Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the leader of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. He survived smallpox in infancy but lost sight in his left eye. He fought his first battle alongside his father at age 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.
Background
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was born on the 2nd of November 1780, the son of Sirdar Mahan Singh, whom he succeeded in 1792 as head of the Sukar- chakia branch of the Sikh confederacy. He was succeeded by his son Kharak Singh.
He is remembered for being an able and just ruler with a magnificent personality. His empire was secular where all religions were respected and no one was discriminated against because of their religious beliefs. He also played a major role in the golden beautification of the Harmandir Sahib.
Career
Ranjit Singh became the misldar of the Sukerchakia Misl at the age of 18. Upon assuming power he started campaigns to expand his territory.
He began his conquests by annexing the other misls and captured Lahore from the Bhangi Misl in 1799 and later made it his capital. He then captured the rest of the Punjab.
He founded the Sikh Empire, based around Punjab in 1799. It was a major power in the Indian subcontinent and at its peak, the Empire encompassed regions from the Khyber Pass in the west to western Tibet in the east, and from Mithankot in the south to Kashmir in the north.
Achievements
Maharaja Ranjit Singh founded the Sikh Empire. Ranjit Singh's reign introduced reforms, modernisation, investment into infrastructure, and general prosperity.
Connections
Ranjit Singh was married multiple times and had Sikh, Hindu, as well as Muslim wives. Some of his wives were Mehtab Kaur, Rani Raj Kaur, Rani Rattan Kaur, Rani Chand Kaur, and Rani Raj Banso Devi.
He also had several children including sons Kharak Singh, Ishar Singh, Sher Singh, Pashaura Singh and Duleep Singh. However he acknowledged only Kharak Singh and Duleep Singh as his biological sons.
