Battle of Bharali

Battle of Bharali
Part of Ahom–Mughal wars
Yarlung Tsangpo, Shigatse Prefecture
Date 1615 Location Bharali river, Assam 26.156°N 90.983°E / 26.156; 90.983 Result Ahom victory
Belligerents
Ahom Kingdom	Mughal Empire Bengal Subah
Commanders and leaders
Pratap Singh Bali Narayan	Qasim Khan Sayyid Abu Bakr † Satrajit Sayyid Hakim
Strength
Unknown	10,000 cavalry 400 ships Unknown amount of infantry
Casualties and losses
Unknown	5,000 killed 9,000 wounded 3,000 deserted
Satrajit’s son was sacrificed to the Goddess Kamakhya as part of Ahom rituals.
Battle of Bharali class=notpageimage| Location within South Asia Battle of Bharali Battle of Bharali (Assam)

The Battle of Bharali marked a significant conflict in the Ahom–Mughal wars, resulting in a decisive Ahom victory. Following the Mughal defeat, Bali Narayan was installed as the tributary Raja of Darrang, adopting the title Dharma Narayan and establishing his capital on the south bank of the Brahmaputra within the Darrang region. The loss led to the dismissal of Qasim Khan, the Subadar of Bengal, highlighting the strategic and political repercussions of the battle.

Prelude

In 1608, Islam Khan shifted the capital of Bengal Suba from Rajmahal to Dhaka. The city remained the capital under Prince Shuja, son of Emperor Shah Jahan, during his tenure as subadar of Bengal. On July 11, 1608, the Mughal fleet entered the River Ichhamati near Dakchara in Dhaka district, while Islam Khan advanced slowly toward the city, combating rebellious zamindars along the way.

Islam Khan's tomb inside Salim Chisti Mazar

Said Khan, the Shiqdar (revenue collector) of Chiliajuwar Pargana, faced an attack by Mirza Mumin and Madhav Rai, the zamindar of Khalsi. The rebels, commanding 200 warboats, 400 cavalry, and 4,000 paiks defeated the Mughal garrison. In response, Islam Khan dispatched Shahbaz Khan with 300 cavalry and 1,000 infantry to reinforce Chilia. On Islam Khan's orders, Mirza Nathan and Raja Satrajit, the ruler of Bhusna who had submitted to Mughal authority, conducted a khedda operation in Nazirpur to capture elephants for military use.

Miniature painting of Shahbaz Khan Kamboh

Meanwhile, Ihtimam Khan stationed the Mughal fleet at Shahpur. Following the operation, Islam Khan moved to the banks of the Atrai River, opposite of the Shahpur thana. After Islam Khan's death in September 1613, Qasim Khan was appointed subadar of Bengal, assuming office in Dhaka on May 6, 1614.

During Qasim Khan's tenure, a major rebellion broke out led by Shaikh Ibrahim, an imperial official accused of embezzling 700,000 rupees. To evade arrest, Ibrahim rebelled with 3,000 followers and sought assistance from the Raja of Assam. The Assamese ruler agreed to support Ibrahim with warboats and soldiers, promising him the territories of Kamarupa and Manchabat as rewards if he fought against the Mughals.

Background

Brahmaputra River Homeward bound

The Ahom Kingdom in Assam, undergoing territorial expansion, inevitably clashed with the Mughals over the Assam-Bengal boundary, which extended across regions such as North Bengal, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Cooch Behar. The Ahom realm was divided by the Brahmaputra River (Tsangpo in Tibet) into two regions: Uttarkul to the north and Dakhinkul to the south, with the capital located at Kuhhata (modern-day Guwahati). While the Naga tribes of present-day Nagaland accepted Ahom suzerainty, they did not pay tribute. Assam was renowned for its elephants, gold, silk, and its principal crops—rice and betel leaves.

In June 1606, Ahom King Pratap Singh (r. 1603–1641) sent a contingent to Kallang, Raha, and Kopili to subdue the Kacharis. The Ahom forces advanced from Hanan to Satgaon and defeated the Kacharis at Dharamtika, capturing numerous weapons, including guns, swords, and spears. The Kacharis retreated to Maibong, leaving a garrison at a fort near the confluence of the Kopili and Maradoyang rivers. However, the Ahoms' attempt to capture this fort failed.

In October, Pratap Singh launched another campaign into the Dhansiri Valley, fortifying Demalai and stationing a strong garrison under Sunder Gohain at Raha. Despite continued resistance from Bhim Darpa, the eldest son of the Kachari king, the Ahoms maintained their foothold in the region.

