Anglo Marri wars
Encyclopedia
The Anglo Marri wars were three major military conflicts between the Marri
Baluch
tribesmen in the independent eastern Baluch
tribal belt of what is now called North-Eastern region of Baluchistan
Pakistan
and the British Empire
in 19th and 20th century.
In these wars, the battle grounds mostly were in the hilly tribal areas of Kohistan-e-Marri
and adjacent localities. These areas now comes under the administration control of Kohlu
, Sibi
, Bolan
, Barkhan
, Nasirabad and Dera Bugti
districts of Baluchistan
province.
es had almost lost their national identity after the martyrdom of Mir Mehrab Khan
(Baloch ruler) and subsequent British suzerainty over Kalat State. In the same times, without the consultation and agreement from Baluch
es, a type of mutual understanding had been formalized between the Anglo Raj and kingdom of Iran
for the distribution of Balochistan
territories between them for the best of their greater and longer interest in the region. The peoples of Kalat State and Baluch tribesmen felt that the British
and Iran
ians are become master of their fate. According to Mir Khuda Bakhsh Marri, the invasions of Kalat State and the martyrdom of Mir Mehrab Khan
at the hands of the British Army
no doubt opened the doors of Balochistan
to active British interference in political as well as military affairs and finally introduced British suzerainty, but at the same time, it generated reactionary feelings of nationalism
among the Baluch
es.
with attacks made on the communications of Sir John Keane's army, after it had passed through the Bolan Pass
. In March 1840 CE
, Sir John Keane had decide that there is a dire need to capture the Kahan
and its fort from Marri
tribesmen.
, which he was trying to relieve at the time, was forced to capitulate with the honors of war.
and continuous reinforcing the Kahan Regiment in a form of fresh food and blood, they had got the taste of failure. On the other side, Marri
tribesmen had faced no such difficulties in their chain of supplies in the area. They were the native of the region and they were very well aware about the terrain of their hilly areas and they played as according to their planning.
After this war, in 1843 CE
, Marri
once again gone in uprising against the British forces and they gave much trouble. This time, the cause of clashes was the occupancy of Sindh
by the forces of British Empire
. Being a Baluch
tribe, Marri
feel worries about the fate of their neighboring state and their Baluch
ruler. Richard Isaac Bruce wites about the Marri
s:
In 1880 CE
, during the Second Afghan War Marri
tribesmen made frequent raids on the British line of communications, ending with the plunder of a treasure convoy. A force of 3070 British troops under Brigadier-General Macgregor
marched through the country, and the tribe submitted and paid r1/4 lakh (£ 12,500) out of a fine of 2 lakhs (£20,000); they also gave hostages for their future good behavior.
, the British Forces were facing a shortage of recruits for the war but Marri
reluctant to join their ranks. Subsequently, clashes broke out in the tribal areas which lasted for many months. Hundreds died from both side. At last Marri
tribe agreed to support the British Forces and paid money in this regard but they refused to send their youth in the war for the sake of British crown.
Marri
Marri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
Baluch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
tribesmen in the independent eastern Baluch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
tribal belt of what is now called North-Eastern region of Baluchistan
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
in 19th and 20th century.
In these wars, the battle grounds mostly were in the hilly tribal areas of Kohistan-e-Marri
Marri-Bugti Country
Marri-Bugti Country was a tribal region during the British occupation of Baluchistan. Marris and Bugtis are the strongest Baloch tribes in the Balochistan. The Marris occupied in the north, while the Bugtis occupied in the south...
and adjacent localities. These areas now comes under the administration control of Kohlu
Kohlu District
Kohlu is a district of the Balochistan province of Pakistan. It is bounded in the north by Loralai District, Dera Bugti in the south, in the east Rojhan-Mazari and Sibi District in the west...
, Sibi
Sibi District
Sibi is a district in theBalochistan province of Pakistan. The main mountains range are Zen, Bambore and Dungan. The climatic and topography of Sibi District is quite varied compared to other districts of Balochistan. It is also known as the "Hot spot" of Pakistan where the temperatures in the...
, Bolan
Bolan District
Bolan district Well known as Kachhi is in the centre of Balochistan province of Pakistan. The Bolan area remained under one district Kachhi until 31 December 1991...
, Barkhan
Barkhan District
Barkhan a district in the north-west of the Balochistan province of Pakistan. It was given the status of a district on 31 December 1991.-Population:...
, Nasirabad and Dera Bugti
Dera Bugti District
Dera Bugti is a district located in the south west of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Dera Bugti is named after its headquarter town 'Dera Bugti'. Dera means `abode' or `habitat', while `Bugti' is the name of the major Baloch tribe. Thus Dera Bugti means the abode of the Bugtis, the dominant...
districts of Baluchistan
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
province.
Scenario
In the 4th decade of 19th century; BaluchBaloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
es had almost lost their national identity after the martyrdom of Mir Mehrab Khan
Mir Mehrab Khan
Mir Mehrab Khan was the Khan of the princely state of Kalat in what is now the Balochistan province of Pakistan during the nineteenth century. He played a key role in the 1898 Baloch uprising.-References:...
