The Battle of Chach or Battle of Chaach was fought in 1008 AD between the

Ghaznavid The Ghaznavid dynasty ( fa, غزنویان ''Ġaznaviyān'') was a culturally Persianate, Sunni Muslim dynasty of Turkic ''mamluk'' origin, ruling, at its greatest extent, large parts of Persia, Khorasan, much of Transoxiana and the northwest ...

army of Mahmud of Ghazni and the

Hindu Shahi The Hindu Shahis (also known as Odi Shahis, Uḍi Śāhis, or Brahman Shahis, 822–1026 CE) were a dynasty that held sway over the Kabul Valley, Gandhara and western Punjab during the early medieval period in the Indian subcontinent. Details ...

army of

Anandapala The Hindu Shahis (also known as Odi Shahis, Uḍi Śāhis, or Brahman Shahis, 822–1026 CE) were a dynasty that held sway over the Kabul Valley, Gandhara and western Punjab during the early medieval period in the Indian subcontinent. Details r ...

, near Hazro, resulting in the latter's defeat. This left the north Indian region vulnerable to further invasions.

Background

After having invaded the Principality of Bhatiya (1004-5) and the neighbouring

Emirate of Multan Emirate of Multan (855 – 1010) was a medieval kingdom in Punjab that was centred around city of Multan, present-day Punjab, Pakistan. It was initially ruled by the tribe of ''Banu Munabbih''. In 959 CE, Ismaili Qarmatians under '' Banu Lawi'' ...

(1006), Mahmud mounted an invasion of the Hindu Shahis circa December 1008, for reasons which are not clear. Correspondence shows that Anandapala actually seems to have had favourable dispositions towards the Muslims. Mahmud left

Ghazni Ghazni ( prs, غزنی, ps, غزني), historically known as Ghaznain () or Ghazna (), also transliterated as Ghuznee, and anciently known as Alexandria in Opiana ( gr, Αλεξάνδρεια Ωπιανή), is a city in southeastern Afghanistan ...

with his force on December 31, 1008, for a spring campaign into India. This was his sixth expedition into India. A huge army, composed of the Hindu Shahis and allied ''

Raja ''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested f ...

s'' was placed under the command of Anandapala's son (Trilochanapala) to meet the invasion. Trilochanapala failed to prevent Mahmud's troops from crossing across the Indus, and Mahmud then set out for the plains of Chaach as the battleground.

Battle

For 40 days both armies remained entrenched, until Mahmud tried to lure out the Shahis using a combat unit of 6,000 archers. This failed, as the unit was destroyed by the Hindu Shahis. Emboldened, about 30,000 troops of the Gakhar allies of the Shahis attacked Ghaznavid positions, killing about 5,000 Ghaznavid troops. The Ghaznavids were in a difficult position and Mahmud managed to regain the upper hand only by having his elite personal guards launch a rear-attack. This caused the Shahi forces to become disorganized and eventually flee, losing about 20,000 men in the encounter. The victorious army of Mahmud captured one of the sons of Anandapala, vast amounts of spoil and 30 combat elephants.

Aftermath

The battle was the last occasion on which Mahmud and Anandapala could confront their armies. Mahmud pursued the fleeing Hindu Shahi troops as far as the Kangra valley, where they took refuge in the fort of Bhim or Nagarkot, but capitulated after three days. Mahmud installed Governors in the lands he had conquered, and returned to

by June of the next year. Anandapala sent an embassy to Mahmud, with a proposal for peace, which was accepted. The Hindu Shahis had accept tributary status, provide some level of military support, guarantee passage of troops, and remit an annual tribute. Mahmud also sent his own agents to oversee the enforcement of the peace-treaty and within a year, normal trade relations had resumed.

References

Sources

* *{{Cite thesis, title=The Last Two Dynasties of the Sahis: An analysis of their history, archaeology, coinage and palaeography , url=https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/11229 , publisher=Australian National University , date=January 1976 , language=en, first=Abdur, last=Rehman 1008 in Asia Chach Chach Medieval Hinduism Medieval India Chach Kabul Shahi

Background

Battle

Aftermath

See also

References

Sources