Raja Dhian Singh (22 August 1796 – 15 September 1843) was the longest serving wazir of the Sikh Empire , during the reign of Maharajah Ranjit Singh , and four of his successors. He held the office for twenty five years, from 1818 till his assassination. Dhian Singh was a brother of Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu , who later founded the Dogra dynasty when he became Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir under the British Raj . Another brother Suchet Singh also served the empire. The three brothers were collectively known as the "Dogra brothers" in the Sikh Empire , based on their ethnicity .
57-421: Anglo-Sikh War may refer to: Panchayati Revolution , 1842–1845 First Anglo-Sikh war , 1845–1846 Second Anglo-Sikh war , 1848–1849 Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Anglo-Sikh War . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to
114-635: A distinct European character, with channels dug out along the boundary of the fort, watchtowers on the two gateways, four bastions on four nooks and high walls around the fort. Ajit Singh of Ladwa won this battle due to this fort. The battle of Mudki was fought on 18 December 1845. An army under Tej Singh crossed the Sutlej and advanced against the British outpost at Ferozepur, although they did not attempt to attack or surround it. Another force under Lal Singh clashed with Gough's and Hardinge's advancing army at
171-465: A perpetual state of mutiny or rebellion against the central Durbar (court) . Maharajah Sher Singh was unable to meet the pay demands of the army, although he reportedly lavished funds on a degenerate court. In September 1843 he was murdered by his cousin, an officer of the army, Ajit Singh Sindhanwalia. The Dogras took their revenge on those responsible, and Jind Kaur , Ranjit Singh's youngest widow, became regent for her infant son Duleep Singh . After
228-504: A portion of the British cantonment. Sir Harry Smith (afterwards Governor of Cape Colony), who was sent to relieve Ludhiana, marched eastwards from Ferozepur, keeping a few miles away from the Sutlej. On learning of the Sikh strength, and receiving further orders from Gough, Smith instead force-marched his troops via Jagraon , collecting a British regiment there, to reach Ludhiana ahead of the Sikh main body. On 21 January, as he left Baddowal,
285-536: A routed enemy and conducting guerilla warfare. The artillery was large though unstandardised, increasing from 40 guns in 1808 to 381 by 1845, with an additional 388 swivel guns . Some of the artillery units had been organised and trained by European mercenaries . The British unwisely underestimated the Khalsa's artillery prior to the outbreak of war. There also existed the Jargirdar Fauj. This compoment of
342-730: A time, went over to the enemy (the British Raj) with all his troops and artillery", reads the Dispatch of the Governor General, sent to London on November 17, 1846. On September 22, 1847, through a ‘sanad’, the British awarded his house at Haridwar to the Raja of Patiala. Ajit Singh was taken into custody and sent as a prisoner to the Allahabad fort. He contrived to escape, after killing his keeper, and after long wanderings in hills,
399-574: A tiny proportion of the troops present; the native Indian troops (sepoys) who formed the vast majority. 74 battalions of Sepoys in the Bengal Army alone existed at the commencement of hostilities in addition to 8 light and lancer cavalry regiments and 18 Irregular cavalry regiments. The Sepoys were often used as garrisons and baggage train guards to leave the fighting to the European soldiers predominantly. In most infantry and cavalry brigades, there
456-673: Is supposed to have died in Kashmir. His children, who held in joint tenure eight villages along with Bhadour sardars, were dispatched by the British to these villages. Maharaja Duleep Singh remained ruler of the Punjab and at first his mother, Maharani Jindan Kaur, remained as Regent. However, the Durbar later requested that the British presence remain until the Maharaja attained the age of 16. The British consented to this and on 16 December 1846,
513-467: The Afghans . He hired American and European mercenary soldiers to train his army, and also incorporated contingents of Hindus and Muslims into his forces. Maharaja Ranjit Singh died in 1839. After his death, his kingdom began to fall into disorder. Ranjit's unpopular legitimate son, Kharak Singh , was removed from power within a few months, and later died in prison under mysterious circumstances. It
570-683: The Beas River and Sutlej River . The Lahore Durbar was also required to pay an indemnity of 15 million rupees. Because it could not readily raise this sum, it ceded Kashmir , Hazarah and all the forts, territories, rights and interests in the hill countries situated between the Rivers Beas and Indus to the East India Company, as equivalent to ten million of rupees. In a later separate arrangement (the Treaty of Amritsar ),
