The first known use of the word of Punjab in the book Tarikh-e-Sher Shah Suri (1580) calls the construction of a fortress Sher Khan of Punjab. ” The first mention of the Sanskrit equivalent of “Punjab”, but occurs in the great epic, the Mahabharata (Pancha-nada “land of five rivers”). The name is mentioned in the Ain-e-Akbari (Part 1), written by Abul Fazal also mentioned that the territory of Punjab was divided into two provinces, Lahore and Multan. Similarly, in the second volume of Ain-e-Akbari, the title of a chapter in which the word of Punjab. The Moghul king Jahangir also mentions the word Punjab Tuzk-i-Janhageer
Pre-Aryan civilization
Mehrgarh archaeological discoveries so far in Baluchistan show the man in the region inhabited since 7000 BC like. From 3000 BC about the Indus River basin was the cradle of civilization industrialized Valley, one of the first in the history of mankind. At its height it boasted big cities like Harrapa (near Sahiwal in western Punjab) and Mohenjo Daro (near Sindh). The civilization was quickly after 19 century BC, for reasons that remain largely unexplained. Yeh right
Indo-Aryans
The old Harappan called “priest-king” statue, Mohenjo-daro, the port, which is now aged Sindhi Ajrak late Harappan period, the National Museum, Karachi, Pakistan
Indus Valley factors in the decline of civilization perhaps also a change in climatic conditions unbearable and urbanization. This has coincided with the draining of the lower river Sarasvati. The theory Out of India said that this movement causes drying of Indo-Gangetic Aryans in the direction of watersheds. The next thousand years of history of Punjab and northern India in general (c.1500-500 BC) is dominated by the Indo-Aryans and the people and culture, as a result of their cultural development in the Indian subcontinent.
Vedische Punjab
The Rig-Veda, one of the oldest texts bronze in the history of humanity is generally thought to have made up the Greater Punjab. It embodies a literature on issues of socio-cultural development of the former Punjab (known as Sapta Sindhu) and offers us a glimpse of the life of its population. Vedische society is a tribal. A number of families grama, a number of gramas a Vis (clan) and a number of clans a Jana (root). The Janas, led by Ets Rajans, were in permanent contact inter-tribal war. In this war born of larger groups of people, great leaders and kings. This leads to a new philosophy of the policy of conquest and has increased the scope, trace the origin of the State on the needs of the war.
An important event was the era Rigvedic the “Battle of Ten Kings’ summer beaten on the banks of the river Parusni (determined by the river Ravi today) between King Sudas of the line Trtsu Bharata - clans on the one hand and a confederation of ten tribes of the other side. The ten tribes against Sudas included five major Indo-Aryan — those who Purus, Druhyus, anus, and Turvasas — Yadus and five small, perhaps a few non-Indo-Aryan from the north - west and western borders of the current Punjab — Pakthas the Alinas the Bhalanas the Visanins and Sivas. Sudas king has been supported by the Vedischen Rishi Vasishtha, while his former Purohita of Rishi Viswamitra on the side of the confederation of ten tribes.
Such conflicts, struggles, conquests and movements of Vedischen Near and Vedische Subsequently, the heroic age of the Punjab society, a society that has particular importance to the value of the action, as indicated by their ideals and norms in the Hindu epics, including the Mahabharata.
Epic Punjab
The philosophy of the epic heroism of age is perfectly Bhagavatagita detail in the section of the Mahabharata. The great work is a synthesis of many lessons from the Bible and faith, but its heart is far more ancient expression of a cult hero and martial. The Bhagavatagita fully expounds a philosophy of heroism probably underway at the time Punjab. It is a philosophical basis of the profession of arms and invests the kshatriya or warriors of the position respectable and noble status. It canonizes his professional integrity and an injection of intensity inside the goal. This philosophy was the old warrior common Punjab and countless generations of Punjabi soldiers have derived their strength and inspiration. The Punjabis, represented by ethnic groups such as Gandharas the Kambojas the Trigartas, Madras, Malavas, Pauravas the Bahlikas and Yaudheyas are the page Kauravas and displays an example of courage, strength and courage in 18 days of the battle . The glorious exploits of these municipalities, can martial in the books of the charges against the Kauravas Pandavas. The great epic is plenty of proof that contigents of Gandharas, Kambojas, Sauviras, Madras and Trigartas occupied key positions in the Kaurava epic tables throughout the war.
Printing modernity of the battle, fought for 18 days, the epic battle of Kurukshetra was one of the biggest battles fought in ancient India. Below are the cries of two verfeindeten armies against the first day of the war.
