Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the leader of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. His empire grew in the Punjab region under his leadership through 1839. Many reforms were introduced in the political, religious spheres along with modernization, investment into infrastructure and general prosperity during his reign. He was popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab, or “Lion of Punjab”. Recently, a statue of Ranjit Singh, who ruled Punjab for almost four decades (1801-39), was recently inaugurated in Lahore n the occasion of 180th death anniversary of the legendary Sikh ruler.
Legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh:
- Ranjit Singh was born on November 13, 1780 in Gujranwala, now in Pakistan.
- At that time, Punjab was ruled by powerful chieftains who had divided the territory into Misls.
- Ranjit Singh overthrew the warring Misls and established a unified Sikh empire after he conquered Lahore in 1799.
- He was given the title Lion of Punjab (Sher-e-Punjab) because he stemmed the tide of Afghan invaders in Lahore, which remained his capital until his death.
- His general Hari Singh Nalwa built the Fort of Jamrud at the mouth of the Khyber Pass, the route the foreign rulers took to invade India.
- At the time of his death, he was the only sovereign leader left in India, all others having come under the control of the East India Company in some way or the other.
Lead a powerful and modernized Army:
- Ranjit Singh’s combined the strong points of the traditional Khalsa army with western advances in warfare to raise Asia’s most powerful indigenous army of that time.
- His army was a match for the one raised by the East India Company.
- He appointed French General Jean Franquis Allard to modernise his army.
- He also employed a large number of European officers, especially French, to train his troops.
- During the Battle of Chillianwala, the second of the Anglo-Sikh wars that followed Ranjit Singh’s death, the British suffered the maximum casualties of officers in their entire history in India.
Extent of his reign:
- Ranjit Singh’s trans-regional empire spread over several states. His empire included the former Mughal provinces of Lahore and Multan besides part of Kabul and the entire Peshawar.
- The boundaries of his state went up to Ladakh — Zorawar Singh, a general from Jammu, had conquered Ladakh in Ranjit Singh’s name — in the northeast.
- His empire extended till Khyber pass in the northwest, and up to Panjnad in the south where the five rivers of Punjab fell into the Indus.
- During his regime, Punjab was a land of six rivers, the sixth being the Indus.
Contributions to Sikh community:
- The maharaja was known for his just and secular rule; both Hindus and Muslims were given powerful positions in his Darbar.
- The Sikhs take pride in him for he turned Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar into the Golden Temple by covering it with gold.
- Right at the doorstep of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is a plaque that details how in 1830 AD, the maharaja did service over 10 years.
- He is also credited with funding Hazoor Sahib gurudwara at the final resting place of Guru Gobind Singh in Nanded, Maharashtra.
Ranjit Singh made his empire and the Sikhs a strong political force, for which he is deeply admired and revered in Sikhism. Singh is remembered for uniting Sikhs and founding the prosperous Sikh Empire. He is also remembered for his conquests and building a well-trained, self-sufficient Khalsa army to protect the empire.
The Conquest of Punjab & Anglo-Sikh Wars:
- Period after the death of Maharaj Ranjit Singh (1839) saw great instability in Punjab.
- Ultimately, Power fell into the hands of the brave and patriotic but utterly undisciplined army called Khalsa, which interfered in the affairs of state.
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s son Dalip Singh was on the throne but state was ruled by his mother Rani Jindan with help of her favourite officers who on one hand intrigued with the British on one hand and incited the Khalsa on other.
- British had signed a treaty of perpetual friendship with Ranjit Singh in 1809 but they were looking for every opportunity to conquer Punjab.
- The Punjab army was provoked by the warlike actions of the British and their intrigues with the corrupt chiefs of the Punjab.
1st ANGLO-SIKH WAR (1845-46)
- In 1845, when news reached the Khalsa that Lord Gough, the Commander-in-Chief, and Lord Hardinge, the Governor-General, were marching towards Ferozepur, it decided to strike and war started.
- Though Punjab army fought with exemplary courage but it lost as the Prime Minister, Raja Lal Singh and the Commander-in-Chief, Misar Tej Singh conspired with the British.