627-537: The British East India Company in 1845 and 1846 around the Ferozepur district of Punjab . It resulted in the defeat and partial subjugation of the Sikh empire and cession of Jammu & Kashmir as a separate princely state under British suzerainty . The Sikh kingdom of Punjab was expanded and consolidated by Maharajah Ranjit Singh during the early years of the nineteenth century, about
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#1732772058333684-724: The First Anglo-Sikh War broke out on 11 December 1845. Dhian's elder brother Maharajah Gulab Singh Dogra , was the prime minister of the Sikh empire from 31 January – 9 March 1846, during the First Anglo-Sikh War, and then became the first emperor of Jammu and Kashmir on 16 March 1846, by the Treaty of Amritsar . This followed the 9 March Treaty of Lahore and ultimately led up to the British East India Company gaining sovereignty over
741-569: The Treaty of Bhyroval provided for the Maharani to be awarded a pension of 150,000 rupees and be replaced by a British resident in Lahore supported by a Council of Regency, with agents in other cities and regions. This effectively gave the East India Company control of the government. Sikh historians have always maintained that, in order to retain their hold on power and maintain the figurehead rule of Duleep Singh, Lal Singh and Tej Singh embarked on
798-457: The vizier Hira Singh was killed, while attempting to flee the capital with loot from the royal treasury (toshkana), by troops under Sham Singh Attariwala , Jind Kaur's brother Jawahar Singh became vizier in December 1844. In 1845 he arranged the assassination of Pashaura Singh , who presented a threat to Duleep Singh. For this, he was called to account by the army. Despite attempts to bribe
855-467: The Battle of Mudki late on 18 December. The British won an untidy encounter battle, suffering heavy casualties. The battle of Ferozeshah was fought on 21 December 1845. After the battle of Mudki, Gough's army came in sight of the large Sikh entrenchment at Ferozeshah on 19 December. Gough wished to attack at once, but Hardinge used his position as Governor General to overrule him and order him to wait for
912-448: The British any respect in the Punjab and increased suspicions of British motives. The actions and attitudes of the British, under Governor General Lord Ellenborough and his successor, Sir Henry Hardinge , are disputed. By most British accounts, their main concern was that the Sikh army, without strong leadership to restrain them, was a serious threat to British territories along the border. Sikh and Indian historians have countered that
969-534: The British. The British controlled the valley after defeating them and the fort. Akali Hanuman Singh along with 500 troops were heading for Ghuram when they were attacked near Sohana by the British. The British defeated this force and Hanuman Singh was killed in action at age 90. In the Treaty of Lahore on 9 March 1846, the Sikhs were made to surrender the valuable region (the Jullundur Doab ) between
1026-637: The Hindu Dogras . Sher Singh was crowned Maharaja of the Sikh Empire in January 1841, with Dhian Singh Dogra as his prime minister. The army expanded rapidly in the aftermath of Ranjit Singh's death, from 29,000 (with 192 guns) in 1839 to over 80,000 in 1845 as landlords and their retainers took up arms. It proclaimed itself to be the embodiment of the Sikh nation. Its regimental panchayats (committees) formed an alternative power source within
1083-570: The Khalsa Army was the feudal army provided by the nobility of the state. It numbered 55,000. Gulab Singh's army in particular contained between 12,000 and 17,000 infantry and cavalry as well as 94 guns. Additionally, there were the Nihangs ; 1,000 religious warriors who fought primarily as mounted infantry. Although the leaders and principal units of the army were Sikhs, there were also Punjabi , Pakhtun and Kashmiri infantry units. In total
1140-517: The Khalsa army could count on approximately 153,000 regular and irregular soldiers. It was however led by Lal Singh who, with Tej Singh, betrayed the Sikhs during the course of the war. The two generals were regularly supplying information and even receiving instructions from British officers. An alternative estimate of the troops is given by Singh who states it contained in 1845 on the eve of war 53,576 regular infantry 6,235 regular cavalry, 16,292 irregular cavalry and 10,698 gunners this not including
1197-549: The Khas and this force had grown from 35,000 in 1838 to 70,000 by 1845 with seven divisions being created in 1844/1845 from the existing troops. The Sikh cavalry, though no longer the preferred branch, remained a well-disciplined force with 6,235 cavalrymen in 1845 with 2 regiments of lancers , 2 of cuirassiers , and 6 dragoon regiments. There was also 22,000 Fauj-i-sowar which consisted of irregular cavalry deemed unsuitable for fighting an organised enemy but well-suited for chasing
