Battle of Gujrat
Near Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan
What happened
The army of the British East India Company under General Hugh Gough fought the Sikh army under Sher Singh. In the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the Sikh army took up positions near Gujrat. A long exchange of cannon fire followed, which Sikh and Indian sources call the 'Battle of the Guns'. The British then took the fortified villages, and the Sikh army broke.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended Sikh resistance in the Second Anglo-Sikh War. The Sikh Empire collapsed, and the British took control of the Punjab.
What came next
Sher Singh's army laid down its arms in March 1849. On 2 April 1849, the Punjab was annexed, and Maharaja Duleep Singh was removed from the throne.
Did you know?
Gough was known for bayonet charges, but at Gujrat he relied mainly on his heavy guns.
Timeline
- 21 February 1849The British win at Gujrat.
- 12 March 1849The Sikh army hands over its arms and disbands.
- 2 April 1849The Punjab is annexed at Lahore.