Why this matters now
Anglo-Sikh Wars are tested for: Maharaja Sikhism + Gurus’s Khalsa Empire (1799-1839); Treaty of Amritsar 25 April 1809 with British (Sutlej as border); succession chaos after Ranjit’s death (Kharak Singh, Nau Nihal Singh, Sher Singh, Duleep Singh, Jind Kaur regent); 1st war battles Mudki, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, Sobraon; Treaty of Lahore 9 March 1846 + Treaty of Bhairowal 16 December 1846 (Council of Regency); Diwan Mulraj of Multan revolt April 1848 triggered 2nd war; Battles of Chillianwala 13 Jan 1849 + Gujrat 21 Feb 1849; Lord Dalhousie’s Treaty of Annexation 29 March 1849; Maharaja Duleep Singh exiled to England (later converted; raised in Surrey); Kohinoor diamond taken to Queen Victoria 1849.
Background (1799-1845)
- 1799: Ranjit Singh captured Lahore from Afghans; became Maharaja of Punjab 1801.
- Built modern army (Fauj-i-Khas) with French + Italian officers (Allard, Court, Ventura, Avitabile).
- 1809 Treaty of Amritsar: Ranjit + British agreed Sutlej as boundary; cis-Sutlej Sikh chiefs (Patiala, Nabha, Jind) under British protection. Mutual non-aggression.
- Ranjit died 27 June 1839 aged 58. Succession chaos:
- Kharak Singh (eldest son) — reign Nov 1839 - poisoned Nov 1840.
- Nau Nihal Singh (grandson) — killed in suspicious accident 5 Nov 1840.
- Sher Singh (another son) — assassinated 15 Sept 1843.
- Duleep Singh (5-year-old son with Maharani Jind Kaur as regent) — from Sept 1843.
- Khalsa army (~80,000 strong + 200+ cannon) became kingmaker; politically uncontrolled.
- British troop buildup in Ludhiana, Ambala alarmed Punjabis. Khalsa decided pre-emptive attack on British across Sutlej.
First War (1845-46)
11 Dec 1845: Khalsa crossed Sutlej into British territory. Triggered war.
| Date | Battle |
|---|---|
| 18 Dec 1845 | BATTLE OF MUDKI — British (Hugh Gough + Hardinge) defeated. Tikka Singh + Bhagwan Singh killed. |
| 21-22 Dec 1845 | BATTLE OF FEROZESHAH — bloody two-day battle. British victory by margin. |
| 28 Jan 1846 | BATTLE OF ALIWAL — Sir Harry Smith defeated Sikh army under Ranjur Singh Majithia. |
| 10 Feb 1846 | BATTLE OF SOBRAON — decisive Sikh defeat (~10,000 killed). Khalsa army retreated across Sutlej. End of war. |
Treaty of Lahore (9 March 1846):
- Punjab paid Rs 1.5 crore war indemnity (had only Rs 50 lakh; ceded Kashmir + Hazara to British for balance Rs 1 crore).
- British in turn sold Kashmir to Gulab Singh Dogra of Jammu for Rs 75 lakh (Treaty of Amritsar 16 March 1846) — created Jammu & Kashmir state.
- Khalsa army reduced to 20,000 + 12,000 cavalry.
- Cis-Sutlej territory ceded to British.
- Maharaja Duleep Singh confirmed as Maharaja; Maharani Jind Kaur as Regent.
Treaty of Bhairowal 16 Dec 1846: Council of Regency under British Resident Henry Lawrence; British army stationed at Lahore at Punjab’s expense Rs 22 lakh/yr.
Second War (1848-49)
Cause: Jind Kaur removed from regency 1847 (sent to Sheikhupura then exiled to Banaras); Diwan Mulraj Governor of Multan rebelled April 1848 (Vans Agnew + Anderson killed). Spread to other Sikh sirdars; widespread revolt.
| Date | Battle |
|---|---|
| 22 Nov 1848 | Battle of Ramnagar — inconclusive. |
| 13 Jan 1849 | BATTLE OF CHILLIANWALA — bloody; British under Hugh Gough lost ~2,800 (heaviest British loss of the wars). Inconclusive. |
| 22 Jan 1849 | Multan fell — Diwan Mulraj surrendered. |
| 21 Feb 1849 | BATTLE OF GUJRAT — decisive British victory by Hugh Gough + Charles Napier. Sikh army surrendered at Rawalpindi 14 March 1849. |
| 29 March 1849 | LORD DALHOUSIE’S PROCLAMATION — PUNJAB ANNEXED. Maharaja Duleep Singh signed deed of resignation. |
Aftermath
- Maharaja Duleep Singh aged 11 deposed; granted pension Rs 5 lakh/yr. Sent to England 1854; converted to Christianity 1853; raised in Suffolk (Elveden Estate). Died Paris 1893; buried Elveden.
- Maharani Jind Kaur imprisoned at Chunar fort 1849; escaped to Nepal disguised as a slave girl. Reunited Duleep Singh 1861 in England; died London 1863.
- Kohinoor diamond (from Lahore Treasury) presented to Queen Victoria 3 July 1850; in British Crown Jewels.
