Why did Marathas & Sikhs not join hands against Afghans & British?
History is shockingly complicated - Don't miss this thread
Mughal empire was demolished by 1717
By 1750 Marathas ruled India & Sikh misls controlled Punjab.
Why didn't they join hands?
History is shockingly complicated - Don't miss this thread
Mughal empire was demolished by 1717
By 1750 Marathas ruled India & Sikh misls controlled Punjab.
Why didn't they join hands?
Mughals were Maratha vassals but still retained revenue rights over Delhi
There was a Mughal governor called Adina Beg who was struggling against invading Afghans under Ahmedshah Abdali
We think of Sikhs Marathas as mortal enemies of Mughals but truth has layers and nuances
There was a Mughal governor called Adina Beg who was struggling against invading Afghans under Ahmedshah Abdali
We think of Sikhs Marathas as mortal enemies of Mughals but truth has layers and nuances
Yes on a broader spectrum Mughals were enemies for both Sikhs and Marathas.
However at local levels there were complicated equations and power struggles
Adina Beg was once supported by Sikh generals Jassa Singh and Vadbhag Singh against the Afghans and got a temporary respite
However at local levels there were complicated equations and power struggles
Adina Beg was once supported by Sikh generals Jassa Singh and Vadbhag Singh against the Afghans and got a temporary respite
However to ensure a more permanent solution to the Afghan problem he needed help from the most powerful and accomplished Maratha general of the time
Raghunath Rao - AKA Raghoba
Raghoba being a master strategist had a diplomatic suggestion
Raghunath Rao - AKA Raghoba
Raghoba being a master strategist had a diplomatic suggestion
Since Punjab was Sikh territory, on 8 March 1758, Raghoba decided that the Sikh battalions would lead 2 marches ahead of Maratha army in Sirhind.
Afghans were decimated in Lahore, Attock, Peshawar and Multan bordering the outposts.
Afghans were decimated in Lahore, Attock, Peshawar and Multan bordering the outposts.
Sikhs captured the Afghan soldiers and took them to Amritsar to clean the Harmandar saheb sarovar that had been earlier desecrated by Afghans by throwing cow carcasses
Raghunath Rao too paid respect at the Harmandir Sahib
Raghunath Rao too paid respect at the Harmandir Sahib
Then he made a blunder
Raghunath Rao sidelined the Sikh chiefs and appointed Adina Beg as the Nawab of Lahore with a annual chauth tax of 75 Lakh rupees.
He thought Adina is more likely to pay up
Sikhs felt betrayed
Raghunath Rao sidelined the Sikh chiefs and appointed Adina Beg as the Nawab of Lahore with a annual chauth tax of 75 Lakh rupees.
He thought Adina is more likely to pay up
Sikhs felt betrayed
After taking their help and getting the Nawab post Adina Beg turned around and outlawed Sikhs
He also attacked several forts
Raghoba didn't even intervene as long as he got his tax
Adina died in 1758 but this was the end of Maratha Sikh alliance
He also attacked several forts
Raghoba didn't even intervene as long as he got his tax
Adina died in 1758 but this was the end of Maratha Sikh alliance
Abdali came back in 1760
Raghoba was ready to march again but Peshwa denied him the amount he asked for. So Sadashiv Rao took up the task and Panipat 3 happened
Sikhs watched from a distance & didn't come to Maratha help embittered by their experience with Adina Beg
Raghoba was ready to march again but Peshwa denied him the amount he asked for. So Sadashiv Rao took up the task and Panipat 3 happened
Sikhs watched from a distance & didn't come to Maratha help embittered by their experience with Adina Beg
Marathas did recover everything they lost within 10 years under Peshwa Madhavrao
However an opportunity for alliance with two biggest Hindu forces - Marathas and Sikhs was lost forever
Similar story with Jats & Rajputs
British never had to fight them together
However an opportunity for alliance with two biggest Hindu forces - Marathas and Sikhs was lost forever
Similar story with Jats & Rajputs
British never had to fight them together
The wily British first finished off the Marathas in 1818.
No one came to their help
And then they decimated the Sikhs in 1849
No one came for their help either
Thus infighting destroyed Indians
No one came to their help
And then they decimated the Sikhs in 1849
No one came for their help either
Thus infighting destroyed Indians
When Marathas put up a final resistance in the first battle of independence in 1757 Peshwa Nanasaheb made another blunder
Though it was a token appointment the powerless Mughal Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared as leader so that Muslim soldiers would fight against British
Though it was a token appointment the powerless Mughal Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared as leader so that Muslim soldiers would fight against British
This alienated Sikhs further
You'd be surprised to know that the 1857 rebellion had almost succeeded and India was all set to be under Maratha rule again
The tide turned when British used Sikh and Gorkha forces and demolished rebels
Thus Hindus destroyed fellow Hindus
You'd be surprised to know that the 1857 rebellion had almost succeeded and India was all set to be under Maratha rule again
The tide turned when British used Sikh and Gorkha forces and demolished rebels
Thus Hindus destroyed fellow Hindus
If you want to know more about the world then subscribe to our YouTube and Twitter
For personal 1:1 WhatsApp broadcast email your phone number with country code on itihasika@gmail.com
Join us in our journeys across time
For personal 1:1 WhatsApp broadcast email your phone number with country code on itihasika@gmail.com
Join us in our journeys across time
جاري تحميل الاقتراحات...