Bakhtiyar Khalji's Tibet campaign

Bakhtiyar Khalji's Tibet campaign

Bakhtiyar Khalji led his army through harsh terrain into the cultivated valley of mainland Kamrup and Tibet, where he met fierce resistance and a guerrilla uprising
Date1206
Location
Result Tibetan victory
Belligerents
Khaljis of Bengal
Deshi Muslims
Tibetan tribes
Commanders and leaders
  • Tibetan tribal leaders
Strength
c. 10,000 Unknown
Casualties and losses
Several thousand; cavalry reduced to a few hundred Unknown but less than Bakhtiyar

Bakhtiyar Khalji, the general of Qutubuddin Aibak, launched a campaign to invade Tibet in the 13th century.

Tibet was a source for horses, the most prized possession of any army, and Khalji was keen to control the lucrative trade between Tibet and India. Khajli's army commenced plundering the country around the Tibet region of the Chumbi Valley. The people of that area and the parts adjacent advanced to repel the invaders. From daybreak to the time of evening prayer, a fierce battle ensued, and a great number of Khalji's army were killed or wounded.