Lifespans
Each bar runs from a person's birth to their death, so you can see who was alive together. Point at a bar, or tap a name, to read that person's role.
- Sikh Empire, 1799–1849
- Turning point
- Birth year approximate (c.)
- Birth year not known
- Life runs past the axis
Swipe the chart sideways to move through the years. The names stay in place.
Misl-era leaders5 people
Ranjit Singh's family and successors8 people
Generals and statesmen of the Khalsa Darbar13 people
European officers of the Fauj-i-Khas4 people
Court factions and those who played the wrong role7 people
British5 people
Read every role note as a table
| Name | Years | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Misl-era leaders | ||
| Banda Singh Bahadur | 1670–1716 | Led the first Sikh rule in Punjab (1710); executed in Delhi. |
| Nawab Kapur Singh | 1697–1753 | Organised the Buddha Dal and Taruna Dal; leader of the Dal Khalsa before Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. |
| Jassa Singh Ahluwalia | 1718–1783 | Supreme leader of the Dal Khalsa from 1748. |
| Jassa Singh Ramgarhia | 1723–1803 | Founder of the Ramgarhia misl. |
| Baba Sahib Singh Bedi | 1756–1834 | Descendant of Guru Nanak's family; applied the tilak at Ranjit Singh's investiture in 1801. |
| Ranjit Singh's family and successors | ||
| Maharaja Ranjit Singh | 1780–1839 | Founder of the Sikh Empire (Sarkar-i-Khalsa). Born 13 Nov 1780; died 27 June 1839. |
| Sada Kaur | c. 1762–1832 | Head of the Kanhaiya misl, Ranjit Singh's mother-in-law and key early ally. |
| Maharaja Kharak Singh | 1801–1840 | Eldest son and successor; died 5 Nov 1840. |
| Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh | 1821–1840 | Kharak Singh's son; fatally injured by a falling archway on the day of his father's cremation. |
| Maharani Chand Kaur | 1802–1842 | Kharak Singh's widow; claimed the regency; murdered June 1842. |
| Maharaja Sher Singh | 1807–1843 | Maharaja 1841–43; assassinated 15 Sept 1843. |
| Maharani Jind Kaur (Jindan) | 1817–1863 | Mother and regent of Duleep Singh; exiled by the British; escaped to Nepal in 1849. |
| Maharaja Duleep Singh | 1838–1893 | Last Maharaja; proclaimed at age five in 1843, deposed 1849. |
| Generals and statesmen of the Khalsa Darbar | ||
| Akali Phula Singh | 1761–1823 | Jathedar of the Akal Takht and leader of the Akalis; killed at Naushera. |
| Diwan Mohkam Chand | b. ? – 1814 | Leading general of the early conquests; victor of Haidru (1813). |
| Misr Diwan Chand | b. ? – 1825 | Conqueror of Multan (1818) and Kashmir (1819). |
| Fateh Singh Ahluwalia | 1784–1836 | Ruler of Kapurthala; early ally who exchanged turbans with Ranjit Singh. |
| Fakir Azizuddin | 1780–1845 | Foreign minister and trusted adviser. |
| Hari Singh Nalwa | 1791–1837 | Commander on the north-west frontier; governor of Kashmir and Peshawar; killed at Jamrud. |
| Sham Singh Attariwala | c. 1790–1846 | Veteran general; died fighting at Sobraon. |
| Diwan Dina Nath | 1795–1857 | Finance minister. |
| Zorawar Singh | 1786–1841 | Gulab Singh's general; conquered Ladakh and Baltistan; killed in Tibet. |
| Baba Bir Singh of Naurangabad | 1768–1844 | Revered saint-soldier; killed when Hira Singh's troops attacked his dera. |
| Bhai Maharaj Singh | b. ? – 1856 | Led resistance to the British in 1848–49; arrested Dec 1849; died in exile in Singapore. |
| Diwan Mulraj | 1814–1851 | Governor of Multan whose revolt began the second war. |
| Sher Singh Attariwala | b. ? – 1858 | Commander of the 1848–49 rising; fought at Chillianwala and Gujrat. |
| European officers of the Fauj-i-Khas | ||
| Jean-François Allard | 1785–1839 | French cavalry officer; joined 1822. |