(Baloch ruler) and subsequent British suzerainty over Kalat State. In the same times, without the consultation and agreement from Baluch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
es, a type of mutual understanding had been formalized between the Anglo Raj and kingdom of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
for the distribution of Balochistan
Balochistan (region)
Balochistan or Baluchistan is an arid, mountainous region in the Iranian plateau in Southwest Asia; it includes part of southeastern Iran, western Pakistan, and southwestern Afghanistan. The area is named after the numerous Baloch tribes, Iranian peoples who moved into the area from the west...
territories between them for the best of their greater and longer interest in the region. The peoples of Kalat State and Baluch tribesmen felt that the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ians are become master of their fate. According to Mir Khuda Bakhsh Marri, the invasions of Kalat State and the martyrdom of Mir Mehrab Khan
Mir Mehrab Khan
Mir Mehrab Khan was the Khan of the princely state of Kalat in what is now the Balochistan province of Pakistan during the nineteenth century. He played a key role in the 1898 Baloch uprising.-References:...
at the hands of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
no doubt opened the doors of Balochistan
Balochistan (region)
Balochistan or Baluchistan is an arid, mountainous region in the Iranian plateau in Southwest Asia; it includes part of southeastern Iran, western Pakistan, and southwestern Afghanistan. The area is named after the numerous Baloch tribes, Iranian peoples who moved into the area from the west...
to active British interference in political as well as military affairs and finally introduced British suzerainty, but at the same time, it generated reactionary feelings of nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
among the Baluch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
es.
Cause
The relations of Marri with the British commenced in 1840 CECommon Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
with attacks made on the communications of Sir John Keane's army, after it had passed through the Bolan Pass
Bolan Pass
The Bolan Pass is a mountain pass through the Toba Kakar Range of Balochistan province in western Pakistan, 120 kilometres from the Afghanistan border....
. In March 1840 CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
, Sir John Keane had decide that there is a dire need to capture the Kahan
Kahan
Kahan is located in Kohlu District of Balochistan, Pakistan. Kahan is famous for being the native village of Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, the Nawab of Kohlu Agency...
and its fort from Marri
Marri
Marri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
tribesmen.
Battles of Kahan
An attempt was made by British Forces to punish the tribe, which ended in disastrous failure. Major Claiborne was repulsed in an attempt to storm the Naffusak Pass, losing 179 killed and 92 wounded out of 650. Many of his force died of heat and thirst. The fort of KahanKahan
Kahan is located in Kohlu District of Balochistan, Pakistan. Kahan is famous for being the native village of Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, the Nawab of Kohlu Agency...
, which he was trying to relieve at the time, was forced to capitulate with the honors of war.
Aftermath
The First Anglo Marri war proved to be a disastrous campaign for the Anglo forces. Although they held remain occupant in the fort of Kahan through whole of time but in efforts to establish a proper safe passage to KahanKahan
Kahan is located in Kohlu District of Balochistan, Pakistan. Kahan is famous for being the native village of Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, the Nawab of Kohlu Agency...
and continuous reinforcing the Kahan Regiment in a form of fresh food and blood, they had got the taste of failure. On the other side, Marri
Marri
Marri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
tribesmen had faced no such difficulties in their chain of supplies in the area. They were the native of the region and they were very well aware about the terrain of their hilly areas and they played as according to their planning.
After this war, in 1843 CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
, Marri
Marri
Marri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
once again gone in uprising against the British forces and they gave much trouble. This time, the cause of clashes was the occupancy of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
by the forces of British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. Being a Baluch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
tribe, Marri
Marri
Marri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
feel worries about the fate of their neighboring state and their Baluch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
ruler. Richard Isaac Bruce wites about the Marri
Marri
Marri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
s:
The MarriMarriMarri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
s were considered absolutely incorrigible, and were proclaimed out lawed and blockaded on all sides. A proclamation was issued on the Sind Frontier offering a reward of ten rupeeRupeeThe rupee is the common name for the monetary unit of account in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, and formerly in Burma, and Afghanistan. Historically, the first currency called "rupee" was introduced in the 16th century...
s for the capture of any MarriMarriMarri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
.
Second Anglo Marri war - 1880
In 1880 CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
, during the Second Afghan War Marri
Marri
Marri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
tribesmen made frequent raids on the British line of communications, ending with the plunder of a treasure convoy. A force of 3070 British troops under Brigadier-General Macgregor
MacGregor
-People:* Alasdair Alpin MacGregor , writer and photographer* Andrew MacGregor, WWI flying ace* Chummy MacGregor , jazz pianist and songwriter* Clark MacGregor , U.S. politician...
marched through the country, and the tribe submitted and paid r1/4 lakh (£ 12,500) out of a fine of 2 lakhs (£20,000); they also gave hostages for their future good behavior.
Third Anglo Marri war - 1917
During the World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the British Forces were facing a shortage of recruits for the war but Marri
Marri
Marri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
reluctant to join their ranks. Subsequently, clashes broke out in the tribal areas which lasted for many months. Hundreds died from both side. At last Marri
Marri
Marri ) is one of the largest ethnic Baloch tribes in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Marri was considered to be a clan of the Rind tribe in the early history of Baloch and Balochistan...
tribe agreed to support the British Forces and paid money in this regard but they refused to send their youth in the war for the sake of British crown.