Thread by @DiaryJammu

Paying tribute “Little Napoleon of India” Great General Zorawar Singh on his Birthday. ONE OF THE GREATEST DOGRA COMMANDER AND WARRIOR
#DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

Zorawar Singh Kahluria (1786-1841) was a #Rajput general of the Sikh Empire in the Indian subcontinent. He was subordinate to the Dogra ruler Gulab Singh, who was a vassal of the Sikh emperor Ranjit Singh.
#Dograwarrior #veerzorawar

His legacy of conquests in the Himalaya Mountains including Ladakh, Tibet, Baltistan and Iskardu as General and Wazir, he has been referred to as the "Napoleon of India",and "Conqueror of Ladakh".
#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

#ZorawarFort - Slightly less than eighty-decade old Zorawar Fort in Skara, Leh town.
#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

Postal Ticket on the name of “General Zorawar Singh Kahluria”
#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

Zorawar Singh’s achievements of conquest of #Ladakh:
#Dogras invaded Ladakh for the first time in 1834. Wazir Zorawar Singh marched for Kishtwar with about 5000 soldiers in July 1834.
#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

#Bakrasis was the first ladakhi to bear the blunt of Zorawar Singh’s attack who was later killed in the battle. On 16th aug. 1834, He Defeated Ladakhi force of about 5000 under the command of Dorje Namgayal, then probably the minister of Stog, and occupied Suru.
#ValiantDogras

Thereafter, He moved
towards Pashkyam. Gyalpo,king of Ladakh mobilized a large army & sent his minister NgorubStandzin &
Bankhapu to stop Dogras enroute. Zorawar captured Sud fort with the speed of storm & seized the fort before Ladakhi could arrive.
##ValiantDogras #VeerZorawar

After this defeat Ladakhi commander decided to negotiate peace settlement with Zorawar Singh on terms of paying Rs 15000 annually and sent this proposal to the King Gyalpo at Leh.
#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

The king and his minister were willing to agree to the terms but the
Queen Zi-ZI turned down the proposal. She ordered the minister Ngorubstandzing to "go and bring Wazir's head or to lose their own."

#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

In April, 1835 their number had
increased up to 22000 under Bankha,according to Ladakhi Chronicle La-DvagsRgyal-rabs. The #Dogra
attacked them, they were badly routed and a large number were taken prisoner including Morutadzi, the
kahlon chief of Bazgo and his son.

At this the Ladakhi retreated pursued by the Dogras. After some days he entered with 5000 Dogras and occupied the capital.
#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

First of all he restored the kingdom of Ladakh to the Gyalpo Tsepal as vassal state of the #DograKingdom of #Jammu in his mission of peace.
#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

The king promised to pay Rs. 15000 indemnity and an annual tribute of Rs. 20000. But during the spring of 1840 he was again called to ladakh to nip the revolt in bud, being engineered by the Gyalpo.
#VeerZorawar #ValiantDogras #DograWarrior

A Distinguished and gallant soldier “General Zorawar Singh”, Who had taken the Valour to its new heights.
#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

Invasion of #Baltistan: In November 1839 General Zorawar Singh assembled all the Ladakhi military men, including their leader Banka Kahlon and previous king Tsepal Namgyal and asked them to march with the #Dogra army for conquering #Baltistan.
#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior

In 1840, He invaded Baltistan. The Balti kingdom had eight districts. Ahmad Shah was the most powerful ruler who was controlling central district of Skardu. By then the Raja’s of Kartaksha, Tolti, Khaplu, Kurrus and many others had tendered their submission before the General.

After the victory of Thomakhon and occupation of Skardu,whole Baltistan had been practically conquered by him. Ahmad Shah,ruler of Skardu was demised and his eldest son Mohd. Shah was made king of Baltistan on the terms of an annual tribute of Rs 7K in the beginning of May 1840.

By summers of 1840, “General Zorawar Singh” had captured all the valleys, heights of #Baltistan and merged them into #Jammu #Dograkingdom.

Invasion of Tibet:
General Zorawar Singh’s next and the last military expedition was the invasion of western Tibetan region. By 5 June 1841 Zorawar had moved his army consisting of about 5K combatants into the outposts of western Tibet.
#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

The general moved into the Tibetan district Rudok and captured it on 5 June, 1841 and took the Garphon prisoner. He then captured Gartok, provincial headquarters of western Tibet.
#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

On Aug 1841, General defeated large force collected by Tibetan governor. Thus Tibetan territory up to Mayum pass was captured by #Dogras. On 6 Sept. 1841, Dogras captured #Taklakot & soon constructed a fort as a place called Cohi-t’ang.
#ValiantDogras #DograWarrior #VeerZorawar

Zorawar’s conquest of western Tibet was now complete. Finally in the mid-winter Tibetan forces descended from northern passes. Tibetan army surrounded Dogras from all sides in November.
#ValiantDogras #VeerZorawar #DograWarrior

Zorawar Singh realized the danger and started for Cohi-t’ang with the intention of joining with Basti Ram. The repeated defeats made the Dogra General realize his critical position.
#DograWarrior #ValiantDogras #VeerZorawar

Zorawar therefore moved to Kanrumimuna a place near To-Yo. The fighting continued for three days there. On 12 December, 1841 near To-Yo, Zorawar was struck by a ball in the right shoulder and fell from his horse.
#DograWarrior #VeerZorawar #ValiantDogras

But he was not a man who would give up easily. Seizing the sword in his left hand, he continued to fight and put to death many of his enemies. Around 200 of his men were killed and many were made prisoners.
#DograWarrior #ValiantDogras #VeerZorawar

Tibetans destroyed the chi’ tang fort and other Dogra military posts, by the middle of January, 1842 the Dogra occupation of Tibetan territory came to an end. Raja Gulab Singh sent a fresh force under Wazir Ratnu and Diwan Hari Chand.
#DograWarrior #VeerZorawar #ValiantDogras

They defeated the Tibetan army & captured a number of the officers including Tibetan’s General Ragasha. Zorawar Singh was victorious in his defeat also,Tibetans were so much impressed by the valour & bravery of Zorawar Singh and made his memorial “Shingh-ka-chortan” in To-Yo