Siege of Kandahar (1605–1606)

The siege of Kandahar lasted from November 1605 to January 1606 and was led by the Persians 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.

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 the Mughal Empire
Belligerents
Safavid Empire	Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Abbas the Great Husayn Khan	Jahangir Šāh Beg Khan

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]