| Jean-Baptiste Ventura | 1794–1858 | Italian infantry officer; joined 1822. |
| Paolo Avitabile | 1791–1850 | Italian officer; governor of Peshawar. |
| Claude Auguste Court | 1793–1880 | French artillery officer. |
| Court factions and those who played the wrong role | ||
| Dhian Singh Dogra | 1796–1843 | Wazir from 1828; kingmaker after 1839; assassinated 15 Sept 1843. |
| Gulab Singh Dogra | 1792–1857 | Raja of Jammu from 1822; stayed out of the first war, negotiated with the British and bought Kashmir in March 1846. |
| Suchet Singh Dogra | 1801–1844 | Youngest Dogra brother; killed March 1844. |
| Hira Singh Dogra | c. 1816–1844 | Dhian Singh's son; wazir 1843–44; killed by the army Dec 1844. |
| Jawahar Singh | 1814–1845 | Jindan's brother; wazir in 1845; executed by the army panchayats. |
| Lal Singh | b. ? – 1866 | Wazir during the first war; corresponded with British officers. |
| Tej Singh | 1799–1862 | Commander-in-chief in the first war; withdrew at Ferozeshah and fled Sobraon. |
| British | ||
| Charles Metcalfe | 1785–1846 | Negotiated the 1809 Treaty of Amritsar. |
| Hugh Gough | 1779–1869 | British commander-in-chief in both Anglo-Sikh wars. |
| Henry Hardinge | 1785–1856 | Governor-General during the first war. |
| Henry Lawrence | 1806–1857 | Resident at Lahore from 1846. |
| Lord Dalhousie | 1812–1860 | Governor-General who annexed Punjab in 1849. |
Event chronology
Events are grouped into phases. Filter by category, search the text, or select a phase heading to fold it away.
Showing 68 of 68 events
- 1699
Creation of the Khalsa
Guru Gobind Singh creates the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib.
Faith & institutions - 1710
Banda Singh Bahadur takes Sirhind
First Sikh rule is established in Punjab.
Conquest & war - 1716
Banda Singh Bahadur executed
He and his companions are executed in Delhi; decades of persecution follow.
Conquest & war - 1748
Dal Khalsa organised
The Sikh jathas unite at Amritsar under Jassa Singh Ahluwalia; the misls take shape. Decisions are taken by Gurmata at the Sarbat Khalsa.
Faith & institutions - 1762
Wadda Ghallughara
Ahmad Shah Abdali's army kills many thousands of Sikhs near Kup-Rahira.
Conquest & war - 1764–65
Sirhind and Lahore taken
The misls take Sirhind, then Lahore, and strike coin in the Gurus' name.
Conquest & war - 13 Nov 1780
Ranjit Singh born
Born into the Sukerchakia misl, son of Maha Singh.
Court & succession - c. 1790
Maha Singh dies
Ranjit Singh inherits the Sukerchakia misl as a boy. Some sources give 1792.
Court & successiondisputed - 1796
Alliance with Sada Kaur
Marriage to Mehtab Kaur brings the support of her mother, Sada Kaur of the Kanhaiya misl.
Court & succession - 1797–98
Shah Zaman's last invasions
The Afghan king's final attempts on Punjab fail.
Conquest & war
- 7 July 1799
Lahore taken
Ranjit Singh takes Lahore from the Bhangi sardars.
Conquest & war - 12 April 1801
Proclaimed Maharaja
Invested on Baisakhi; Baba Sahib Singh Bedi applies the tilak. Coins are struck in the Gurus' name and the state is called Sarkar-i-Khalsa.
Court & succession - 1802
Amritsar taken
He exchanges turbans with Fateh Singh Ahluwalia and takes Amritsar from the Bhangis. Some sources date this to 1805.
Conquest & wardisputed - 1805
Last Gurmata
The Maratha chief Holkar flees into Punjab with the British in pursuit; the last Gurmata is held at Amritsar. Collective decision-making is not used again.
Faith & institutions - Jan 1806
First treaty with the British
A treaty of friendship; Holkar leaves Punjab.
Treaty & diplomacy - 1806–08
Malwa expeditions
Three expeditions across the Sutlej alarm the chiefs of Patiala, Nabha, Jind and Kaithal, who ask the British for protection.