For the roles of Punjabis in Kurukshetra, see war and Kurukshetra Kambojas
Another important event, the epic of the Punjabis was the conflict between Indo-Aryan Rishi Vishwamitra Vasishtha of Kurukshetra and legend north-west greater part of Punjab. The story begins in the Rigveda and more clearly later vedischen texts and portrait-Bala Kanda section of Valmiki Ramayana. The epic conflict is said has been resolved on the reuse of the property of Kamadhenu, also known as Savala, a cow Vishwamitra divine a Brahmana Vasishtha sage of the line. Rsi Vasishtha skillfully requested military assistance border Punjabi warriors, including Iranians East-Shaka, Kambojas, etc. Pahlavas, supported by Kirata, Harita Mlechcha and soldiers of the Himalayas. These composite army of fierce warrior Punjab border completely ruined an illustrious Akshauni Vishwamitra of the army, with 100 of his son, with one exception. The war seems Kamdhenu allegorical symbolize a struggle for supremacy between the kshatriya and forces of the priestly class period epic. On the other hand, how Dr. Indologists hc Raychadhury, Dr BC Law, M. Satya Shrava and others see in these verses the insights in the fighting Aryan of India with the Joint invasion barbarian hordes Sakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, etc. Pahlavas from North-West. The timing of this fighting is considered a second century before Jesus Christ down. Dr. Raychadhury corrects the date of this version of Valmiki Ramayana / after the second century CE.
Paninian Punjab and Kautiliyan
Panini was a famous ancient Sanskrit grammarian-born Shalātura determined Lahur modern near Attock in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. We can not conclude from its plant, Ashtadhyayi that people in Greater Punjab prominent lived by the occupation of the poor. This text many notions of clans as “Ayudhajivin Samghas” or “republics (oligarchs), those who live by armed force”. This live in the plains were Vahika Samghas, while those in mountainous regions (including the north-east Afghanistan today) was called Parvatiya Samghas (mountaineers republics). According to a notice of the oldest Vahika prominent contain sanghas Vrikas (perhaps modern Virk Jatts), Damanis, Confederation of six countries known as Trigarta-shashthas, Yaudheyas (Joiya modern or Johiya Rajputs and some Kamboj), Parsus , Kekayas, Usinaras, SIBIS (Sibia Jatts modern, perhaps?), Kshudrakas, Malavas, Bhartas, and clans Madraka, while the other class, style Parvatiya Ayudhajivins included, inter alia, the party Trigartas, Darvas , Gandharan Clan of Hastayanas, Niharas, Hamsamaragas, and clans Kambojan of Ashvayanas & Ashvakayanas, Dharteyas (Dyrta the city of Ashvakayans), Apritas, Madhuwantas (known as all Rohitgiris) and the Daradas Chitral, Gilgit , Etc… In addition Panini also covers the monarchies of the Kuru Kshatriya, and Gandhara Kamboja. See link. These warriors Kshatriyas or municipalities have followed the various forms of republican constitution or oligarchic as Panini’s Ashtadhyayi.
The Arthashastra of Kautiliya, whose oldest layer can come back to the 4th century before Jesus Christ himself, discussions on several republics of martial arts and in particular deals with the kshatriya Srenis (warrior band) of the Kambojas, Surastras and a few other tribes as a border of belonging to Shastr opajivin varta-class (ie subsistence living by the profession of arms and varta), while the Madraka, Malla, Kuru, etc. clans are called Shabd Raja opajivins-class (ie with the title of Raja). Dr. Arthur Coke Burnell notes: “In the West, there was Kambojas and Katas (kathas) with great esteem for the courage and skill in war, Saubhuties the Yaudheyas, and the two peoples federated SIBIS, and Malavas Kshudrakas the numerous martial and Indian Nations day. ” It is therefore obvious that the traditions cultivated in the heroic epic vedischen of age and continue at the time of Panini and Kautaliya. Indeed, the entire region of Greater Punjab, we know that the man reeked martial. History emergency witnesses, that these clans Ayudhajivin had offered stiff resistance against the Achaimeniden sovereign in the 6 century and later on Macedonia invaders in the 4th century before Christ.
After “History of Punjab”: “There is no doubt that the Kambojas, Daradas, Kaikayas, Madras, Pauravas, Yaudheyas, Malavas, Saindhavas and Kurus have jointly contributed to the heroic tradition and the old composite culture Punjab. ”
Ancient Kingdoms
Domination Persia
Taxila is a World Heritage Site
The western part of the ancient Gandhara and Kamboja (kingdoms of Greater Punjab) was on the eastern edge of the Persian empire. The two former kingdoms, the first Gandhara then Sindh, was the victim of Persia during the reign of Cyrus the Great (558-530 BC) and in the early years of the reign of Darius I (521 BC - 486 BC). The upper Indus region, composed of Gandhara and Kamboja, delivered on 7 satrapy of the Achaimeniden empire, while the low and middle Indus, Sindhu, and composed of Sauvira, presented the 20 satrapy. They are, according to reports have contributed, 170 and 360 talents in the gold dust annual tribute.
