Misl
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Misl refers to a fighting clan. The period from 1716 to 1799 in Punjab was a highly turbulent time politically and militarily. This was caused by the overall decline of the Mughal Empire, particularly in Punjab caused by Sikh military action against it. This left a power vacuum that was eventually filled by the Sikh Confederacy. This Confederacy was made up of individual Sikh kingdoms that were ruled by Sikh barons. Each of these barons has his own army, which was commanded by and loyal to him. Each individual army had its own specific name, but the armies were referred to in general as misls.
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[edit] General military structure
Each Misl was made up of members of soldiers, whose loyalty was given to the Misl's Baron (Misldar). A Misl could be comprised of a few hundred to tens of thousands soldiers. Every solider was free to join any Misl he chose and free to cancel his membership of the Misl to whom he belonged. He could if wanted cancel his membership of his old Misl and join another (provided certain procedures were followed). The Barons would allow their armies to combine or coordinate their defence together against a hostile force if ordered by the Misldar Supreme Commander. These orders were only issued if it was related to military matters that affected the whole Sikh community. These orders would normally be related to defence against external threats, such as, Afghan Military attacks (typically initiated by Afghan Kings).
The head Barons of each kingdom, in a council, democratically elected the Misldar Supreme Commander. Previous Supreme Commanders include Nawab Kapur Singh and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
The Sikh Confederacy is a description of the political structure, of how all the Barons' Kingdoms interacted with each other, (politically), together in Punjab.
[edit] Prominent misls
- Bhangi or Bhuma Army first by Baron Hari Singh Dhillon -(Strength - 20,000 regular horsemen)
- Karorh Singhia Army (also known as Panjgarhia), first led by Baron Karora Singh Virk -(Strength - 10,000 regular horsemen)
- Nakai Army, first led by Baron Hira Singh Nakai Sandhu-(Strength - 7,000 regular horsemen)
- Ahluwalia Army, first led by Baron Jassa Singh Ahluwalia -(Strength - 6,000 regular horsemen)
- Ramgarhia Army, first led by Baron Nand Singh Sanghania and then by Jassa Singh Ramgarhia -(Strength - 5,000 regular horsemen)
- Kanahiya Army, first led by Baron Jai Singh Kanhaiya Mann-(Strength - 5,000 regular horsemen)
- Dallewalia Army, first led by Baron Gulab Singh Dallewalia -(Strength - 5,000 regular horsemen)
- Shaheed Army, first led by Baron Baba Deep Singh -(Strength - 5,000 regular horsemen)
- Faizalpuria or Singhpuria Army, first led by Baron Nawab Kapur Singh Virk -(Strength - 5,000 regular horsemen)
- Shukarchakia Army, first led by Baron Naud Singh -(Strength - 5,000 regular horsemen)
- Nishanwalia Army, first led by Baron Dasaundha Singh Gill -(Strength - 2,000 regular horsemen)
[edit] Expelled from Sikh Confedaracy and Dal Khalsa by royal order -1765
Expelled from Sikh Confedaracy and Dal Khalsa for anti-Sikh practices, such as making alliances with the enemy (Afghans), betraying and attacking other Sikh misls.
- Phulkia Army, first led by Phul Singh -(Strength - 2,000 regular horsemen). Expelled by royal order of Sikh Panth (Sikh Nation) at Amritsar - August 1765.
[edit] References
- The Sikh Army (1799-1849) (Men-at-arms), By Ian Heath. (Date:2005, ISBN:1841767778).
- The Heritage of the Sikhs By Harbans Singh. (Date:1994, ISBN:8173040648).
- Sikh Domination of the Mughal Empire. (Date:2000, second edition. ISBN:8121502136).
- The Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of Sikh Misls. (Date:2001, revised edition. ISBN:8121501652).
