2019-01-28 Mon

Today on 28th January 1846, the British and the Sikhs fought in the Battle of Aliwal. This battle is considered as the turning point on the First Anglo-Sikh War. The first Anglo-Sikh war begun six years after the death of Ranjit Singh.

In the Battle of Aliwal, the British deployed a force of 12,000 British and Indian troops and 32 guns under the command of General Sir Harry Smith. Sir Harry Smith was a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars and deputy adjutant general of the army in India. The Sikhs forces consist 20,000-strong Sikh army led by General Ranjodh Singh Majithia. The combined forces of the Sikh and the Khalsa was probably the most formidable opponent the British faced on the sub-continent.

British’s were victorious in this battle and around 3,000 Sikhs soldiers were killed in this battle. This victory of the British led to the Treaty of Lahore that brought an end to the First Sikh War.

PS: The image is the coin of the East India Company; it is used as the representation of the British power in India.

Image Courtney: Classical Numismatic Gallery