Cite
MLA
“Siege of Patiala (1779).” Hindu History, 2026, https://www.hinduhistory.in/battles/siege-of-patiala-1779/. Accessed .
APA
Hindu History. (2026). Siege of Patiala (1779). Retrieved , from https://www.hinduhistory.in/battles/siege-of-patiala-1779/
The Mughal army failed to take the fort and withdrew to Delhi when Sikh reinforcements approached.
01Abdul Ahad’s campaign
Abdul Ahad Khan, a Kashmiri noble, dominated the emperor’s court in the late 1770s. He hoped to win back revenue from the cis-Sutlej Sikh chiefs and marched from Delhi in June 1779 with the emperor’s son. Some sardars came over to him; others he hoped to play off against Patiala. Raja Amar Singh of Patiala and Tara Singh Ghaiba met the Mughal army in the field in early October and were beaten back into the fort.
02Relief from the Majha
The Mughals besieged Patiala but could not break in. Meanwhile Amar Singh sent quietly for help across the Sutlej, and the Kanhaiya sardars, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia moved to his aid. When news of their approach reached the Nawab he lifted the siege about 14 October, telling Baghel Singh that the emperor had recalled him, and fell back to Delhi. Abdul Ahad lost his influence at court soon after, and Mirza Najaf Khan took charge of the empire’s affairs.
The failure at Patiala ended Mughal attempts to rule the cis-Sutlej country; the Sikh chiefs there answered to no one in Delhi again.