The ancient Greeks also had knowledge of the territory. Darius, I appointed Skylax Greek exploring the Indian Ocean from the mouth of the Indus Suez. Scylax provide a report on this trip in his book Periplous. Hécatée of Miletus (500 BC) and Herodotus (483-431 BC) has also written on Indian Satrapy Persians. In ancient Greece and maps of texts, we find mention of the “most powerful river in the world,” said the InDOS (Indus) and its tributaries, Hydaspe (Jhelum), Akesines (Chenab), Hydraotes (Ravi), Zaradros / Hesidros (Sutlej) And Hyphasis (BEAS).
Alexander’s invasion
The Kambhojas in InDOS (industry), which Taksas of Taksila, Madras and kathas (Kathaioi) Akesines (Chenab), Malla (Malloi) on the hydra Otis (Iravati or Ravi), Tugras in Hesidros (Sutlej) have large populations of Punjab in the preliminary age-Alexandria and tenacity against Alexander in the industry and, despite his victories in Hydaspe (Jhelum) and Sakala (Sangala, Sialkot)), has finally led him and its soldiers out of its draft conquest of India is retiring at or Babylonia.
Campaigns and emblems of Alexander’s invasion of India.
After overunning the Achaimeniden empire in 331 BC, Alexander worked in Afghanistan today with an army of 50000 Its title scholar not register the names of rulers or Gandhara Kamboja, but they find a dozen small political units in these areas. This includes the possibility of Gandhara and / or were Kamboja major kingdoms in the late 4 century before Christ. In 326 BC, most of the dozen odd political units of the former Gandhara / Kamboja Alexander fell from the force.
Historian Greek martial of three people viz. the Astakenoi the Aspasioi and Assakenoi lies in the north-west of the west of the river Indus, who had met Alexander during his campaign by Kapisi Gandhara. The Aspasioi were cognate with the Assakenoi and that only a western branch of them. Both Aspasioi and Assakenoi was a courageous people. Alexander had personally part of its operations against these hardy climbers, he was offered a fierce resistance in their mountain strongholds. The Greek name Aspasioi and Asssakenoi from Sanskrit Ashva (or Persian Aspa). They appear as Ashvayanas and Ashvakayanas in Panini’s Ashtadhyayi and Ashvakas in the Puranas. Given that Kambojas were known for their excellent race horses as for his skills of experts to cavalry, in popular parlance, they were also known as Ashvakas The Ashvayanas / Ashvakayanas Saka and clans had fought for Macedonians a man. The worst of the war, including Ashvakayana Kamboj women had their arms and fought the invaders alongside their husbands, ie rather “a glorious death to a life in shame.”
In a letter to his mother, Alexander described his meetings with these trans-Indus stem: “I am in the country of leonina and courageous man, where each foot of the earth is like a steel my face soldiers. Choose only one son in the world, but everyone in this country can be a “Alexander” pre-Islamic period of Afghanistan # Alexander the Great, Seleucid-Mauryan rivalry and Greco-baktrischen Rule 330 v. Chr.-ca. 150 av.
Alexander walked, and then to the East until the Hydaspe, where Porus, the leader in the kingdom between Hydaspe (Jhelum) in the near Bhera and Akesines (Chenab) refused him. The two armies fought the Battle of the Hydaspe outside the city of Nikaia (near the modern city of Jhelum) and Poros, Alexander’s Satrap. Alexander crossed the army Hydra Otis and walked east to the Hyphases (BEAS). But the troops refused Alexandre beyond the Hyphases (BEAS), river near Jalandhar modern. He crossed the river and ordered the creation of gigantic altars, for most of reach of his empire is also claimed the territory east of Beas as part of his conquests. He also a city with the name of Alexandria and left close to many veterans Macedonians, he turned back and his army of the army of the Indus and Jhelum Arab on Wednesday, sailing and Babylon .
Alexander left some forces in India. In the field of industry, it appoints its officers Peithon Satrap, a position it would be for the next ten years until 316 BC, and he left the Punjab Eudemus in the army, Satrapen side of Porus and Taxiles. Eudemus, the leader of Punjab after his death. The two leaders of the West in 316 before Jesus Christ, with its armies and Chandra Gupta Maurya empire Maurya in India.
