Battle of Manupur (1748)


The Battle of Manupur was fought between the Mughal Empire and the Durrani Empire in 1748.

Background

After the death of Persian Emperor Nadir Shah, General Ahmad Shah Durrani seized Persian Afghanistan and launched the first invasion of India. Ahmad Shah Durrani occupied Peshawar, the first military post on the Indian side. Then, he reached Shahdra and defeated Shahnawaz Khan and Adina beginning on January 11, 1748. Shah was flushed with the victory and commanded his troops to march Delhi.

Battle

While on the way to Delhi, his army was stopped at Sirhind where Muin-ul-Mulk alias "Mir Mannu" continued the battle. In the battle, the artillery store of Ahmad Shah Durrani caught fire which roasted thousands of Durrani soldiers alive. He, therefore, had to retreat at night which resulted in his failure.

Aftermath

After the retreat of Durrani, the panicked Mughal did not chase them but the invaders were harassed by Sikh bands under Charat Singh and Maharaja of Patiala Ala Singh. Sikhs looted their booty and horses while they were on the way back to Kabul. Thus, the first invasion of Shah proved a failure but it gave an opportunity to the Sikhs to organize themselves into Dal Khalsa, an army of Sikh Confederacy, at Amritsar in March 1748.