| Battle of Chach | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofGhaznavid-Hindu Shahi Wars,Ghaznavid campaigns in India | |||||||||
 Mahmud of Ghazni riding an elephant following his conquests in Afghanistan | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Ghaznavids | Hindu Shahis | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Mahmud of Ghazni | Anandapala | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 21,000- 27,000[1] | At least 30,000[2] | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 11,000[2] | 20,000[3] | ||||||||
TheBattle of Chach orBattle of Chaach was fought in 1007 AD between theGhaznavid army ofMahmud of Ghazni and theHindu Shahi army ofAnandapala, nearHazro, resulting in the latter's defeat.[4] This left the north Indian region vulnerable to further invasions.[2]
After having invaded thePrincipality of Bhatiya (1004-5) and the neighbouringEmirate of Multan (1006),[5] Mahmud mounted an invasion of the Hindu Shahis circa December 1006, for reasons which are not clear.[6] Correspondence shows thatAnandapala actually seems to have had favourable dispositions towards the Muslims.[6] Mahmud leftGhazni with his force on December 31, 1006, for a spring campaign into India.[6] This was his sixth expedition into India.[7]
A huge army, composed of the Hindu Shahis and alliedRajas was placed under the command of Anandapala's son (Trilochanapala) to meet the invasion.[6][8] Trilochanapala failed to prevent Mahmud's troops from crossing across theIndus, and Mahmud then set out for the plains ofChaach as the battleground.[6]
For 40 days both armies remained entrenched, until Mahmud tried to lure out the Shahis using a combat unit of 6,000 archers.[2] This failed, as the unit was destroyed by the Hindu Shahis.[2] Emboldened, about 30,000 troops of theGakhar allies of the Shahis attacked Ghaznavid positions, killing about 5,000 Ghaznavid troops.[2]
The Ghaznavids were in a difficult position and Mahmud managed to regain the upper hand only by having his elite personal guards launch a rear-attack.[2] This caused the Shahi forces to become disorganized and eventually flee, losing about 20,000 men in the encounter.[3] The victorious army of Mahmud captured one of the sons of Anandapala, vast amounts of spoil and 30 combat elephants.[3]
The battle was the last occasion on which Mahmud and Anandapala could confront their armies.[3] Mahmud pursued the fleeing Hindu Shahi troops as far as theKangra valley, where they took refuge in the fort of Bhim orNagarkot, but capitulated after three days.[9]
Mahmud installed Governors in the lands he had conquered, and returned toGhazni by June of the next year.[10] Anandapala sent an embassy to Mahmud, with a proposal for peace, which was accepted.[10] The Hindu Shahis had accept tributary status, provide some level of military support, guarantee passage of troops, and remit an annual tribute.[10] Mahmud also sent his own agents to oversee the enforcement of the peace-treaty and within a year, normal trade relations had resumed.[10]
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