- After defeat of battle of Sobraon, Punjab Army conceded defeat and had to sign the
humiliating Treaty of Lahore in March 1846.
- British annexed the Jalandhar Doab and Jammu and Kashmir was given to Raja Gulab Singh Dogra for a cash payment of five million rupees.
- Punjab Army was reduced in strength and a strong British force was stationed at Lahore.
- Later, in December 1846, another treaty was signed giving the British Resident at Lahore full authority over the state permitting them to station troops in any part of the state. Thus, the British Residential became the real ruler of the Punjab; it became a vassal state.
2nd ANGLO-SIKH WAR
- In 1848 there were numerous local revolts in Punjab. Two prominent revolts were led by Mulraj at Multan and Chattar Singh Attariwala near Lahore.
- The Punjab army fought bravely symbolized by famous Battle of Cillianwala but it was defeat after the final battle of Gujarat (a place in Punjab) in 1849.
- Lord Dalhousie, the new Governor-General annexed Punjab in 1849.
- Thus, it was the last independent state of India annexed to the British Empire of India.Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the leader of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. His empire grew in the Punjab region under his leadership through 1839. Many reforms were introduced in the political, religious spheres along with modernization, investment into infrastructure and general prosperity during his reign. He was popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab, or “Lion of Punjab”. Recently, a statue of Ranjit Singh, who ruled Punjab for almost four decades (1801-39), was recently inaugurated in Lahore n the occasion of 180th death anniversary of the legendary Sikh ruler.
Legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh:
- Ranjit Singh was born on November 13, 1780 in Gujranwala, now in Pakistan.
- At that time, Punjab was ruled by powerful chieftains who had divided the territory into Misls.
- Ranjit Singh overthrew the warring Misls and established a unified Sikh empire after he conquered Lahore in 1799.
- He was given the title Lion of Punjab (Sher-e-Punjab) because he stemmed the tide of Afghan invaders in Lahore, which remained his capital until his death.
- His general Hari Singh Nalwa built the Fort of Jamrud at the mouth of the Khyber Pass, the route the foreign rulers took to invade India.
- At the time of his death, he was the only sovereign leader left in India, all others having come under the control of the East India Company in some way or the other.
Lead a powerful and modernized Army:
- Ranjit Singh’s combined the strong points of the traditional Khalsa army with western advances in warfare to raise Asia’s most powerful indigenous army of that time.
- His army was a match for the one raised by the East India Company.
- He appointed French General Jean Franquis Allard to modernise his army.
- He also employed a large number of European officers, especially French, to train his troops.
- During the Battle of Chillianwala, the second of the Anglo-Sikh wars that followed Ranjit Singh’s death, the British suffered the maximum casualties of officers in their entire history in India.
Extent of his reign:
- Ranjit Singh’s trans-regional empire spread over several states. His empire included the former Mughal provinces of Lahore and Multan besides part of Kabul and the entire Peshawar.
- The boundaries of his state went up to Ladakh — Zorawar Singh, a general from Jammu, had conquered Ladakh in Ranjit Singh’s name — in the northeast.
- His empire extended till Khyber pass in the northwest, and up to Panjnad in the south where the five rivers of Punjab fell into the Indus.
- During his regime, Punjab was a land of six rivers, the sixth being the Indus.
Contributions to Sikh community:
- The maharaja was known for his just and secular rule; both Hindus and Muslims were given powerful positions in his Darbar.
- The Sikhs take pride in him for he turned Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar into the Golden Temple by covering it with gold.
- Right at the doorstep of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is a plaque that details how in 1830 AD, the maharaja did service over 10 years.
- He is also credited with funding Hazoor Sahib gurudwara at the final resting place of Guru Gobind Singh in Nanded, Maharashtra.
Ranjit Singh made his empire and the Sikhs a strong political force, for which he is deeply admired and revered in Sikhism. Singh is remembered for uniting Sikhs and founding the prosperous Sikh Empire. He is also remembered for his conquests and building a well-trained, self-sufficient Khalsa army to protect the empire.
The Conquest of Punjab & Anglo-Sikh Wars:
- Period after the death of Maharaj Ranjit Singh (1839) saw great instability in Punjab.