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#17327720583331254-482: The Punjab painted red. He turned to his courtiers and remarked: ‘Ek roz sab lal ho jaiga— one day it will all be red.' It was said that his prophecy was going to be fulfilled. Ranjit Singh maintained a policy of wary friendship with the British, ceding some territory south of the Sutlej River , while at the same time building up his military forces both to deter aggression by the British and to wage war against
1311-414: The Raja of Jammu, Gulab Singh , purchased Kashmir from the East India Company for a payment of 7.5 million rupees and was granted the title Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. The estate of Ladwa, belonging to Ajit Singh who had fought against the British at Buddowal and Aliwal, was confiscated in 1846. "The Raja of Ladwa, with an estate of 10,000 pounds a year, almost openly avowed his treason, and, after
1368-665: The Sikh Army. The army under Ranjit Singh had expanded from around 35,000 troops in the 1820s to over 100,000 by 1845. In 1822 Ranjit Singh decided to base his army on the French model and this process was complete by the time of his death in 1839. The first brigade of the army was the Fauj-i-Khas (Royal Army), which contained 3,176 infantry, 1,667 cavalry and 34 guns. The brigades of the Fauj-i-ain were modelled on that of
1425-423: The Sikh army in its entrenchments at Sobraon as soon as Smith's division rejoined from Ludhiana, but Hardinge forced him to wait until a heavy artillery train had arrived. At last, he moved forward early on 10 February. The start of the battle was delayed by heavy fog, but as it lifted, 35 British heavy guns and howitzers opened fire. The Sikh cannon replied. The bombardment went on for two hours without much effect on
1482-459: The Sikh defences. Gough was told that his heavy guns were running short of ammunition and is alleged to have replied, "Thank God! Then I'll be at them with the bayonet." Two British divisions under Harry Smith and Major General Sir Walter Gilbert made feint attacks on the Sikh left, while another division under Major General Robert Henry Dick made the main attack on the Sikh right, where the defences were of soft sand and were lower and weaker than
1539-505: The Sikh empire to the British East India Company . Dhian then installed the emperor's son Nau Nihal Singh , aged eighteen, to the throne. Thirteen months later, emperor Nau Nihal, died suddenly on 5 November 1840, on the day of his father's funeral. After leaving the funeral pyre, Nau Nihal was knocked unconscious when a stone gate at Lahore Fort collapsed upon him. Udham Singh, son of Dhian's brother Gulab Singh
1596-578: The Sikh irregular cavalry (the Gorchurras ) continually attacked his rearguards. They captured most of Smith's baggage animals (mules, bullocks and elephants), and cut down any straggling troops. Nevertheless, Smith succeeded in reaching Ludhiana, with his troops exhausted. A brigade of troops from Delhi , including two Gurkha battalions, reinforced him. The battle of Aliwal was fought on 28 January 1846. After resting his troops, Smith once again advanced to Baddowal. The Sikhs had withdrawn to Aliwal on
1653-638: The Sutlej, awaiting reinforcements. On 28 January, Smith advanced against them, cautiously at first. Finding a weak point in the Sikh position, he won a model victory which eliminated the Sikh bridgehead and captured almost all Ranjur Singh's artillery and his army's baggage and equipment. The battle of Sobraon was fought on 10 February 1846. The Sikhs had been temporarily dismayed by their defeats and by their commanders' inaction, but rallied when fresh units and leaders, including Sham Singh Attariwala, joined them, and Maharani Jind Kaur exhorted 500 selected officers to make renewed efforts. Gough had intended to attack
1710-552: The army he was butchered in September 1845 in the presence of Jind Kaur and Duleep Singh. Jind Kaur publicly vowed revenge against her brother's murderers. She remained regent. Lal Singh became vizier, and Tej Singh became commander of the army. Sikh historians have stressed that both these men were prominent in the Dogra faction. Originally Hindus from outside of Punjab, both had converted to Sikhism in 1818. Immediately after
1767-438: The assassins. On 17 September 1843, Hira Singh Dogra, aged 24, succeeded his father as the prime minister, with five year old infant Duleep Singh being crowned emperor. Dhian's younger brother Suchet Singh Dogra was killed on 27 March 1844, while leading a failed coup against Dhian's son Hira Singh Dogra. Hira himself was assassinated following another coup d'etat led by Sham Singh Atariwala on 21 December 1844. A year later