Maurya Empire
The parts of Punjab, was taken prisoner were quickly conquered by Alexander Chandra Gupta Maurya. The founder of the Mauryan Empire in rich provinces of Punjab in its scope and competed in the successor Alexander East, Seleucus, if this invasion. In a peace treaty, Seleucus ceded all territories west of the Indus, including the southern part of Afghanistan, while Chandra Gupta granted Seleucus 500 elephants. The Sanskrit Visakhadutta play Mudrarakshasa work, as well as Jaina Parisishtaparvan talk about Chandra Gupta alliance with the king of the Himalayas Parvatka, sometimes identified with Porus. This alliance Himalayas is designed to cope Chandra Gupta composite and a powerful army of the Yavanas (Greece), Kambojas, Shaka (Scythians), Kiratas, Parasikas (Persian) and Bahlikas (Bactrians) [44]. The Punjab flourishes under Mauryan rule for the next century. He was a Greek baktrischen (Indo-Greek), an area in 180 BCE according to the collapse of the Mauryan authority.
Indo-Greek kingdom
Silver King drachm Indo-Greek Menander I (160-135 BC)
Alexander two cities in Punjab, where he is the man of his multi-national army of a majority of Greeks and Macedonians. These cities Indo-Greek, and the kingdoms developed, long after the departure of Alexander. After the death of Alexander, the eastern part of his kingdom (from today, Syria Punjab) inherited Seleucus I, founder of the Seleucid dynasty. However, this empire was interrupted by the rise of Greek baktrischen Britain. The king Demetrius baktrischen Punjab, I have added to his kingdom in the first 2 century before Christ. Some of these early Indo-Greeks were Buddhists. The most famous kings Indo-Greek Menander, I was in India, known as Milinda, established in an independent kingdom, centered Taxila for 160 before Jesus Christ. Later, he moved his capital Sagala (modern Sialkot).
It is a clear statement prophetic in the Mahabharata, that “mleccha (barbaric) kings of the Sakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Bahlikas, etc. Abhiras general rule, the Earth (eg India) in the Kaliyuga dishonest “. Gargi Samhita also predicted:” After the conquest of Saketa, the country Panchala and Mathura, Yavanas, nasty and valliant achieve Kusumadhvaja (Pataliputra). ” And Anushasanaparava the Mahabharata says that the country of Mathura, the heart of India, was under the military control of the town Yavanas and Kambojas. Clearly, Yavana invasion Majjhimadesa (Middle India) contain the Pataliputra Mathura and was organized jointly by the Yavanas and Kambojas (and probably also Sakas) Greater Punjab. Evidence of Mathura Lion Capital inscriptions of the “Great Satrap” (Mahakshatrapa) Rajuvula supports this view. This invasion Near India was followed by nearly two centuries of Yavana rule.
Sakas, Anas Kush and Hephthalites
In the middle of the 2nd century BC, the Yuezhi root of the Tarim Basin has been adopted by the xiongnu fled the west and Central Asia. It causes skythischen Sakas for Greek-baktrischen countries of the south and west. The Sakas North or Indo-Scythians has Baktrien first, then the Hindu Kush and India wresting power from the Indo-Greeks 10 AD. They were quickly followed by Yuezhi, creates the Kushan Empire decided that the Punjab from the mid-1st century until the mid-3rd century. The Kushan was defeated by the Sassanid Persians in the middle of the 3rd century and were replaced by the Indo-Sasanians vassal or Kushansha Uni. The Indo-Scythians and Kushan embraced Buddhism, absorption and elements Indo-Greek, art and culture in their own. The Kushanshahs were defeated by the Red Chionite Hun or the Kingdom of Chioniten in the first 5 century. The Chioniten were soon replaced by another Central Asiatic people who Hephthalites or White Huns who are in permanent campaigns of the Hindu Kush, finally, the creation of his reign in India after the victory over the Chioniten Gupta and fifth in the end of centuries.
Gupta Empire
The Shahi kingdoms and Muslim invasions
The 6th at the end of Punjab century, before the Arab invasions.
The Hephthalites were defeated by an alliance Gokturk and Sasanians in 557 AD, and made the remains of small Hephthalite Kushano-Turki Hephthalite or kingdoms Shahi has been dominated by Persia. Taank Kapisa and dominates both Gandhara and Punjab until 9 century.
After the birth of Islam in Saudi Arabia in the first 6 century Muslim Arabs is spent on power and replaces zoroastrischen Persian empire as a great power west of India in the middle of the 7th century. In 711-713 AD, the Arab armies of the Umayyad caliphate of Damascus are captured and confirmed in southern Punjab, Multan now occupied by following a centre of the sect of Islam ismaelitischen .
The Hindu Shahi dynasty replaces Turki Shahi dynasty in the middle of this century 9, and decided, a large part of Punjab and West-Afghanistan until the beginning of the 11st century. The kingdom was initially Shahi headquarters in Kabul and throughout the world later, Punjab. Kabul has been overtaken by Turkish Muslims in the 10th century Shahi and the capital was Ohind, near the current Attock.