- Ultimately, Power fell into the hands of the brave and patriotic but utterly undisciplined army called Khalsa, which interfered in the affairs of state.
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s son Dalip Singh was on the throne but state was ruled by his mother Rani Jindan with help of her favourite officers who on one hand intrigued with the British on one hand and incited the Khalsa on other.
- British had signed a treaty of perpetual friendship with Ranjit Singh in 1809 but they were looking for every opportunity to conquer Punjab.
- The Punjab army was provoked by the warlike actions of the British and their intrigues with the corrupt chiefs of the Punjab.
1st ANGLO-SIKH WAR (1845-46)
- In 1845, when news reached the Khalsa that Lord Gough, the Commander-in-Chief, and Lord Hardinge, the Governor-General, were marching towards Ferozepur, it decided to strike and war started.
- Though Punjab army fought with exemplary courage but it lost as the Prime Minister, Raja Lal Singh and the Commander-in-Chief, Misar Tej Singh conspired with the British.
- After defeat of battle of Sobraon, Punjab Army conceded defeat and had to sign the
humiliating Treaty of Lahore in March 1846.
- British annexed the Jalandhar Doab and Jammu and Kashmir was given to Raja Gulab Singh Dogra for a cash payment of five million rupees.
- Punjab Army was reduced in strength and a strong British force was stationed at Lahore.
- Later, in December 1846, another treaty was signed giving the British Resident at Lahore full authority over the state permitting them to station troops in any part of the state. Thus, the British Residential became the real ruler of the Punjab; it became a vassal state.
2nd ANGLO-SIKH WAR
- In 1848 there were numerous local revolts in Punjab. Two prominent revolts were led by Mulraj at Multan and Chattar Singh Attariwala near Lahore.
- The Punjab army fought bravely symbolized by famous Battle of Cillianwala but it was defeat after the final battle of Gujarat (a place in Punjab) in 1849.
- Lord Dalhousie, the new Governor-General annexed Punjab in 1849.
- Thus, it was the last independent state of India annexed to the British Empire of India.Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the leader of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. His empire grew in the Punjab region under his leadership through 1839. Many reforms were introduced in the political, religious spheres along with modernization, investment into infrastructure and general prosperity during his reign. He was popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab, or “Lion of Punjab”. Recently, a statue of Ranjit Singh, who ruled Punjab for almost four decades (1801-39), was recently inaugurated in Lahore n the occasion of 180th death anniversary of the legendary Sikh ruler.
Legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh:
- Ranjit Singh was born on November 13, 1780 in Gujranwala, now in Pakistan.
- At that time, Punjab was ruled by powerful chieftains who had divided the territory into Misls.
- Ranjit Singh overthrew the warring Misls and established a unified Sikh empire after he conquered Lahore in 1799.
- He was given the title Lion of Punjab (Sher-e-Punjab) because he stemmed the tide of Afghan invaders in Lahore, which remained his capital until his death.
- His general Hari Singh Nalwa built the Fort of Jamrud at the mouth of the Khyber Pass, the route the foreign rulers took to invade India.
- At the time of his death, he was the only sovereign leader left in India, all others having come under the control of the East India Company in some way or the other.
Lead a powerful and modernized Army:
- Ranjit Singh’s combined the strong points of the traditional Khalsa army with western advances in warfare to raise Asia’s most powerful indigenous army of that time.
- His army was a match for the one raised by the East India Company.
- He appointed French General Jean Franquis Allard to modernise his army.
- He also employed a large number of European officers, especially French, to train his troops.
- During the Battle of Chillianwala, the second of the Anglo-Sikh wars that followed Ranjit Singh’s death, the British suffered the maximum casualties of officers in their entire history in India.
Extent of his reign:
- Ranjit Singh’s trans-regional empire spread over several states. His empire included the former Mughal provinces of Lahore and Multan besides part of Kabul and the entire Peshawar.
- The boundaries of his state went up to Ladakh — Zorawar Singh, a general from Jammu, had conquered Ladakh in Ranjit Singh’s name — in the northeast.
