Popular history
Ranjit Singh: Maharaja of the Punjab
A readable biography of the founder of the Sikh Empire.
Sikh Empire
Empire
Level 2
★ Major power
1799 – 1849
Empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, annexed after the Anglo-Sikh wars.
- Capital
- Lahore
- Region
- North
- Duration
- 50 years
- Main period
- Sikh Empire
Changing extent
Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh Maharaja1801 – 1839Sher-e-Punjab; Khalsa army.
- Kharak Singh Maharaja1839 – 1840
- Sher Singh Maharaja1841 – 1843
- Duleep Singh Maharaja1843 – 1849Last Maharaja; Koh-i-Noor surrendered.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1799 | Ranjit Singh takes Lahore | Lahore |
| 1809 | Treaty of Amritsar fixes the Sutlej frontier Ranjit Singh agreed not to expand south of the Sutlej. |
Amritsar |
| 1839 | Death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh | Lahore |
| 1845 | First Anglo-Sikh War The Sikhs ceded the Jullundur Doab and paid an indemnity. |
Ferozeshah |
Personalities
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Sikh Empire for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 50 years
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Overlap: 27 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 50 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 50 years
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Overlap: 16 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 50 years
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
Overlap: 50 years
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Overlap: 50 years
Maratha Empire ★
Deccan · 1674 – 1818
Overlap: 19 years
Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Overlap: 50 years
Kingdom of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1816 – 2008
Overlap: 33 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 50 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 50 years
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Overlap: 50 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 50 years
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Overlap: 50 years
Dutch East India Company (VOC) in India
Coastal · 1605 – 1825
Overlap: 26 years
Dutch Coromandel (Pulicat)
Coastal · 1610 – 1825
Overlap: 26 years
Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)
Himalaya · 1616 – 1907
Overlap: 50 years
Danish India
Coastal · 1620 – 1869
Overlap: 50 years
Danish Tranquebar
Coastal · 1620 – 1845
Overlap: 46 years
Fort St George, Madras
Coastal · 1639 – 1858
Overlap: 50 years
Dutch Chinsurah
Coastal · 1656 – 1825
Overlap: 26 years
French India
Coastal · 1668 – 1954
Overlap: 50 years
Bombay (English East India Company)
Coastal · 1668 – 1858
Overlap: 50 years
Chandernagore
Coastal · 1673 – 1950
Overlap: 50 years
Pondichéry
Coastal · 1674 – 1954
Overlap: 50 years
Carnatic (Nawabs of Arcot)
South · 1692 – 1855
Overlap: 50 years
Gaekwad State (Baroda)
West · 1721 – 1949
Overlap: 50 years
Mahé
Coastal · 1721 – 1954
Overlap: 50 years
Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur
North · 1722 – 1947
Overlap: 50 years
Awadh (Nawabs of Oudh)
Gangetic Plain · 1722 – 1856
Overlap: 50 years
Travancore
South · 1729 – 1949
Overlap: 50 years
Holkar State (Indore)
Central · 1731 – 1948
Overlap: 50 years
Scindia State (Gwalior)
Central · 1731 – 1948
Overlap: 50 years
Yanam
Coastal · 1731 – 1954
Overlap: 50 years
Bhonsles of Nagpur
Central · 1739 – 1853
Overlap: 50 years
Karaikal
Coastal · 1739 – 1954
Overlap: 50 years
Durrani Empire
Northwest · 1747 – 1823
Overlap: 24 years
Danish Serampore
Coastal · 1755 – 1845
Overlap: 46 years