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8 unusual facts about Battle of Saraighat


Battle of Saraighat

Meanwhile, Mughal reinforcements in the shape of war-vessels and imperial officers (Omraos) reached Ram Singh, along with the Mughal admiral, Munnawar Khan and the Mughal Viceroy Shaista Khan, sent the message that Ram Singh was sent to fight the Assamese, not make friends with them.

The Battle of Saraighat was fought in 1671 between the Mughal empire (led by the Kachwaha king, Raja Ramsingh I), and the Ahom Kingdom (led by Lachit Borphukan) on the Brahmaputra river at Saraighat, now in Guwahati.

People who had dispersed due to Mir Jumla's invasion were rehabilitated in the appropriate khels, food and military productions were increased, new forts were constructed and garrisoned and an experditionary army was organized under a new commander—Lachit Borphukan.

Though the Mughals managed to regain Guwahati briefly after a later Borphukan deserted it, the Ahoms wrested control in the Battle of Itakhuli in 1682 and maintained it till the end of their rule.

Lachit made Kaliabor, the old seat of the Borphukan, his base camp and advanced toward Guwahati along both banks of the Brahmaputra.

The Mughal admiral Munnawar Khan, smoking a hookah was killed by a gunshot from the back, throwing the Mughals out of gear.

Their commander-in-chief, Lachit Borphukan and their admiral were both seriously ill, and the Nara Raja, the son of the Miri Sandikoi, was in command.

Munnawar Khan

Munnawar Khan was sent on a campaign in the Brahmaputra River against the Ahoms in Assam along with the talented Muhammad Saleh Kamboh, they built trade cog sized Dhows some with artillery, archers and musketeers under five Sardars (Admirals), during the Battle of Saraighat unfortunately the Mughal fleet was outnumbered by 3300 Ahom war-canoes.


History of Beltola

When he was still a prince, he joined the Ahom forces led by Lachit Borphukan against the invading Mughal forces led by Raja Ram Singh I of Amber and participated in the famous Battle of Saraighat, in which the Ahoms won a decisive victory against the Mughals.

Ramsingh I

The Assam forces, under Lachit Borphukan, unable to match the Mughals on land, were able to win the decisive Battle of Saraighat on the Brahmaputra river which forced Ram Singh to retreat back to Mughal territory.


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