In 977 AD, the Turkish leader occurred Sabuktigin the throne of the small kingdom of Ghazni in central Afghanistan. In 980 Years, Subuktigin defeated the Shahis extending his reign of the Khyber Pass, on the Indus. After his death in 997, his son, Mahmoud, assumed power in Ghazni. It extends the scope of his father, to the west and east by military conquest. He conquered the Punjab and northern India ten-seven times during his reign, the conquest of Shahi scope and extend his reign at the top of Punjab insofar as the Yamuna. Mahmoud demolished Hindu temple where its campaigns, it adopted, and he attacked the Ismaélites, which it regards as heretical.
Mahmoud’s successor, known as Ghaznévides decided, for 157 years. Their scope is Shrinking gradually in size, and was racked by bitter succession battle. The Ghaznévides lost the western part of his kingdom (now Iran) to expand Turkish Seljuk. The Rajput kingdoms west of eastern India zurückerobert Punjab, and by the 1160s, the line of demarcation between the state and Ghaznavid Hindu kingdoms to promote the current border between India and Pakistan. The central Afghanistan Ghorids occupied Ghazni to 1150, and the capital was Ghaznavid Lahore. Mohammed Ghori conquered Ghaznavid empire, occupies Lahore in 1186-1187, then the extension of his reign in the past, New Delhi Ganges, Yamuna Doab.
The Sultanate of Delhi and the Moghul Empire
After the death of Muhammad in 1206, its general Qutb-ud-Din Aybak control Muhummad scope of India, including Afghanistan, and Punjab in northern India. Qutb-ud-din withdrew its capital of the empire of Ghazni in Lahore and, after Sultan, in Delhi, he founded the Empire was the sultanate of Delhi. His successor was announced that the Mamelukes or slave dynasty, and he ruled from 1210 until his death in 1290 The Mongols had conquered, Mohammed Ghori possessions of the former Central Asia later in the Sultanate of north-west border in the thirteenth century. The Mongols conquered Afghanistan, and thence raids of the Punjab and north-west of India. Lahore was dismissed in 1241, and the Mongols and the sultans challenged for control of Punjab to the abundance of the thirteenth century. The Khilji dynasty replaces the Mamluks in 1290 The reign of Khiljis was briefly interrupted by successful raids by the Mongols, marched to Delhi in two Ala ud-Din Khalji the rule. The Tughluqids succeeded Khiljis Timur in 1320, decided a central Samarkand, licensed in New Delhi 1398-1399, and the Sultanate of reduced to a small kingdom surrounding Delhi. Two Afghan dynasties, the Sultanate of control after Tughluqids; The Sayyids of 1414 to 1479, and the Lodhis of 1479 until 1526. The Lodhis resumed control over some areas of the Sultanate’s lost, including the Punjab. Babur, a descendant of Mongolia Khan, decided, a kingdom in Afghanistan during the last defeated the Sultan of Delhi in the first battle of Panipat in 1526 and founded the Moghul Empire.
The Moghul empire existed for several centuries until it was severely weakened the eighteenth century by the attacks of Marathas and the sack of Delhi 1739 by the Persian Nadir Shah. How to weaken the power of Moghul, Afghan leader to take control of the empire north-west of the province, including Punjab and are. The eighteenth century also saw the rise of Sikhs in Punjab.
The rule of Sikhs
The Punjab presents an image of chaos and confusion, Ranjit Singh took control of Sukerchakias misalthis was by the delegation, as Sikhs were unable, for the moghuls. The building of Ahmed Shah Abdali empire of India had s’émiettait. Afghanistan was fragmented. Peshawar and Kashmir, but under the sovereignty of Afghanistan had achieved de facto independence. The Barakzais were now masters of these countries. Attock prevailing Wazrikhels Jhang and stood at the foot of Sials. The Pashtuns decided to Kasur. Multan had thrown the breech and Nawab Muzaffar Khan was now sovereign.
Punjab and the two are in Afghanistan was the rule since 1757, Ahmed Shah Abdali was granted sovereignty over these provinces. However, Sikhs have become a rising power in Punjab. Taimur Khan, a local governor, has led to the designation of Sikhs in Amritsar and raze the fortress of Ram Rauni. His control was short-lived, and Sikhs joined defeat misal Taimur Shah and his chief minister Jalal Khan. The Afghans were forced to withdraw and Lahore was occupied by Sikhs in 1758. Yassa Singh Ahluwalia proclaimed the sovereignty and Sikhs, suppose, of coins to commemorate his strong victory.
