Second Battle of Anandpur
| Second Battle of Anandpur | |||||||
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| Part of Mughal-Sikh Wars | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Khalsa
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 Rajas of the Sivalik Hills, Mughals
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Sher Singh Nahar Singh Ude Singh
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Jagatullah Kesari Chand Ghumand Chand |
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The Battle of Anandpur was fought at Anandpur , between Sikhs and an allied force of the Rajas of the Sivalik Hills.
The hill Rajas were concerned about Guru Gobind Singh's rising power and influence in their region. Even the Mughal generals had failed to subdue the Guru in the First Battle of Anandpur. Consequently, the Rajas of several hill states (including Jammu, Nurpur, Mandi, Kullu, Guler, Chamba, Srinagar, Dadhwal, and Hindur) assembled at Bilaspur to discuss the situation. The son of Bhim Chand, Raja Ajmer Chand of Kahlur, suggested forming an alliance to curb the Guru's rising power. Accordingly, the Rajas formed an alliance, and marched towards Anandpur.
They sent a letter to the Guru, asking him to pay the arrears of rent for Anandpur (which lied in Ajmer Chand's territory), and leave the city. The Guru insisted that the land was bought by his father, and is therefore, his own property.
A large number of Ranghars and Gujjars, under the command of Jagatullah, joined the hill Rajas. Duni Chand led five hundred men from Majha region to assist the Guru. Reinforcements from other areas also arrived to help the Guru.
Lohgarh and Fatehgarh were the two main forts under Gobind Singh's control. Sher Singh and Nahar Singh were asked to guard Lohgarh, and Ude Singh was appointed as chief to guard Fatehgarh.
The hill Rajas attacked the Guru's forces, but had to retreat. They held a brief council, and decided to launch a three-sided attack. Raja Kesari Chand of Jaswal launched an attack from the right flank, Jagatullah attacked from the left flank, and Ajmer Chand led his troops to make a front attack on Anandpur.
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