- His empire extended till Khyber pass in the northwest, and up to Panjnad in the south where the five rivers of Punjab fell into the Indus.
- During his regime, Punjab was a land of six rivers, the sixth being the Indus.
Contributions to Sikh community:
- The maharaja was known for his just and secular rule; both Hindus and Muslims were given powerful positions in his Darbar.
- The Sikhs take pride in him for he turned Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar into the Golden Temple by covering it with gold.
- Right at the doorstep of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is a plaque that details how in 1830 AD, the maharaja did service over 10 years.
- He is also credited with funding Hazoor Sahib gurudwara at the final resting place of Guru Gobind Singh in Nanded, Maharashtra.
Ranjit Singh made his empire and the Sikhs a strong political force, for which he is deeply admired and revered in Sikhism. Singh is remembered for uniting Sikhs and founding the prosperous Sikh Empire. He is also remembered for his conquests and building a well-trained, self-sufficient Khalsa army to protect the empire.
The Conquest of Punjab & Anglo-Sikh Wars:
- Period after the death of Maharaj Ranjit Singh (1839) saw great instability in Punjab.
- Ultimately, Power fell into the hands of the brave and patriotic but utterly undisciplined army called Khalsa, which interfered in the affairs of state.
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s son Dalip Singh was on the throne but state was ruled by his mother Rani Jindan with help of her favourite officers who on one hand intrigued with the British on one hand and incited the Khalsa on other.
- British had signed a treaty of perpetual friendship with Ranjit Singh in 1809 but they were looking for every opportunity to conquer Punjab.
- The Punjab army was provoked by the warlike actions of the British and their intrigues with the corrupt chiefs of the Punjab.
1st ANGLO-SIKH WAR (1845-46)
- In 1845, when news reached the Khalsa that Lord Gough, the Commander-in-Chief, and Lord Hardinge, the Governor-General, were marching towards Ferozepur, it decided to strike and war started.
- Though Punjab army fought with exemplary courage but it lost as the Prime Minister, Raja Lal Singh and the Commander-in-Chief, Misar Tej Singh conspired with the British.
- After defeat of battle of Sobraon, Punjab Army conceded defeat and had to sign the
humiliating Treaty of Lahore in March 1846.
- British annexed the Jalandhar Doab and Jammu and Kashmir was given to Raja Gulab Singh Dogra for a cash payment of five million rupees.
- Punjab Army was reduced in strength and a strong British force was stationed at Lahore.
- Later, in December 1846, another treaty was signed giving the British Resident at Lahore full authority over the state permitting them to station troops in any part of the state. Thus, the British Residential became the real ruler of the Punjab; it became a vassal state.
2nd ANGLO-SIKH WAR
- In 1848 there were numerous local revolts in Punjab. Two prominent revolts were led by Mulraj at Multan and Chattar Singh Attariwala near Lahore.
- The Punjab army fought bravely symbolized by famous Battle of Cillianwala but it was defeat after the final battle of Gujarat (a place in Punjab) in 1849.
- Lord Dalhousie, the new Governor-General annexed Punjab in 1849.
- Thus, it was the last independent state of India annexed to the British Empire of India.Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the leader of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. His empire grew in the Punjab region under his leadership through 1839. Many reforms were introduced in the political, religious spheres along with modernization, investment into infrastructure and general prosperity during his reign. He was popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab, or “Lion of Punjab”. Recently, a statue of Ranjit Singh, who ruled Punjab for almost four decades (1801-39), was recently inaugurated in Lahore n the occasion of 180th death anniversary of the legendary Sikh ruler.
Legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh:
- Ranjit Singh was born on November 13, 1780 in Gujranwala, now in Pakistan.
- At that time, Punjab was ruled by powerful chieftains who had divided the territory into Misls.
- Ranjit Singh overthrew the warring Misls and established a unified Sikh empire after he conquered Lahore in 1799.
- He was given the title Lion of Punjab (Sher-e-Punjab) because he stemmed the tide of Afghan invaders in Lahore, which remained his capital until his death.
- His general Hari Singh Nalwa built the Fort of Jamrud at the mouth of the Khyber Pass, the route the foreign rulers took to invade India.