While Ahmed Shah Abdali was charged in a campaign against the Marathas of Panipat in 1761, Yassa Singh Ahluwalia Dialpur looted and Sirhind, requisition towns in the district of Ferozepur and Jagraon seized excrement and Isa Khan, on the opposite bank of the Sutlej. It covers Hoshiarpur Naraingarh and Ambala and toll taken by the head of Kapurthala. He walked towards Jhang. The head of Sial offered a valiant resistance. However, if the left Ahmad Shah in February 1761, Yassa Nawab Singh Ahluwalia again attacked Sirhind and extends its territory and the Tarn Taran. When he is on the polarization Sultanpur and taken prisoner in 1762, Ahmad Shah, and a new east appeared fierce fight took place. The Holocaust was Ghalughara. In the wake of the Route forces Sikh, Singh Nawab Yassa fled to the hills of Kangra. After the withdrawal of Ahmad Shah Abdali, Yassa Nawab Singh Ahluwalia again attacked Sirhind, razing and governor of the Afghan killiing Zen-Khan. It was a great victory for Sikhs, has now decided the entire territory around the Sirhind.
Ahmad Shah died in June 1773. After his death, the power of Afghans in Punjab. Taimur Shah on the throne of Kabul. Until then Misls were well established in the Punjab. The territory controlled so that Saharnpur the East, west of Attock, Kangra Jammu in the north and south of Multan. Efforts were sovereign Afghan Sikhs to remove their citadels. Taimur Shah Multan attacked and defeated temporarily Dhillon Sardars of the Bhangi misl. The Dhillon Sardars Dhillon control the Principality and the powerful army Bhangi misl (the most powerful of all misl at the time), Lehna Singh and Singh were Sobha Lahore in 1767 by the Abdali, but soon reoccupied. She remained in power in 1793 in Lahore - the year as Shah Zaman occurred on the throne of Kabul.
The first attempt at conquest Shah Zaman was founded in 1793. He arrived in Hasan Abdal, which has an army of cavalry in 7000 Ahmad Shah Shah Nachi, but Sikhs are routed. He was a great setback to Shah Zaman, but it has reorganized in 1795 and again attacked the forces Hasan Abdal, this period, he ripped the Sukerchikias Rohtas, whose leader was Ranjit Singh. Singh Shah Zaman has suffered in the hands, but not the courage to lose. However, Shah Zaman, a return to Kabul as an invasion of his country of the West was arrested. When he returned, Ranjit Singh removes Afghans Rohtas.
Shah Zaman, do not sit in standby mode. In 1796, he spent the Indus for the third time and planned to capture Delhi. His ambition knew no borders. In the meantime, he has an Afghan army of 3000 men. He said he was confident a large number of Indians, to join them. Nawab of Kasur, had already secured the help. Sahib Singh of Patiala betrayed his people and declared its intention to help Shah Zaman. Shah Zaman has also provided assistance by the Rohillas, Wazir of Oudh, and tipu Sultan of Mysore. The message of Shah Zaman invasion to spread quickly and people began to flee into the mountains for safety. Heads of Misals, obwohl gebunden sollen zu schützen, die Menschen wie sie waren das Sammeln Rakhi Steuer von ihnen waren die ersten, verlassen die Menschen im Stich. Bis Dezember Schah Zaman besetzten Gebiet bis zu Jhelum. Als er erreicht Gujarat, Sahib Singh Bhangi in Panik verließ und den Ort.
Weiter Schah Zaman marschierte auf dem Territorium von Ranjit Singh. Singh war wachsam und hat eine Armee von 5000 Reitern. Jedoch waren sie unzureichend bewaffnet mit nur Speere und Musketen. Die Afghanen waren ausgerüstet mit schwerem Artilleriefeuer. Ranjit Singh sah ein starkes, geeintes Kampf gegen die Invasoren so kam er nach Amritsar. Eine Gemeinde von Sarbat Khlasa hieß und viele Sikh sardars folgten dem Aufruf. Es herrschte allgemeine Einigkeit darüber, dass Schah Zaman Armee sollten die Möglichkeit zur Eingabe der Punjab und dass die Sikhs den Ruhestand gehen sollte auf den Hügeln.
Kräfte wurden neu organisiert unter dem Kommando von Ranjit Singh, und sie marschierten in Richtung Lahore. Sie gaben die Afghanen ein Brech-Niederlage in mehreren Dörfern und umgeben die Stadt Lahore. Sorties wurden in die Stadt bei Nacht, in der sie töten würde einige afghanische Soldaten und dann verlassen, unter dem Deckmantel der Dunkelheit. Im Anschluss an diese Taktik konnten sie entfernen Afghanen aus mehreren Orten.
