Page 170 - Lohgarh

170 w Lohgarh : The World’s Largest Fort

become loyal to the Mughal Emperor. As these Sikhs did not know that
the Nahan ruler was a traitor, they suffered heavy losses. So, the Sikhs
left Nahan territory. After some time Firoz Jang Khan’s soldiers too
reached there but by that time the Sikhs had already moved forward. 14
In the early days of October 1712, the Sikhs attacked Chhat (near
Banur) and killed a large number of government officials and qazis. The
deputy of the Governor of Sarhind was also present there. Instead of
fighting, he ran away and reached Sarhind and informed the Governor.
The Governor too was scared of the Sikhs so he did not attack the Sikhs;
hence, the Sikhs established their control in the area between Sarhind
15
and Lohgarh. Thus, within eight months of the death of Bahadur Shah,
the Sikhs were now again de facto masters of the area between Lohgarh-
Sadhaura and Sarhind.

Endnotes

1. Letter written by Bhandari Khivsi (the envoy of Raja Jaipur in the court of
the Mughal Emperor) to the Raja of Jaipur, on 10 March 1712, Serial No
57, Vakil Report No 266. (Rajasthani Documents on Banda Singh Bahadur,
edited by Dr Balwant Singh Dhillon).
2. Arzdashat (letter) sent to the Raja on 10 March 1712, Serial No 57, Vakil
Report No 267. (Rajasthani Documents on Banda Singh Bahadur, edited
by Dr Balwant Singh Dhillon).
3. Akhbarat-i-Darbar-i-Mu’alla, entry of 21.3.1712.
4. Mansab is rank of government official; army pay grade status; e.g. mansab
of seven thousand means he was entitled to keep seven thousand soldiers,
and the salary of the soldiers was to be given from State treasury.
5. Akhbarat-i-Darbar-i-Mu’alla, entry of 29 March, 5 and 9 April 1712.
6. Akhbarat-i-Darbar-i-Mu’alla, entry of 20.5.1712.
7. Akhbarat-i-Darbar-i-Mu’alla, entry of 22.5.1712.
8. Akhbarat-i-Darbar-i-Mu’alla, entry of 29.5.1712.
9. Akhbarat-i-Darbar-i-Mu’alla, entry of 12.6.1712
10.Fateh Shah was the chief of Garhwal. He had attacked Guru Gobind Singh
Sahib at Bhangani on 18th of September 1688. In that battle, after heavy