- At the time of his death, he was the only sovereign leader left in India, all others having come under the control of the East India Company in some way or the other.
Lead a powerful and modernized Army:
- Ranjit Singh’s combined the strong points of the traditional Khalsa army with western advances in warfare to raise Asia’s most powerful indigenous army of that time.
- His army was a match for the one raised by the East India Company.
- He appointed French General Jean Franquis Allard to modernise his army.
- He also employed a large number of European officers, especially French, to train his troops.
- During the Battle of Chillianwala, the second of the Anglo-Sikh wars that followed Ranjit Singh’s death, the British suffered the maximum casualties of officers in their entire history in India.
Extent of his reign:
- Ranjit Singh’s trans-regional empire spread over several states. His empire included the former Mughal provinces of Lahore and Multan besides part of Kabul and the entire Peshawar.
- The boundaries of his state went up to Ladakh — Zorawar Singh, a general from Jammu, had conquered Ladakh in Ranjit Singh’s name — in the northeast.
- His empire extended till Khyber pass in the northwest, and up to Panjnad in the south where the five rivers of Punjab fell into the Indus.
- During his regime, Punjab was a land of six rivers, the sixth being the Indus.
Contributions to Sikh community:
- The maharaja was known for his just and secular rule; both Hindus and Muslims were given powerful positions in his Darbar.
- The Sikhs take pride in him for he turned Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar into the Golden Temple by covering it with gold.
- Right at the doorstep of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is a plaque that details how in 1830 AD, the maharaja did service over 10 years.
- He is also credited with funding Hazoor Sahib gurudwara at the final resting place of Guru Gobind Singh in Nanded, Maharashtra.
Ranjit Singh made his empire and the Sikhs a strong political force, for which he is deeply admired and revered in Sikhism. Singh is remembered for uniting Sikhs and founding the prosperous Sikh Empire. He is also remembered for his conquests and building a well-trained, self-sufficient Khalsa army to protect the empire.
The Conquest of Punjab & Anglo-Sikh Wars:
- Period after the death of Maharaj Ranjit Singh (1839) saw great instability in Punjab.
- Ultimately, Power fell into the hands of the brave and patriotic but utterly undisciplined army called Khalsa, which interfered in the affairs of state.
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s son Dalip Singh was on the throne but state was ruled by his mother Rani Jindan with help of her favourite officers who on one hand intrigued with the British on one hand and incited the Khalsa on other.
- British had signed a treaty of perpetual friendship with Ranjit Singh in 1809 but they were looking for every opportunity to conquer Punjab.
- The Punjab army was provoked by the warlike actions of the British and their intrigues with the corrupt chiefs of the Punjab.
1st ANGLO-SIKH WAR (1845-46)
- In 1845, when news reached the Khalsa that Lord Gough, the Commander-in-Chief, and Lord Hardinge, the Governor-General, were marching towards Ferozepur, it decided to strike and war started.
- Though Punjab army fought with exemplary courage but it lost as the Prime Minister, Raja Lal Singh and the Commander-in-Chief, Misar Tej Singh conspired with the British.
- After defeat of battle of Sobraon, Punjab Army conceded defeat and had to sign the
humiliating Treaty of Lahore in March 1846.
- British annexed the Jalandhar Doab and Jammu and Kashmir was given to Raja Gulab Singh Dogra for a cash payment of five million rupees.
- Punjab Army was reduced in strength and a strong British force was stationed at Lahore.
- Later, in December 1846, another treaty was signed giving the British Resident at Lahore full authority over the state permitting them to station troops in any part of the state. Thus, the British Residential became the real ruler of the Punjab; it became a vassal state.
2nd ANGLO-SIKH WAR
- In 1848 there were numerous local revolts in Punjab. Two prominent revolts were led by Mulraj at Multan and Chattar Singh Attariwala near Lahore.
- The Punjab army fought bravely symbolized by famous Battle of Cillianwala but it was defeat after the final battle of Gujarat (a place in Punjab) in 1849.
- Lord Dalhousie, the new Governor-General annexed Punjab in 1849.
- Thus, it was the last independent state of India annexed to the British Empire of India.