Conquest & war - 1807
Kasur taken
The Pathan stronghold of Kasur is annexed.
Conquest & war - Feb 1809
British advance to Ludhiana
Ochterlony marches to Ludhiana and declares the cis-Sutlej states under British protection.
British policy - 25 April 1809
Treaty of Amritsar
Negotiated by Charles Metcalfe. The British disclaim any concern north of the Sutlej; Ranjit Singh agrees not to encroach on the chiefs south of it. The Sikhs are divided into two political blocs.
Treaty & diplomacy
- 1809
Kangra fort taken
Taken after the Gurkhas are driven off.
Conquest & war - 1813
Attock and Haidru
Attock is taken and Diwan Mohkam Chand defeats the Afghans at Haidru.
Conquest & war - 1813
Koh-i-Noor obtained
The diamond is obtained from Shah Shuja.
Court & succession - 1818
Multan conquered
Misr Diwan Chand takes Multan.
Conquest & war - 1819
Kashmir conquered
Won after the battle of Shopian.
Conquest & war - 1822
Fauj-i-Khas
Ventura and Allard join and begin drilling the army on European lines.
Conquest & war - 1822
Gulab Singh made Raja of Jammu
The Dogra brothers' rise at court begins.
Court & succession - 14 March 1823
Battle of Naushera
Victory over the Afghans and tribesmen; Akali Phula Singh is killed.
Conquest & war - 1828
Dhian Singh becomes wazir
He is given the title Raja and becomes chief minister.
Court & succession - 1831
Balakot
Sayyid Ahmad Barelvi's jihad against the Sikh state ends with his death at Balakot.
Conquest & war - Oct 1831
Ropar meeting
Ranjit Singh meets Governor-General Bentinck at Ropar.
Treaty & diplomacy - 1834
Peshawar annexed
Hari Singh Nalwa brings Peshawar under direct rule.
Conquest & war - 1834
Ladakh conquered
Zorawar Singh conquers Ladakh for Gulab Singh.
Conquest & war - 1836
Blocked in Sindh
The British stop Ranjit Singh's move toward Shikarpur.
British policy - 30 April 1837
Battle of Jamrud
The Afghans are repulsed but Hari Singh Nalwa is killed.
Conquest & war - June 1838
Tripartite Treaty
Agreement with the British and Shah Shuja over Afghanistan.
Treaty & diplomacy - 6 Sept 1838
Duleep Singh born
The youngest son, born to Maharani Jind Kaur.
Court & succession - 27 June 1839
Maharaja Ranjit Singh dies
He dies at Lahore; Kharak Singh succeeds.
Court & succession
- Oct 1839
Chet Singh Bajwa murdered
Kharak Singh's adviser is killed in the Maharaja's presence by Dhian Singh's party; Nau Nihal Singh takes effective control.
Betrayal & intrigue - 5 Nov 1840
Kharak Singh and Nau Nihal Singh
Kharak Singh dies. Nau Nihal Singh is fatally injured by a falling archway on the day of the cremation. Whether this was accident or murder is disputed.
Court & successiondisputed - Jan 1841
Sher Singh takes Lahore
He besieges the fort, displaces Chand Kaur and becomes Maharaja.
Court & succession - Dec 1841
Zorawar Singh killed in Tibet
His campaign into western Tibet ends in defeat.
Conquest & war - June 1842
Chand Kaur murdered
She is killed by her own attendants.
Betrayal & intrigue - 1843
British annex Sindh
The Company now surrounds Punjab on the south as well as the east.
British policy - 15 Sept 1843
Three assassinations
The Sandhanwalia sardars kill Maharaja Sher Singh, his son Partap Singh and Dhian Singh. Hira Singh avenges his father; five-year-old Duleep Singh is proclaimed Maharaja.
Betrayal & intrigue - March 1844
Suchet Singh killed
He is killed challenging his nephew Hira Singh.
Betrayal & intrigue - May 1844
Attack on Baba Bir Singh's dera
Hira Singh's troops attack the dera at Naurangabad; Baba Bir Singh, Kanwar Kashmira Singh and Attar Singh Sandhanwalia are killed.