Im Jahr 1797 Schah Zaman plötzlich nach links Afghansistan als sein Bruder Mahmud hatte revoltierten. Shahanchi Khan blieb in Lahore mit einer großen Armee. Die Sikhs, gefolgt Schah Zaman zu Jhelum entrissen und viele Waren von ihm. In der Rückkehr, die Sikhs wurden angegriffen durch die Armee von Shahnachi Khan in der Nähe von Ram Nagar. Die Sikhs geroutet seiner Armee. Es war der erste große Erfolg von Ranjit Singh. Er war der Held des Landes Fünf Flüsse und seinen Ruf weit und breit.
Auch in 1798 Schah Zaman angegriffen Punjab Rache für die Niederlage von 1797. Die Sikh-Bevölkerung nahm Zuflucht in den Bergen. Ein Sarbat Khalsa wurde erneut aufgerufen und Sada Kaur überredete die Sikhs zu kämpfen erneut auf den letzten Mann. Dieses Mal waren auch die Muslime nicht verschont von Schah Zaman die Kräfte und er gewann Gujarat leicht. Sada Kaur geweckt der Sikhs Sinne der nationalen Ehre. Wenn sie wieder zu verlassen, Amritsar, sie würden die Kräfte gegen die Afghanen. Sie sagte, dass ein Soldat Afghani gab keine Übereinstimmung für ein Sikh-Soldaten. In der Schlacht, sie würden acquit selbst, und durch die Gnade des Guru Sa, wäre erfolgreich.
Die Afghanen geplündert den Städten und Dörfern, da sie gelobt hatte, und erklärte, dass sie die Niederlage Sikhs. Allerdings war es den Muslimen gelitten, wie die meisten Hindus und Sikhs hatten bereits das Gebäude für den Hügeln. The Muslims had thought that they would not be touched but their hopes were dashed and their provisions forcibly taken from them by the Afghans.
Shah Zaman requested that Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra refuse to give food or shelter to the Sikhs. This was agreed. Shah Zaman attacked Lahore and the Sikhs, surrounded as they were on all sides, had to fight a grim battle. The Afghans occupied Lahore in November 1798 and planned to attack Amritsar. Ranjit Singh collected his men and faced Shah’s forces about eight kilometres from Amritsar. They were well-matched and the Afghans were, at last, forced to retire. Humiliated, they fled towards Lahore. Ranjit Singh pursued them and surrounded Lahore. Afghan supply lines were cut, crops were burnt and other provisions plundered so that they did not fall into Afghan’s hands. It was a humiliating defeat for the Afghans. Nizam-ud.din of Kasur attacked the Sikhs near Shahdara on the banks of the Ravi, but his forces were no match for the Sikhs. Here too, it was the Muslims who suffered the most. The retreating Afghans and Nizam-ud-din forces plundered the town, antagonizing the local people.
The Afghans struggled hard to dislodge the Sikhs but in vain. The Sikh cordon was so strong that it was impossible for the Afghans to break it and proceed towards Delhi. Ranjit Singh terrorized the Afghans. The moment Zaman Shah left, Ranjit Singh pursued his forces and caught them unawares near Gujranwala. They were chased further up to Jhelum. Many Afghans were put to death and their weapons and supplies taken. The rest fled for their lives. Shah Zaman was overthrown by his brother and was blinded. He became a helpless creature, who, twelve years later, came to the Punjab to seek refuge in Ranjit Singh’s darbar. Singh was now ruler of the land.
Ranjit Singh combined with Sahib Singh of Gujrat (Punjab) and Milkha Singh Pindiwala and a large Sikh force. They fell upon the Afghan garrison while Shah Zaman was still in vicinity of Khyber Pass. The Afghan forces fled north after having been routed by the Sikhs, leaving behind their dead, including the Afghan deputy, at Gujarat.” (Bikramjit Hasrat, Life and times of Ranjit Singh, p.36)
A section of the Lahore Fort built by the Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
The Bardari of Ranjit Singh, built in the Hazuri Bagh.
By this time the people of the country had become aware of the rising strength of Ranjit Singh. He was the most popular leader of the Punjab and was planning to enter Lahore. Victims of oppression, the people of Lahore were favorably disposed towards Singh who they saw as a potential liberator. Muslims joined Hindu and Sikh residents of Lahore in making an appeal to Singh to free them from the tyrannical rule.
A petition was written and was signed by Mian Ashak Muhammad, Mian Mukkam Din, Mohammad Tahir, Mohammad Bakar, Hakim Rai, and Bhai Gurbaksh Singh. It was addressed to Ranjit singh, requesting him to free them from the Bhangi sardars. They begged Singh to liberate Lahore as soon as possible. He mobilised an Army of 25,000 and marched towards Lahore on July 6, 1799.