- Punjab governance: 3-member Board of Administration (Henry Lawrence + John Lawrence + Charles Mansel); reformed land revenue + irrigation + roads. John Lawrence became Chief Commissioner 1853, then Viceroy 1864-69.
- Sikh-British relations: Sikhs became loyal soldiers; backbone of British Indian Army (1 of 4 Sikhs in army by 1900). Crucial in suppressing 1857 Revolt (Punjab remained loyal).
- Punjab annexation completed British conquest of mainland India — last major independent kingdom fell.
UPSC angle
Know ANGLO-SIKH WARS 2 WARS 1845-49 vs KHALSA SIKH EMPIRE PUNJAB; BACKGROUND: Ranjit Singh captured Lahore 1799 from Afghans Maharaja Punjab 1801; FAUJ-I-KHAS modern army French+Italian officers Allard+Court+Ventura+Avitabile; TREATY OF AMRITSAR 25 APRIL 1809 with British SUTLEJ AS BOUNDARY cis-Sutlej Sikh chiefs Patiala+Nabha+Jind under British protection mutual non-aggression; RANJIT SINGH DIED 27 JUNE 1839 aged 58; succession chaos Kharak Singh (poisoned Nov 1840), Nau Nihal Singh (killed accident 5 Nov 1840), Sher Singh (assassinated 15 Sept 1843), DULEEP SINGH 5-yr-old (Sept 1843+) Maharani JIND KAUR regent; Khalsa army 80000 + 200 cannon kingmaker; British troop buildup Ludhiana+Ambala; Khalsa crossed Sutlej 11 DEC 1845 triggered war; FIRST WAR: BATTLE OF MUDKI 18 Dec 1845 (Hugh Gough+Hardinge), BATTLE OF FEROZESHAH 21-22 Dec 1845 bloody, BATTLE OF ALIWAL 28 Jan 1846 (Sir Harry Smith defeated Ranjur Singh Majithia), BATTLE OF SOBRAON 10 FEB 1846 decisive (~10000 Sikh killed); TREATY OF LAHORE 9 MARCH 1846: Punjab Rs 1.5 crore war indemnity (Rs 50 lakh + ceded KASHMIR+HAZARA worth Rs 1 crore); British sold KASHMIR to GULAB SINGH DOGRA Jammu Rs 75 lakh TREATY OF AMRITSAR 16 March 1846 = created J&K state; Khalsa army reduced 20000+12000 cavalry; cis-Sutlej ceded; Maharaja Duleep Singh confirmed Jind Kaur Regent; TREATY OF BHAIROWAL 16 DEC 1846: Council of Regency British Resident HENRY LAWRENCE + British army Lahore Rs 22 lakh/yr; SECOND WAR caused: Jind Kaur removed regency 1847 (sent Sheikhupura then Banaras), DIWAN MULRAJ Governor Multan rebelled April 1848 (Vans Agnew+Anderson killed); Battle of Ramnagar 22 Nov 1848 inconclusive; BATTLE OF CHILLIANWALA 13 JAN 1849 bloody British under Hugh Gough lost ~2800 heaviest British casualty; Multan fell 22 Jan 1849 Mulraj surrendered; BATTLE OF GUJRAT 21 FEB 1849 decisive Hugh Gough+Charles Napier (Sikh surrender Rawalpindi 14 March 1849); LORD DALHOUSIE PROCLAMATION 29 MARCH 1849 PUNJAB ANNEXED; AFTERMATH: Maharaja Duleep Singh deposed 11 yrs pension Rs 5 lakh/yr, sent England 1854 converted Christianity 1853 raised Suffolk Elveden Estate died Paris 1893; Maharani Jind Kaur Chunar fort 1849 escaped Nepal disguised slave reunited Duleep Singh 1861 England died London 1863; KOHINOOR DIAMOND Lahore Treasury → Queen Victoria 3 July 1850 British Crown Jewels; PUNJAB 3-member Board of Administration HENRY LAWRENCE+JOHN LAWRENCE+CHARLES MANSEL, John Lawrence Chief Commissioner 1853 then VICEROY 1864-69; SIKHS became LOYAL SOLDIERS backbone British Indian Army, Punjab REMAINED LOYAL 1857 Revolt; Punjab annexation = LAST MAJOR INDEPENDENT KINGDOM mainland India fell.
Frequently asked questions
How many Anglo-Sikh Wars were fought?
Two — 1st (1845-46), 2nd (1848-49). Both against the Khalsa-led Sikh Empire of Punjab after Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death.
What was the Treaty of Lahore 1846?
Signed 9 March 1846 ending the 1st war. Punjab paid Rs 1.5 crore war indemnity — ceded Kashmir + Hazara to British (which Britain then sold to Gulab Singh Dogra of Jammu for Rs 75 lakh, creating J&K).
When was Punjab annexed by the British?
29 March 1849 by Lord Dalhousie’s Proclamation after the 2nd war ended at Gujrat (21 Feb 1849). Maharaja Duleep Singh deposed; Punjab became British province.
What happened to Maharaja Duleep Singh?
Deposed at age 11 in 1849; granted Rs 5 lakh/yr pension. Sent to England in 1854; converted to Christianity; raised at Elveden Estate, Suffolk. Died in Paris 1893.