List of battles of Guru Gobind Singh

This list includes all battles fought by the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

Following the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur, tensions rose between the Mughals and the Sikhs.[1] Both Mughal administration and Aurangzeb's army had an active interest in the Guru. The Mughal emperor issued an order to exterminate Guru Gobind Singh and his family.[2]

Guru Gobind believed in something called Dharma Yudh (war in defence of righteousness), something that is fought as a last resort, neither out of a wish for revenge nor for greed nor for any destructive goals.[3] To him, one must be prepared to die to stop tyranny, end persecution, and to defend one's own religious values. He led 14 major battles and 8 minor battles with these objectives, but never took captives nor damaged anyone's place of worship.[3]

Battles

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Battle Year Strength Combatants Result
Sikhs Enemy Sikhs Enemy
Battle of Anandpur (1682) 1682 Unknown Unknown Akal Sena Kahlur Sikh Victory
Battle of Anandpur (1685) 1685 Unknown Unknown Akal Sena Kahlur Sikh Victory
Battle of Bhangani 1688 1,507 10,000 Akal Sena Hindu Rajas of Sivalik Hills Sikh Victory
Battle of Nadaun 1691 Unknown Unknown Akal Sena
Kahlur
Mughal Empire Sikh Victory
Battle of Anandpur (1695) 1695 Unknown 1,000-5,000 Akal Sena Mughal Empire Sikh Victory
Battle of Guler (1696) 1696 Unknown Unknown Akal Sena Mughal Empire Sikh Victory
Battle of Bhalan 1697 Unknown Unknown Akal Sena Mughal Empire Sikh Victory
Battle of Anandpur (1699) 1699 Unknown Unknown Khalsa Fauj 2 HinduRajas of Sivalik Hills Sikh Victory
Battle of Anandpur (1700) 1700 7,000 30,000 Khalsa Fauj Mughal Empire
Hindu Rajas of Sivalik Hills
Sikh Victory
First siege of Anandpur 1700 4,000 300,000 Khalsa Fauj Hindu Rajas of Sivalik Hills Sikh Victory
Battle of Nirmohgarh (1702) 1702 Unknown Unknown Khalsa Fauj Mughal Empire &
Hindu Rajas of Sivalik Hills
Sikh Victory
Battle of Basoli 1702 3,000 Unknown Khalsa Fauj Mughal Empire &
Hindu Rajas of Sivalik Hills
Sikh Victory
First Battle of Chamkaur (1702) 1702 500 10,000 Unknown Unknown Sikh Victory
Battle of Anandpur (1703) 1703 800 10,000 Khalsa Fauj Mughal Empire &
HinduRajas of Sivalik Hills
Sikh Victory
First Battle of Anandpur (1704) 1704 1,000 20,000 Khalsa Fauj Mughal Empire &
HinduRajas of Sivalik Hills
Sikh Victory
Second Siege of Anandpur 1704 3,000-10,000 100,000-1,000,000 Khalsa Fauj Mughal Empire &
HinduRajas of Sivalik Hills
Sikh Victory
Battle of Sarsa 1704 400-500 200,000 Khalsa Fauj Mughal Empire &
Hindu Rajas of Sivalik Hills
Sikh Victory
Battle of Chamkaur 1704 40 1,000,000 Khalsa Fauj Mughal Empire &
Hindu Rajas of Sivalik Hills
Sikh Victory
Battle of Muktsar 1705 1,340 12,000 Khalsa Fauj Mughal Empire Sikh Victory
Battle of Baghaur 1707 15+ Unknown Khalsa Fauj Baghaur Hindu Residents and Soldiers Sikh Victory
Battle of Jajau 1707 265,000 inc 300 Sikhs 130,000 Mughals under Bahadur Shah I
Khalsa Fauj
Mughals under Azam Shah Bahadur Shah Victory
Battle at Chittor 1707 Unknown Unknown Khalsa Fauj Mughal Empire Sikh Victory

References

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  1. ^ Brekke, Torkel (2014). Gregory M. Reichberg and Henrik Syse (ed.). Religion, War, and Ethics: A Sourcebook of Textual Traditions. Cambridge University Press. pp. 673–674. ISBN 978-1-139-95204-0.
  2. ^ J. S. Grewal (1998). The Sikhs of the Punjab. Cambridge University Press. p. 62. ISBN 978-0-521-63764-0., Quote: "Aurangzeb took an active interest in the issue of succession, passed orders for the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur, and at one time ordered total extirpation of Guru Gobind Singh and his family".
  3. ^ a b Christopher J. H. Wright (2003). God and Morality. Oxford University Press. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-19-914839-4.

See also

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