Maharaja Ranjit Singh (November 13, 1780 - June 27, 1839) popularly known as Asher-e-Punjab was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. He fought his first battle at the age of 10. After his father died, he fought several wars to expel the Afghans in his teenage years and was proclaimed as the Maharaja of Punjab at age 21. His empire grew in the Punjab region under his leadership through 1839. Maharaja Ranjit Singh believed in secularism, his court was ecumenical in composition: his prime minister was Dhian Singh (Dogra), foreign minister Fakir Azizuddin (Muslim), and finance minister Dina Nath (Brahmin). Artillery commanders were Muslim as Mian Ghausa.
Prior to his rise, the Punjab region had numerous warring Misls, 12 of which were under Sikh rulers and one Muslim (Kasur). Ranjit Singh successfully absorbed and united the Sikh Misls and took over other kingdoms to create the Sikh Empire. He repeatedly defeated invasions by outside armies, particularly those arriving from Afghanistan, and established friendly relations with the British (1806 treaty). He took Amritsar in 1802, Kasur in 1807, Multan in 1818, and Kashmir in 1819.
Ranjit Singh’s reign introduced reforms, modernization, investment into infrastructure, and general prosperity. He improved the equipment and methods of war. The military system combined the best of both old and new ideas. He strengthened the infantry and artillery. He paid the standing army from the treasury. Ranjit Singh ensured that Punjab manufactured and was self-sufficient in all weapons, equipment, and munitions his army needed. He established raw material mines, cannon foundries, gunpowder, and arms factories. His Khalsa army and government included Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, and Europeans (Polish, Russian, Spanish, Prussian, and French officers). He didn’t ask his ministers, army officers, and wives (Hindu, Muslim) to change their religions. Ranjit Singh was a secular king and followed the Sikh path. His policies were based on respect for all communities, Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim. He built many Sikh temples, Hindu temples, and Masjids. He prohibited cow slaughter and ordered his soldiers to neither loot nor molest civilians.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh passed away at Lahore on June 27, 1839. The following were the successors of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. They ruled over the Sikh Kingdom for a period of ten years from 1839 to 1849.
Maharaja Kharak Singh. June 27, 1839 - October 8, 1839.
Maharaja Naunihal Singh. October 8, 1939 - November 6, 1840.
Maharaja Sher Singh. November 9, 1840 - December 2, 1840.
Maharani Chand Kaur. December 2, 1840 - January 18, 1941.
Maharaja Sher Singh. January 18, 1841 - September 15, 1843.
Maharaja Duleep Singh. September 15, 1843 - March 29, 1849.
Maharaja Duleep Singh exiled on December 21, 1849, and died October 22, 1893.
Sikh Misls Raj was well-established in 1765. Sikh Misls Sardar and Maharaja Ranjit Singh did not allow any invaders to enter India from the northwest side (by Darakhabar path) from 1765-1839. All the European invaders (French, Spanish, English, and Dutch, etc.) came through the sea in east and south India. Sikh Sardar of Misls and village militia gave a tough time to the invaders from the northwest side from 1735-1765.
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