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| {{more references|date=September 2020}}
| | #REDIRECT [[Nepal–Sikh War]] |
| {{Infobox military conflict
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| | conflict = Gurkha-Sikh War
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| | date = March 1809 – August 1809
| | {{R from move}} |
| | place = [[Kangra fort]] and [[Ganesh Valley]]
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| | result = Sikh victory (Gurkha retreat)
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| | combatant1 = [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[Sikh Empire]] | |
| | combatant2 = [[File:Flag of Nepal (1775–1962).svg|18px]] [[Kingdom of Nepal|Nepal]]
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| | commander1 = [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]
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| [[Raja Sansar Chand]]
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| | commander2 = [[Amar Singh Thapa]]
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| [[Bahadur Shah of Nepal]]
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| [[Bhimsen Thapa]]
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| [[Nain Singh Thapa]]
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| }} | | }} |
| The '''Gurkha–Sikh War''' was a small conflict between the forces of the [[Gurkha]] [[Kingdom of Nepal]] and the [[Sikh Empire]] in 1809 under [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]].<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>
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| The confrontation between Nepal and the Sikhs had its genesis in the expansionist policy of the Nepalese ''[[mukhtiyar]]'' [[Bhimsen Thapa]]. 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 took refuge among the Sikhs.
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| At first, the Sikh ''[[maharaja]]'' [[Ranjit Singh]] was reluctant to assist the ruler of Kangra, but a Nepalese push towards the [[Kashmir Valley]] changed his mind. Kashmir was effectively independent territory, riven by 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.
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| == Conquest of Kangra fort ==
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| 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 large army 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 horse and foot with the Maharaja at that time. 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.
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| == War with the Gurkha army ==
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| Supply routes of the Gurkha army had been closed since the last few days. The Maharaja finding an opportune time 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 Ganesh Valley. The Maharaja sent another army division there. A fierce bloody battle took place. After the artillery fire abated, hand to hand swordy duels followed. Both the sides demonstrated their skills with equal valour. Suddenly the Gurkhas had to retreat due to lack of supplies. And the Sikhs carried the day.
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| == Aftermath ==
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| Though the Sikhs suffered heavy losses during this war they managed to hold their fort.
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| ==References==
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| <references />
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| {{DEFAULTSORT:Gurkha-Sikh War}}
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| [[category:Battles involving the Sikhs]]
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| [[category:History of Sikhism]]
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| [[category:Gurkhas]]
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| [[category:conflicts in 1809]]
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| [[category:Wars involving Nepal]]
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| [[Category:1809 in Nepal]]
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