Empire of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Maharaja Ranjit SinghRanjit Singh has been largely written out of accounts of India's past by British historians, yet he was one of the most powerful and charismatic figures in Indian history. He unified the warring chiefdoms of the Punjab into an extraordinary northern empire, built up a formidable army, kept the British in check to the south of his realm, and closed the Khyber Pass through which plunderers had poured into India for centuries. His consummate humanity was unique among empire-builders. He gave employment to defeated foes, honored faiths other than his own, and included Hindus and Muslims among his ministers. A colorful character, he was inspired by the principles of peaceful coexistence uniquely articulated by the Sikh Gurus, firm in upholding the rights of others, and unabashed in exercising his own. The authors of this first full-length biography in English make use of a variety of eyewitness accounts, from reports by Maratha spies at the Lahore Durbar to British parliamentary papers and travel accounts. The story ends with the controversial Anglo-Sikh Wars following Ranjit's death, which saw the fall of his empire in the hands of his successors whose internecine conflict was exploited by the British. Coinciding with the 300th anniversary of the consecration of the Sikh holy scriptures, this book honors a vital figure in Sikh history. |
Other editions - View all
Empire of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Patwant Singh,Jyoti M. Rai Limited preview - 2008 |
Empire of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Patwant Singh,Jyoti M. Rai No preview available - 2013 |
Common terms and phrases
Abdali Afghans Ahmed Shah Abdali Amritsar Anandpur Anglo-Sikh annexed attack Aurangzeb battle Bhangi Bikrama Jit Hasrat British Chand Kaur chiefs coins court Dalip Singh Delhi Dhian Singh Diwan Dogra East India emperor Fateh gold Golden Temple governor governor-general Gujranwala Gulab Singh guns Guru Gobind Singh Guru Granth Sahib Hardinge Hari Ram Gupta Hari Singh Nalwa Harmandir Hindu historian History Ibid India Indus jagirs Jammu jit Singh Joseph Davey Cunningham Kabul Kangra Kanhayia Kashmir Kaur's Khalsa Khan Kharak Singh Koh-i-noor Lahore Durbar Lal Singh Lord Ludhiana Mahan Singh Maharaja Ranjit Singh military minister misl Mughal Multan Muslim Nanak Nanakshahi Nau Nihal Singh Patiala Peshawar Punjab Raj Kaur Raja Rani Ranjit Singh's death religious revenue River ruler rupees Sabraon Sardars Shah Shuja shawls Sher Singh Sikh army Sikh empire Sikh faith Sikh forces Sikhism soldiers Sukerchakia Sutlej sword territories throne took troops victory W.G. Osborne Zaman Shah