur State (princely state)|Kahlur]], [[Kangra State|Kangra]], [[Jaswan]], [[Mandi State|Mandi]], [[Kullu]], [[Nalagarh State|Nalagarh]], [[Kaithal]], [[Nurpur kingdom|Nurpur]], [[Chamba State|Chamba]], [[Jammu]], Busaher, [[Dhalwala|Dhadwa]], Darauli, Bijarwal, and [[Garhwal Kingdom|Garhwal]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Sagoo |first=Harbans Kaur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MIL4xwcCmxkC |title=Banda Singh Bahadur and Sikh Sovereignty |date=2001 |publisher=Deep & Deep Publications |isbn=978-81-7629-300-6 |pages=75 |language=en}}</ref>

Guru Gobind Singh divided his force into 500 men per each of the 5 forts. [[Anandpur Sahib|Anandgarh]] was under Guru Gobind Singh's charge. Fatehgarh was commanded by [[Uday Singh (Sikh warrior)|Uday Singh]], Holgarh was commanded by [[Mohkam Singh]], [[Ajit Singh (Sikhism)|Ajit Singh]] commanded [[Takht Kesgarh Sahib|Kesgarh]], and [[Jujhar Singh]] held [[Lohgarh (Bilaspur)|Lohgarh]]. Guru Gobind Singh also placed 2 cannons in Anandgarh named the tigress and victory-deceleration. When used they would cause havoc on the attacking forces.<ref name=":1" />

The army of the Guru kept the Mughals and hillmen at bay but being surrounded by heavy odds, took refuge in Anandpur fort, where they were besieged for many months, with all supplies and communications cut off.<ref name="madan" /> Ajmer Chand alongside the Qazis offered an oath to safe passage if the Guru evacuated Anandpur, so the Guru sent out envoys of treasure which was looted but turned out to be all the cities rubbish.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Nirmal |title=Searches In Sikhism |date=2008 |publisher=Hemkunt Publishers |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-7010-367-7 |page=51}}</ref> A month later Emperor Aurangzeb sent a written assurance by promising on the [[Quran]], whereas Hill Rajas swore by the name of the cow,<ref name="max">{{Cite book|last=Macauliffe|first=Max Arthur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bMeclUzAh9sC&pg=PA181|title=The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors|date=2013|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1108055475|page=181|language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|Grewal|2019|p=117}} with the safety of all Sikhs if the Guru decided to evacuate the fort, and after a long drawn out siege, Gobind Singh and his followers, facing starvation, capitulated in return for safe passage (particularly [[Mata Gujri]] and the ''[[Chali Mukte]]'', coinciding Gobind Singh advice to stay),<ref name="jas">{{Cite book|last=Grewal|first=J.S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YDLNDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT117|title=Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708): Master of the White Hawk|date=2019|publisher=OUP India|isbn=978-0190990381|language=en}}</ref> but the Sikhs were treacherously attacked at the [[Sarsa river|Sarsa River]], with all assurances and solemn oaths betrayed by the Mughals and Hill Rajas.{{sfn|Jacques|2006|p=49}}<ref name="madan">{{Cite book |last=Kaur|first=Madanjit|title=Guru Gobind Singh: Historical and Ideological Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZG4MycGdpjAC&pg=PA25|publisher=Unistar Books|date=2007|pages=25|isbn=978-8189899554}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
According to Satnam Singh, the conflict had major repercussions for the Sikhs, as they had to abandon Anandpur. With this evacuation, a large amount of literature that had been produced by the guru's Kavi Darbar was lost. Furthermore, the ''[[Saka Sirhind]]'' episode was made possible due to it.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Satnam |title=The Road to Empire: The Political Education of Khalsa Sikhs in the Late 1600s |date=15 October 2024 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520399389 |pages=200–205 |chapter=The Sikh Raj of Anandpur - The Evacuation of Anandpur and the Loss of the Vidiya Sagar}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |first=Louis E. |last=Fenech |title=The Sikh Zafar-namah of Guru Gobind Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aUUfAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA161|publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-0199931453 }}
* {{cite book|url=http://m.friendfeed-media.com/6e9ec7f58014456d2d5fd015cc8af9d2974509c0 |title=Dictionary of Battles and Sieges |page=49 |year=2006 |last= Jacques |first=Tony |publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0313335365}}

{{coord missing|Punjab (India)}}

[[Category:Battles involving the Sikhs|Anandpur, Second Battle of]]
[[Category:Sieges involving the Mughal Empire|Anandpur]]
[[Category:1704 in India]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1704]]
[[Category:1700s in the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:Anandpur Sahib]]

Second siege of Anandpur - Revision history

TaylaA461435: starting details.