Mazari Tribe - Wars With The Sikh Empire

Wars With The Sikh Empire

In 1836, Mithankot, by then a strong Sikh garrison fortress, was attacked by the Mazari tribal forces under the command of Sardar Karam Khan, the younger brother of the Mazari Chief Sardar Mir Bahram Khan. The attack came as retaliation to Raja Kharak Singh’s constant threats to the Mazari StrogHold of Rojhan Mazari. Many lives were lost and the garrison along with the city was completely burnt down. All the prisoners taken by the Mazari tribesman were later skinned alive and burnt near the city. A few days later the Sikhs under the command of Raja Kharak Singh retaliated and attacked the Mazari Stronghold of Rojhan and managed to burn it down but the Sikh army was quickly engaged by the forces of Sardar Mir Bahram Khan and driven back towards Mithankot. Despite, suffering a major loss in terms of property, only a handful of Mazaris lost their lives as the news of the attack had reached the court of the Mazari Sardar a few days earlier thereby eliminating the element of surprise. These events led to regular skirmishes between the Mazari and the Sikh forces resulting in loss of life on both sides. Then finally in early 1838, a deal was brokered between Sardar Mir Bahram Khan and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh which led to an armistice that was signed by the Chief’s younger brother Sardar Karam Khan and Diwan Sawan Mal, the Maharaja’s Governor of Multan. Later that year Sardar Mir Bahram Khan along with twelve thousand Mazari Tribesman, court officials and notables visited Lahore on the invitation of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. The Mazari's were well received by the Maharaja at the Lahore Fort and given a royal welcome. The Maharaja had the Mughal era Naulakha Pavilion(saman Burj) inside the Lahore Fort specially renovated for the month long stay of Sardar Mir Bahram Khan Mazari. This meeting between the two leaders officially brought an end to the long war between the Sikh Maharaja and the Mazari Sardar that started with the attack at Mitankot.