It was a last day of Muharram when a big procession was to be held in the town in the memory of the two grandsons of the Prophet Muhammad who had been martyred on the battlefield. It was expected that the Bhangi sardars would also participate in the procession and mourn with their Shia brethren. By the time procession was over Ranjit Singh had reached the outskirts of city.
In the early morning of July 7, 1799, Ranjit Singh’s men took up their positions. Guns glistened and bugles were sounded. Rani Sada Kaur stood outside Delhi Gate and Ranjit Singh proceeded towards Anarkali. Ranjit Singh rode along the walls of the city setting mines. The wall was breached. This created panic and confusion. Mukkam Din, who was one of the signatories to the petition made a proclamation, accompanied by drumbeats, stating that he had taken over the town and was now in charge. He ordered the city gates to be opened. Ranjit Singh entered the city with his troops through the Lahori Gate. Sada Kaur and a detachment of cavalry entered through Delhi gate. Before the Bhangi sardars realized it, a part of the citadel had been occupied without resistance. Sahib Singh and Mohar Singh left the city and sought protection. Chet Singh was left to either to fight to defend the town or flee. He shut himself in Hazuri Bagh with 500 men. Ranjit Singh’s cavalry surrounded Hazuri Bagh. Chet Singh surrendered and was given permission to leave the city along with his family.
Ranjit Singh was now well-entrenched. Immediately after taking possession of the city, he paid a visit to Badshahi Mosque. This gesture increased his prestige in the eyes of people. He won the hearts of his subjects, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh alike. It was July 7, 1799 when the victorious Ranjit Singh entered Lahore.
Ranjit Singh ultimately acquired a kingdom in the Punjab which stretched from the Sutlej River in the east to Peshawar in the west, and from the junction of the Sutlej and the Indus in the south to Ladakh in the north. Ranjit died in 1839, and a succession struggle ensued. Two of his successor maharajas were assassinated by 1843.
Sikh Empire (1799-1849)
Maharaja Ranjit Singh (b.1780, Crowned April 12, 1801, d.1839)
Kharak Singh (b.1801, d.1840), Eldest son of Ranjit Singh.
Nau Nihal Singh (b.1821, d.1840), Grandson of Ranjit Singh.
Sher Singh (b.1807, d.1843), Son of Ranjit Singh.
Duleep Singh (b.1838, Coronated 1843, d.1893), Youngest son of Ranjit Singh.
The British Empire annexed Punjab in c.1849 AD; after two Anglo Sikh Wars
The British in Punjab
Punjab Province, 1909
The 33rd Punjabi Army (A Picture of an Commander: A Punjabi Subadar).
By 1845 the British had moved 32,000 troops to the Sutlej frontier, to secure their northernmost possessions against the succession struggles in the Punjab. In late 1845, British and Sikh troops engaged near Ferozepur, beginning the First Anglo-Sikh War. The war ended the following year, and the territory between the Sutlej and the Beas was ceded to Great Britain, along with Kashmir, which was sold to Gulab Singh of Jammu, who ruled Kashmir as a British vassal.
As a condition of the peace treaty, some British troops, along with a resident political agent and other officials, were left in the Punjab to oversee the regency of Maharaja Dhalip Singh, a minor. The Sikh army was reduced greatly in size. In 1848, out-of-work Sikh troops in Multan revolted, and a British official was killed. Within a few months, the unrest had spread throughout the Punjab, and British troops once again invaded. The British prevailed in the Second Anglo-Sikh War, and under the Treaty of Lahore in 1849, the Punjab was annexed by the British East India Company, and Dhalip Singh was pensioned off. The Punjab became a province of British India, although a number of small states, most notably Patiala, retained local rulers who recognized British sovereignty.
In every way, the Punjab was one of Great Britain’s most important assets in colonial India. Its political and geographic predominance gave Britain a base from which to project its power over more than 500 princely states that made up India. Lahore was a center of learning and culture under British rule, and Rawalpindi became an important Army installation.
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919 occurred in Amritsar. In 1930, the Indian National Congress proclaimed independence from Lahore. The 1940 Lahore Resolution of the Muslim League to work for Pakistan, made Punjab the centerstage of a different, bloodier and dirtier struggle.
In 1946, massive communal tensions and violence erupted between the majority Muslims of Punjab, and the Hindu and Sikh minorities. The Muslim League attacked the government of Unionist Punjabi Muslims, Sikh Akalis and the Congress, and led to its downfall. Unwilling to be cowed down, Sikhs and Hindus counter-attacked and the resulting bloodshed left the province in great disorder. Both Congress and League leaders agreed to partition Punjab upon religious lines, a precursor to the wider partition of the country.
The British Punjab province, which includes present-day Punjab province of Pakistan, and the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, was partitioned in 1947 between the newly-independent states of India and Pakistan.