Battle of Bhilowal

In 1710 the Mughal crusaders led an expedition against the Sikhs called Haidri Flag to expel the entire Sikh population in one blow.[4] The Mughals amassed an army of 50,000 while the Sikhs could only raise an army of around 20,000.[5] The Mughals hoisted the Haidri flag.[6] The Mughals had first besieged an army of the Sikhs in Kahnuwan but after a month of fighting were defeated. A Sikh contingement went to Bharatpur in situated in the banks of ravi and hid in a mansion build by a Kshatriya named Bhagwant.[7] A Mughal contingent found out about the Sikhs hideout and laid siege to the mansion. The Sikhs routed this contingement and took this as a chance to escape.[8] The Mughals then put up camp at Bhilowal, soon planning to march towards Lahore. The Sikhs after finding out about this marched quickly there to attack the Mughals.[9]

The Mughals delayed their march to Lahore. The Sikhs suddenly fell upon them. The horses were standing so the Sikhs took them and went to battle.[9] The Sikhs were out of bullets so they drew out their kirpans.[10] A Rajput in the Mughal army named Ataullan Khan shouted to his soldiers to flee or die. The Mughals left innumerable amount of bodies before fleeing.[11][12][13][14] Bhagat Lachhman Singh in his Sikh Martyrs says "Some Turks were cut down while fleeing, some struck against the trees and other impediments and fell; some broke their skulls, some lost their eyes."[15]

This battle left many important Mughal leaders to perish.[9] They had collected immense booty and left for the hills.[5] After this event, the Sikhs fought the Mughals again in the Battle of Rahon.

• Nihang
• Martyrdom and Sikhism