Siege of Kandahar (1605–1606)

Siege of Kandahar (1605–1606)
	Part of Mughal-Persian Wars
Date	November 1605–January 1606
Location	Kandahar
Result	Mughal victory
Territorial; changes	Kandahar remains in Mughal India
Belligerents
Safavid Iran	Mughal India
Commanders and leaders
Shah Abbas Of Persia; Husayn Khan	Jahangir of Hindustan; Šāh Beg Khan

The siege of Kandahar lasted from November 1605 to January 1606 and was led by Safavids to capture the Mughal frontier city of Kandahar.^[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.^[2] 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

Aftermath

Kandahar was surrendered to the Mughals.^[4] ^[5] Abbas repudiated Hosayn's actions in a letter to Jahangir, and both sides reestablished normal relations,^[2] though Kandahar would remain a controversial affair between both parties.^[2]

Notes

^ Spencer C. Tucker (2019). Middle East Conflicts from Ancient Egypt to the 21st Century. An Encyclopedia and Document Collection [4 Volumes] · Volume. p. 847. ISBN 978-1-4408-5353-1. 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).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Iranica 2011
^ chopra, Pran nath (January 2003). Medieval History of India. Sterling Publishers Pvt. ISBN 9781932705546. Retrieved 4 April 2003.
^ Andrea, Alfred J. (January 2011). World history encyclopaedia . Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-1-85109-930-6. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
^ Mikaberidze ·, By Alexander · (January 2011). Conquest in the Islamic world . Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 9781932705546. Retrieved 4 April 2011.

Sources

"KANDAHAR iv. From The Mongol Invasion Through the Safavid Era". Encyclopædia Iranica. Retrieved 13 October 2011.

This article about a battle is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Spencer C. Tucker (2019). Middle East Conflicts from Ancient Egypt to the 21st Century. An Encyclopedia and Document Collection [4 Volumes] · Volume. p. 847. ISBN 978-1-4408-5353-1. 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).

[Iranica-2] Iranica 2011

[3] ra, Pran nath (January 2003). Medieval History of India. Sterling Publishers Pvt. ISBN 9781932705546. Retrieved 4 April 2003.

[4] Andrea, Alfred J. (January 2011). World history encyclopaedia . Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-1-85109-930-6. Retrieved 4 April 2014.

[5] Mikaberidze ·, By Alexander · (January 2011). Conquest in the Islamic world . Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 9781932705546. Retrieved 4 April 2011.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]