Betrayal & intrigue - Dec 1844
Hira Singh and Pandit Jalla killed
The army turns on the wazir and his adviser.
Court & succession - 21 Sept 1845
Jawahar Singh executed
The army panchayats execute the wazir. Lal Singh becomes wazir and Tej Singh commander-in-chief.
Court & succession
- 1838–45
British build-up on the Sutlej
British troops on the frontier are greatly increased and bridging boats are collected at Ferozepur.
British policy - 11 Dec 1845
Army crosses the Sutlej
The Khalsa army crosses; Hardinge declares war on 13 December.
Conquest & war - 18 Dec 1845
Battle of Mudki
A hard-fought first engagement.
Conquest & war - 21–22 Dec 1845
Battle of Ferozeshah
The British come close to defeat; Tej Singh arrives with a fresh army and withdraws.
Betrayal & intrigue - 28 Jan 1846
Battle of Aliwal
British victory under Harry Smith.
Conquest & war - 10 Feb 1846
Battle of Sobraon
Tej Singh flees and the bridge of boats is wrecked behind the army. Sham Singh Attariwala dies fighting.
Betrayal & intrigue - 9 March 1846
Treaty of Lahore
The Jalandhar Doab is ceded, an indemnity of 1.5 crore is imposed and the army is cut down.
Treaty & diplomacy - 16 March 1846
Kashmir sold to Gulab Singh
By a second Treaty of Amritsar the British transfer Kashmir to Gulab Singh for 75 lakh.
Treaty & diplomacy - 16 Dec 1846
Treaty of Bhyrowal
A British Resident, Henry Lawrence, governs through a Council of Regency during Duleep Singh's minority.
British policy
- Aug 1847
Maharani Jindan removed
She is separated from Duleep Singh and exiled from Punjab in 1848.
British policy - April 1848
Revolt at Multan
Two British officers are killed and Diwan Mulraj's revolt begins.
Conquest & war - Sept 1848
National rising
Sher Singh Attariwala joins the revolt; Bhai Maharaj Singh rallies support.
Conquest & war - 22 Nov 1848
Battle of Ramnagar
An indecisive opening action.
Conquest & war - 13 Jan 1849
Battle of Chillianwala
The British suffer very heavy losses.
Conquest & war - 21 Feb 1849
Battle of Gujrat
The decisive British victory.
Conquest & war - 14 March 1849
Surrender at Rawalpindi
The Khalsa army lays down its arms.
Conquest & war - 29 March 1849
Punjab annexed
Dalhousie annexes Punjab; Duleep Singh is deposed and the Koh-i-Noor is surrendered.
British policy - Dec 1849
Bhai Maharaj Singh arrested
He is deported to Singapore, where he dies in 1856.
British policy - 1850
Koh-i-Noor presented to Queen Victoria
The diamond leaves Punjab for England.
British policy
- 1857
The uprising of 1857
Called the Sepoy Mutiny by the British and the "First War of Independence" by later nationalists. Punjab stays largely quiet and the cis-Sutlej Sikh states side with the British. Dr. Ganda Singh argued it was not a planned national war and that the charge of Sikh betrayal is unfounded.
British policy
Who played the wrong role
- Dhian Singh Dogra
- Kingmaker after 1839; behind the murder of Chet Singh Bajwa.
- Gulab Singh Dogra
- Built his own power in Jammu, stayed out of the first war, and bought Kashmir from the British.
- Lal Singh
- Wazir who corresponded with British officers during the first war.
- Tej Singh
- Commander-in-chief who withdrew at Ferozeshah and fled Sobraon.
- The Sandhanwalia sardars
- Assassinated Maharaja Sher Singh, his son and Dhian Singh on one day in 1843.
- Hira Singh and Pandit Jalla
- Their troops attacked Baba Bir Singh's dera in 1844.
The betrayal was by individuals, not communities. Fakir Azizuddin, Diwan Mohkam Chand and Misr Diwan Chand served the state loyally.
Sources
Compiled from the standard accounts of the period, chiefly Dr. Ganda Singh's work on the Anglo-Sikh wars, Dr. Sangat Singh's The Sikhs in History and Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha's Mahan Kosh. Items tagged ‘disputed’ are dated or interpreted differently by different historians. This page is a study aid and has not been checked page by page against these works.