Siege of Kandahar (1605–1606)
{{Short description|Battle of 1605–1606 between Safavid and Mughal}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Siege of Kandahar (1605–1606)
| image =
| caption = a battle in Kandahar, Afganistan
| partof = Mughal-Persian Wars
| date = November 1605 – January 1606
| place = Kandahar
| result = Mughal victory
| territory = Kandahar remains in the Mughal Empire
| combatant1 = Safavid Empire
| combatant2 = Mughal Empire
| commander1 = Abbas the Great
Husayn Khan
| commander2 = Jahangir
Šāh Beg Khan
| strength1 =
| strength2 =
| casualties1 =
| casualties2 =
}}
The siege of Kandahar lasted from November 1605 to January 1606 and was led by the Persians to capture the Mughal frontier city of Kandahar.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkTPEAAAQBAJ&dq=siege+of+kandahar+1605+Cambridge&pg=PA847|quote=A series of conflicts between the Safavid and Mughal Empires fought over possession of the strategic city-fortress of Kandahar in Afghanistan. In 1595 two Safavid princes defected to the Mughal court, surrendering the fortress to Emperor Akbar (1542-1605).|title=Middle East Conflicts from Ancient Egypt to the 21st Century|author= Spencer C. Tucker
|date=2019 |publisher=An Encyclopedia and Document Collection [4 Volumes] · Volume |page=847|isbn=978-1-4408-5353-1 }} After two months of constant assaults, the relief army forced the Persians to retreat. Thus, resulted in a decisive victory for the Mughal Empire.
Background
The Mughals had obtained the city of Kandahar in 1595, after the Mughal army advanced to the city's governor, Moẓaffar-Ḥosayn Mirzā, and negotiated with him a surrender.Iranica 2011 The Safavid ruler, Shah Abbas, was shocked by the loss of the important fortress but as main Iranian concerns lay with the equally powerful Ottomans at their westernmost territories, he abstained from military action, preferring to negotiate a settlement.
Battle
When Emperor Akbar died on October 27, 1605, the Safavid governor of Herat, Hosayn Khan, moved to recapture the city on behalf of the Safavids by the order of Shah Abbas while the Indians were distracted with other matters.{{r|Iranica}} The city, defended by governor Šāh Beg Khan, held out against the Safavid siege until the next year when the new emperor, Jahangir, sent an army that lifted the siege.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y7fUHMEDAyEC&q=siege+of+kandahar+1605%3DPT34&pg=PA157|title=Medieval History of India|isbn=9781932705546|accessdate=4 April 2003|last1=chopra|first1=Pran nath| date=January 2003|publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. }}
Aftermath
Kandahar was surrendered to the Mughals.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s5X3EAAAQBAJ&dq=siege+of+kandahar+1605+Cambridge&pg=RA4-PA687|title=World history encyclopaedia |isbn=978-1-85109-930-6|accessdate=4 April 2014|last1=Andrea|first1=Alfred J.|date=January 2011|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA }}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y6fOEAAAQBAJ&dq=siege+of+kandahar+1605+cambridge&pg=PA610|title=Conquest in the Islamic world |isbn=9781932705546|accessdate=4 April 2011|last1=Mikaberidze ·|first1=By Alexander ·|date=January 2011|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA }} Abbas repudiated Hosayn's actions in a letter to Jahangir, and both sides reestablished normal relations,{{r|Iranica}} though Kandahar would remain a controversial affair between both parties.{{r|Iranica}}
Notes
{{Reflist|2}}
Sources
- {{cite web|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kandahar-from-the-mongol-invasion-through-the-safavid-era|title=KANDAHAR iv. From The Mongol Invasion Through the Safavid Era|publisher=Encyclopædia Iranica|accessdate=13 October 2011}}
{{Mughal Empire}}
{{coord missing|Afghanistan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Siege of Kandahar (1605-06)}}
Category:Wars involving Afghanistan
Category:1600s in the Mughal Empire
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