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{{Short description|Battle of the Ghaznavid invasions}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Siege of Lohkot (1015)
| date = Summer – Winter 1015
| place = Lohkot Fort, [[Tosa Maidan]], [[Kashmir]]
| combatant1 = [[Ghaznavid Empire]]
| combatant2 = [[Lohara dynasty]]
| commander1 = [[Mahmud of Ghazni]]
| commander2 = [[Sangramaraja]]
| result = Inconclusive.<ref>{{Harvnb|Tetley|2008|p=60}} "Two years later, Farrukhi went to India again when Mahmûd invaded Kashmir for the second time, after an inconclusive raid in 406/1015; on this occasion he was in Yūsuf's train, with a horse and travelling equipment provided by the Sultan (p. 136, 11.20-21)."</ref> See [[#Aftermath|§ Aftermath]]
| partof = [[Ghaznavid campaigns in India]]
| casualties3 = Mahmud suffered heavy casualties while retreating to Ghazni<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=S N Sen |url=http://archive.org/details/ancientindianhistoryandcivilization |title=Ancient Indian history and civilization |date=1987 |pages=330}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Ramakrishnan |first=S. |url=http://archive.org/details/struggleforempir05bhar |title=History and Culture of the Indian People, Volume 05, The Struggle For Empire |date=2001 |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |others=Public Resource |pages=11–13}}</ref>
}}

'''Siege of Lohkot''' was [[Mahmud of Ghazni|Mahmud of Ghazni's]] one of the notable military engagement in India, conducted in 1015 CE. Positioned strategically in the [[Kashmir Valley]], Lohkot (Iron Fort) presented a formidable challenge to Mahmud's forces due to its impregnable defenses. Despite persistent efforts, harsh winter conditions and reinforced defences compelled defeated Mahmud to retreat back to [[Ghazni]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mohan |first=Krishna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wiRuAAAAMAAJ&q=lohkot |title=Early Medieval History of Kashmir: With Special Reference to the Loharas, A.D. 1003-1171 |date=1981 |publisher=Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications |language=en}}</ref>

== Background ==
=== Campaign against the Shahis ===
{{main|Ghaznavid–Hindu Shahi Wars|Battle of Nandana|Battle of River Tausi}}
[[File:Ghaznavid_map_1000_ad.jpg|alt=Map of the Ghaznavid Empire before their invasion of the Shahis and Kashmir.|thumb|220x220px|Map of the Ghaznavid Empire 1000 AD before their invasion of the Shahis and Kashmir.]]
After the death of Anandapala in A.D. 1012, [[Mahmud of Ghazni]] of the [[Ghaznavid Empire]] launched a renewed campaign against the [[Hindu Shahis]]. In A.D. 1013, Mahmud marched towards the [[Nandana Fort]] in the [[Salt Range]], where he faced opposition from [[Trilochanapala]], successor to [[Anandapala]].<ref name=":2" /> Trilochanapala, appealed to [[Sangramaraja]], the [[Lohara dynasty|Lohara]] ruler of [[Kashmir]], for assistance to defend his Hindu Shahi domains against the Ghaznavids in 1014 AD. Sangramaraja sent a large army, under the command of Tunga, to assist Trilochanapala. The Shahi and Lohara forces united to set up a camp in a valley north of [[Jhelum River]]. A small victory in a skirmish with the Ghaznavid scouts made Tunga overconfident. His underestimation of the Ghaznavid army resulted in a crushing defeat at the hands of Mahmud of Ghazni himself. The surviving Lohara forces retreated back to the Kashmir. Following the defeat, Bhimapala and Trilochanapala retreated to Kashmir, while Mahmud seized the fort of Nandana, along with its treasures. A significant portion of the Shahi kingdom was annexed to Mahmud's empire.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Trilochanapala fled to eastern [[Punjab]], possibly to [[Sirhind]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

