Battle of Thikriwala

Part of Mughal-Sikh Wars

Date	1730 or 1731
Location	Thikriwala (Barnala)
Result	Sikh victory

Belligerents

Khalsa Fauj

Raikot
Supported by

Mughal Empire

Commanders and leaders

Nawab Kapur Singh

Ala Singh

Rai Kalha

Dalel Khan

Kutbuddin Khan

Jamal Khan

Chief of Malerkotla

Asad Ali Khan †

Fateh Khan of Talwandi

v t e Late Mughal-Sikh Wars
Nadaun Guler Taragarh Anandpur (1st, 1700) Anandpur (2nd, 1700) Basoli Chamkaur (1st) Anandpur (1st, 1704) Anandpur (2nd, 1704) Sarsa Chamkaur (2nd) Muktsar Jajau Amritsar (1709) Sonepat Samana Kapuri Sadhaura Ropar Chappar Chiri Sirhind Saharanpur Nanautu Jalalabad Kotla Begum Bhilowal Rahon Thanesar Lohgarh (1710) Jammu Lohgarh (1712) Kiri Pathan Gurdas Nangal Gurdaspur Wan Thikriwala Basarke Amritsar (1738) Samad Khan's Expedition Sarai Nurdin Rorī Sahib Sodhra and Badra (1748) Amritsar (1748) Ram Rauni Multan (1749) Nadaun (1752) Anandpur (1753) Patti Delhi (1764) Panipat (1770) Kunjpura (1772) Jind Ghanaur Patiala Shafi's Campaign Sirhind (1781) Delhi (1783)

Late Mughal-Sikh Wars

The Battle of Thikriwala, also known as the Battle of Barnala, was fought in 1730 or 1731 by Sikh forces led by Ala Singh against Raikot and Mughal forces led by Rai Kalha.

Background

Ala Singh and his army were trying to extend their territory by attacking the villages of Rai Kalha. After Rai Kalha's brother in law died, the Sikhs under the command of Ala Singh's son Sardul Singh conquered the village of Nima. Sohnde Khan owned that village. An enraged Rai Kalha started preparations for a battle. Ala Singh caught on and started preparing for the battle as well. Kalha managed to collect a large force led by Dalel Khan, Kutbuddin Khan, Jamal Khan, Nawab of Malerkotla State, Asad Ali Khan and several other leaders.

Battle

A hard battle occurred. The battle destroyed the walls of Barnala. The Sikhs managed to win the battle. Asad Ali Khan was killed and his troops were routed by the Sikhs. Soon the rest of the army retreated. The casualties for the Mughals were quite heavy, and many Mughals were imprisoned. The Sikhs also plundered all the resources the Mughals left behind which included goods, war material, and horses.

Aftermath

The successful battle increased the fame of Ala Singh and frightened the nearby chieftains. It also materially strengthened Ala Singh.

References

^ Hari Ram Gupta (1982). History Of The Sikhs Vol. IV The Sikh Commonwealth Or Rise And Fall Of Sikh Misls. pp. 146–147.
Purnima Dhavan (3 November 2011). When Sparrows Became Hawks. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 106. ISBN 9780199756551.
Surjit Singh Gandhi (1999). Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. Singh Bros. p. 490. ISBN 9788172052171.
The Punjab Past and Present. Vol. 20. 1985. p. 398.

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