Dhansiri river near Golaghat

During this period, regional powers such as Raja Parikshit of the Eastern Koch Kingdom and the Mughal subadar of Bengal also played significant roles in shaping the political landscape. Raja Parikshit, who maintained friendly ties with the Ahoms, continued the policy of peaceful relations initiated by his father, Raghu Dev. This alliance was further strengthened through the marriage of a Koch princess to the Ahom king, Pratap Singh. Sukhampha, the aging Ahom ruler, focused on securing his frontiers possibly providing assistance to Raghu Dev in his resistance against adversaries on the western and southern borders.

Meanwhile, the Mughals, under Mirza Yusuf, were tasked with securing the fort at Pandu, which became a focal point of conflict. Baldev, the brother of Raja Parikshit, led an assault on Pandu with a force of 18,000 hillmen. Despite fierce resistance from the Mughal garrison, commanded by Mirza Yusuf Barlas, the defenders eventually ran out of gunpowder and lead, weakening their position.

Baldev's forces advanced their trenches to the fort's ditch, prompting Mirza Nathan to call for reinforcements. Ghiyas-ud-din was ordered to march immediately, and Admiral Islam Quli of Bengal Suba was instructed to provide naval support. An additional 200 matchlock men were sent to aid the garrison. Meanwhile, Baldev's forces launched a vigorous attack with cannons and rockets.

When reinforcements led by Mirza Nathan arrived at Pandu, the garrison launched a counterattack, forcing Baldev to lift the siege and retreat. This episode highlighted the intricate dynamics of regional power struggles and the strategic importance of Assam in the broader Mughal-Ahom conflict.

Battle

In 1615, Qasim Khan, the Mughal subadar of Bengal, initiated a punitive expedition against the Ahoms in response to escalating tensions, including the refuge provided to Bali Narayan, brother of Raja Parikshit, and the killing of a suspected Mughal spy near Koliabar. The campaign was led by Sayyid Hakim and Sayyid Abu Bakr, commanding a force of 10,000 cavalry, an unknown number of infantry, and a fleet of 400 ships. Satrajit, the son of a zamindar near Dhaka who had previously fought against Raja Parikshit, and an ally of the Mughals, also joined the expedition, with promises of being appointed Thanadar of Pandu and Guwahati.

Qasim Khan Chishti

The Mughal forces advanced along the Kallang River and reached Kolibar, where they encountered the Ahom army near the mouth of the Bharali River. Taking advantage of dense fog, the Mughals successfully ferried their cavalry across the river and defeated the Ahom forces in the initial confrontation.

However, the Ahoms regrouped and launched a sudden night attack, a signature tactic of their military strategy. The assault inflicted heavy losses on the Mughals, including the death of their commander, Sayyid Abu Bakr. The Ahoms captured a large amount of booty during this counteroffensive, including elephants, horses, ships, cannons, and firearms. Additionally, Satrajit's son was sacrificed to the Goddess Kamakhya as part of Ahom rituals.

According to one account, the Mughals suffered around 5,000 fatalities, 9,000 wounded, and 3,000 desertions. These figures likely included both combatants and non-combatants. The engagement demonstrated the resilience and tactical ingenuity of the Ahoms in their conflict with the Mughal Empire. King Pratap Singha celebrated the victory with a triumphant return to the capital, where he performed the Rikkhvan ceremony, marking the culmination of the Ahom triumph.

Aftermath

After the defeat of the Mughal forces, Bali Narayan was installed as the tributary raja of Darrang, where he was given the title Dharma Narayan. His capital was located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra, within the region of Darrang. Following this setback, Qasim Khan was removed from his position as the subadar of Bengal.

In November 1617, Pratap Singh, accompanied by Dharma Narayan, led an army towards Hajo. During this campaign, the raja of Dimaura, a tributary of the Kacharis and ruler of Jaintia District (which had a population of about 18,000), submitted to Pratap Singh. The Ahom forces attacked and successfully captured Pandu, and the Mughals were once again defeated at Agiathuti, forcing them to retreat to Hajo. This series of events marked a significant victory for the Ahoms in their ongoing conflict with the Mughal Empire.

See also

• Ahom–Mughal wars
• Susenghphaa
• Battle of Samdhara

References

Bibliography

• Nag, Sajal (17 July 2023). The Mughals and the North-East: Encounter and Assimilation in Medieval India. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-90525-0.
• Basu, Nirmal Kumar (1970). Assam in the Ahom Age, 1228-1826: Being Politico-economic and Socio-cultural Studies. Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar.
• Acharyya, Nagendra Nath (1966). The History of Medieval Assam, from the Thirteenth to the Seventeenth Century: A Critical and Comprehensive History of Assam During the First Four Centuries of Ahom Rule, Based on Original Assamese Sources, Available Both in India and England. Dutta Baruah.