Mahmud decided to use this opportunity to punish the Sangramaraja for allying himself with the Shahis. Sultan led the Ghaznavid forces in the military campaign into [[Kashmir]] in 1015 AD. The army marched to [[Jhelum]], then continued along the [[Jhelum River]], and attempted to use the [[Tosamaidan]] to enter Kashmir. The only thing standing in his way was the impregnable stronghold of Lohkot (Iron Fort).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=S N Sen |url=http://archive.org/details/ancientindianhistoryandcivilization |title=Ancient Indian history and civilization |date=1987 |pages=330}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

== Siege ==
The Siege of Lohkot took place in A.D. 1015 during the reign of Mahmud, the ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire. It was a military campaign to quell chiefs and capture strategic forts in the [[Kingdom of Kashmir|Kashmir kingdom]]. Lohkot, strategically positioned on the southern slopes of the central [[Pir Panjal Range]], emerged as Mahmud's primary target due to its reputation for impregnability.<ref name=":2" /> Despite Mahmud's initial efforts, the fortress's formidable defenses proved insurmountable, leading to a protracted siege. Throughout the summer, Mahmud's army faced escalating challenges compounded by [[Winter storm|harsh winter]] conditions and heavy [[blizzard|snowfall]] of [[Kashmir Valley]]. Concurrently, the defenders of Lohkot fortified their positions with reinforcements, further complicating Mahmud's campaign.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Sadasivan |first=Balaji |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=980SAvbmpUkC&dq=Mahmud+Lohkot&pg=PT145 |title=The Dancing Girl: A History of Early India |date=2011 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |isbn=978-981-4311-67-0 |pages=123 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Habib |first=Mohammad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7KSZAQAACAAJ |title=Sultan Mahmud of Ghaznin |date=1967 |publisher=S. Chand |pages=35 |language=en}}</ref>

Meanwhile, the Kashmiris under Sangramaraja bolstered their position by reinforcing their troops, strengthening their defenses in anticipation of further confrontations with Mahmud's forces. As the siege persisted and the besieging army encountered mounting obstacles navigating the treacherous terrain, Mahmud confronted the grim reality of the situation. With dwindling resources and no viable alternatives, much of the army was lost due to [[attrition warfare]] of Kashmiris and to the winter. Mahmud made the difficult decision to abandon the siege and retreat towards Ghazni.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> The journey back to Ghazni was arduous and perilous for Mahmud and his troops, fraught with numerous hardships and obstacles.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Lalchandra |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.111858 |title=The Cambridge History Of India |date=1922 |pages=51}}</ref> Treacherous marshes proved particularly hazardous, resulting in significant casualties among the retreating forces.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> Despite these setbacks, Mahmud demonstrated resilience, eventually leading the surviving portion of his army out of the challenging terrain.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Mehta |first=Jaswant Lal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iUk5k5AN54sC |title=Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India |date=1979 |publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd |isbn=978-81-207-0617-0 |pages=56–57 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

== Aftermath ==
The Siege of Lohkot serves as a reminder of the defences and harsh realities of warfare in the Kashmir during Mahmud's military campaigns. The strategic location of Lohkot and the challenges faced by Mahmud in his efforts to assert control over the region.<ref name=":2" /> However, Mahmud's efforts proved unsuccessful, and he was unable to achieve his objective. The campaign resulted in losses and hardships for Mahmud and his army.<ref name=":3" /> Mahmud retreated to Ghazni, unable to accomplish his goals he plans for second invasion.
[[File:Siege_of_Lohkot_1015.png|alt=Siege_of_Lohkot_1015|thumb|[[Ghaznavid campaigns in India]]]]
Mahmud, having not yet given up on Kashmir, led a second military campaign in 1021 AD. The purpose was to overcome the fortress of Loharkot. The cold [[winter]] once again defeated the Ghaznavids. Mahmud gave up on further plans of expansion into Kashmir.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Tetley |first=G. E. |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Ghaznavid_and_Seljuk_Turks.html?id=SVV9AgAAQBAJ |title=The Ghaznavid and Seljuk Turks: Poetry as a Source for Iranian History |date=2008-10-27 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-08438-8 |language=en}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Siege of Lohkot (1015)}}
[[Category:Lohara dynasty]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Ghaznavid Empire]]
[[Category:11th century in India]]
[[Category:1015 in Asia]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1015]]

Siege of Lohkot (1015) - Revision history

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