Siege of Lahore (1043)

Siege of Lahore
	Part of Ghaznavid campaigns in India
Date	1043 AD
Location	Lahore, Pakistan31°25′N 74°20′E / 31.417°N 74.333°E
Result	Ghaznavid victory
Belligerents
Ghaznavids	Hindu Confederation Tomar dynasty; Paramara dynasty; Kalachuris of Tripuri; Chahamanas of Naddula; ;
Commanders and leaders
Mawdud of Ghazni; Faqih Saliti	Sandanpal †; Mahipal Tomar; Lakshmikarna; Anahilla; Bhoja
Strength
unknown	5,000 cavalry; 75,000 infantry
Casualties and losses
unknown	5,000
	Lahore class=notpageimage\| Location of siege of Lahore.

Siege of Lahore in 1043 AD was the military confrontation between the late Ghaznavids and Hindu Rajas of northern India. The siege ended up with the victory of Ghaznavids securing Lahore.^[1]

Background

Masud's death gave the opportunity to Hindus to regain their lands from Ghaznavids. During the reign of Mawdud of Ghazni, many northern Hindu Rajas formed an alliance and regain Nagarkot, Thanesar, Hansi and at last tried to besiege Lahore.^[2]^[3]

Battle

In 1040 CE, Sandanbal, a grandson of the Shah of Kabul, driven by ambitions to become king, formed a coalition of Hindu Rajas included Bhoja, Anahilla, Lakshmikarna, Mahipal tomar, and Sandanpal, the grandson of Kabul Shah.^[4] These Rajas made the preparation to attack Lahore with 5,000 Cavalry and 75,000 infantry.^[5] The news reached to Faqih, the governor of Lahore, so he asked for help from Mawdud of Ghazni to sent him some forces. The Rajas besieged the Lahore for seven months but they were unable to capture it and retreated with heavy losses. Sandanpala was killed by the sharp-shooters of Ghaznavid army in the action with 5,000 forces.^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]

Faqih persuaded the retreated invaders who had taken shelter in the mountains. The defenders surrounded the allied army and they asked for mercy which was granted to them in one condition, if they surrender the forts of cities of Hind. Accordingly, forts under the possession of the Rajas of Hind come under the obedience of Mawdud of Ghazni^[10]^[11]

References

^ Sastri, Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta (1959). History of India. S. Viswanathan. p. 324.
^ Wink, André (2002). Al-Hind: The Slavic Kings and the Islamic conquest, 11th-13th centuries. BRILL (published 228). ISBN 978-0-391-04174-5.
^ Mahajan, V. D. (2007). History of Medieval India. S. Chand Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 978-81-219-0364-6.
^ Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra (1977). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited. p. 344. ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4.
^ The Indian Historical Quarterly. Calcutta Oriental Press. 1957. p. 307.
^ Rehman, Abdur (1976). The Last Two Dynasties of The Shāhis. p. 329.
^ C. E. Bosworth. The Later Ghaznavids: Splendour and Decay. pp. 32–33.
^ MEHTA, J. L. (1979). ADVANCED STUDY IN THE HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL INDIA. STERLING PUBLISHERS , NEW DELHI. pp. 65–66.
^ Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra (1977). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 345. ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4.
^ Elliot, Henry Miers (1953). Later Moghuls of Muhammad Hashim, Khafi Khan. S. Gupta (India). p. 178. The men of Lahore pursued them, and the Hindus took shelter on a spacious and lofty mountain. The army of Lahore surrounded that mountain, and the Hindus, after displaying their courage and prowess, asked for quarter, which was granted them upon this condition, that they should deliver over to the Musulmans every fort in the cities of Hind which were in their possession. Owing to this brilliant victory, all the princes of Hind came again under obedience to Maudud.
^ Brill, E.J. (1936). The Encyclopaedia of Islam: A Dictionary of the Geography, Ethnography and Biography of the Muhammadan Peoples. The Muslims followed them in pursuit and laid siege to the fort of Sonipat where one of the confederates named Dipal Haryana had taken refuge. The fort was captured and given up to plunder but Dipāl managed to escape. About 5,000 Muslims who had been imprisoned in the fort were released. The victors next attacked another Rädjā, called Tabat Bälri by Ibn al-Athir, took his fort and returned to Lahore with immense booty. These victories restored for some time the waning prestige of the Ghaznavids in Upper India

[1] Sastri, Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta (1959). History of India. S. Viswanathan. p. 324.

[2] Wink, André (2002). Al-Hind: The Slavic Kings and the Islamic conquest, 11th-13th centuries. BRILL (published 228). ISBN 978-0-391-04174-5.

[3] Mahajan, V. D. (2007). History of Medieval India. S. Chand Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 978-81-219-0364-6.

[4] Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra (1977). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited. p. 344. ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4.

[5] The Indian Historical Quarterly. Calcutta Oriental Press. 1957. p. 307.

[6] Rehman, Abdur (1976). The Last Two Dynasties of The Shāhis. p. 329.

[7] C. E. Bosworth. The Later Ghaznavids: Splendour and Decay. pp. 32–33.

[8] MEHTA, J. L. (1979). ADVANCED STUDY IN THE HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL INDIA. STERLING PUBLISHERS , NEW DELHI. pp. 65–66.

[9] Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra (1977). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 345. ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4.

[10] Elliot, Henry Miers (1953). Later Moghuls of Muhammad Hashim, Khafi Khan. S. Gupta (India). p. 178. The men of Lahore pursued them, and the Hindus took shelter on a spacious and lofty mountain. The army of Lahore surrounded that mountain, and the Hindus, after displaying their courage and prowess, asked for quarter, which was granted them upon this condition, that they should deliver over to the Musulmans every fort in the cities of Hind which were in their possession. Owing to this brilliant victory, all the princes of Hind came again under obedience to Maudud.

[11] Brill, E.J. (1936). The Encyclopaedia of Islam: A Dictionary of the Geography, Ethnography and Biography of the Muhammadan Peoples. The Muslims followed them in pursuit and laid siege to the fort of Sonipat where one of the confederates named Dipal Haryana had taken refuge. The fort was captured and given up to plunder but Dipāl managed to escape. About 5,000 Muslims who had been imprisoned in the fort were released. The victors next attacked another Rädjā, called Tabat Bälri by Ibn al-Athir, took his fort and returned to Lahore with immense booty. These victories restored for some time the waning prestige of the Ghaznavids in Upper India

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Background

Battle

See also

References