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1824-468: The bank of the river and continued to fire into the crowds in the water. By the time the firing ceased, the Sikhs had lost between 8,000 and 10,000 men. The British had also captured 67 guns. This siege was fought from mid-April to 28 May 1846. It was a six-week long siege of the Kangra fortress . Lawrence reached the fort on 3 May 1846. This was the only battle fought between the Sikh forces of Kangra and
1881-811: The battlefield by Lal Singh. By nightfall, some of Gough's army had fought their way into the Sikh positions, but other units had been driven back in disorder. Hardinge expected a defeat on the following day and ordered the state papers at Mudki to be burned in this event. However, on the following morning, the British and Bengal Army units rallied and drove the Sikhs from the rest of their fortifications. Lal Singh had made no effort to rally or reorganise his army. At this point, Tej Singh's army appeared. Once again, Gough's exhausted army faced defeat and disaster, but Tej Singh inexplicably withdrew, claiming that British cavalry and artillery which were withdrawing to replenish ammunition were actually making an outflanking move. Operations temporarily halted, mainly because Gough's army
1938-417: The battlefield early. It is alleged in many Sikh accounts that he deliberately weakened the pontoon bridge, casting loose the boat at its centre, or that he ordered his own artillery on the west bank to fire on the bridge on the pretext of preventing British pursuit. British accounts claim that the bridge simply broke under the weight of the numbers of soldiers trying to retreat across it, having been weakened by
1995-414: The build-up to the First Anglo-Sikh War . Following the coronation of Kharak Singh on 1 September 1839, Dhian launched a palace coup on 8 October 1839, and assassinated Chet Singh Bajwa, the favourite courtier of the emperor. He imprisoned emperor Kharak, who later died of slow poisoning by lead and mercury. Dhian had spread rumor that the hedonistic emperor intended to sell out the sovereignty of
2052-537: The death of Ranjit Singh, the British East India Company had begun increasing its military strength, particularly in the regions adjacent to the Punjab, establishing a military cantonment at Ferozepur , only a few miles from the Sutlej River which marked the frontier between British-ruled India and the Punjab. In 1843, they conquered and annexed Sindh , to the south of the Punjab, in a move which many British people regarded as cynical and ignoble. This did not gain
2109-455: The division from Ferozepur to arrive. When they appeared late on 21 December, Gough attacked in the few hours of daylight left. The well-served Sikh artillery caused heavy casualties among the British, and their infantry fought desperately. On the other hand, the elite of the Sikh army, the irregular cavalry or ghodachadas (alt. gorracharra, horse-mounted), were comparatively ineffective against Gough's infantry and cavalry as they had been kept from
2166-402: The entrenchments, enraging the British soldiers. The British, Gurkhas and Bengal regiments renewed their attacks along the entire front of the entrenchment, and broke through at several points. On the vulnerable Sikh right, engineers blew a breach in the fortifications and British cavalry and horse artillery pushed through it to engage the Sikhs in the centre of their position. Tej Singh had left
2223-473: The intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anglo-Sikh_War&oldid=1214669868 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages First Anglo-Sikh war The first Anglo-Sikh war was fought between the Sikh Empire and
2280-403: The kingdom, declaring that Guru Gobind Singh 's ideal of the Sikh commonwealth had been revived, with the Sikhs as a whole assuming all executive, military and civil authority in the state, which British observers decried as a "dangerous military democracy". British representatives and visitors in the Punjab described the regiments as preserving "puritanical" order internally, but also as being in
2337-407: The military preparations made by these Governor-Generals were offensive in nature; for example, they prepared bridging trains (prefabricated bridges) and siege gun batteries, which would be unlikely to be required in a purely defensive operation. Nevertheless, the unconcealed and seemingly aggressive British military build-up at the borders had the effect of increasing tension within the Punjab and
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2394-506: The open treachery of the two Sikh generals. After mutual demands and accusations between the Sikh Durbar and the East India Company, diplomatic relations were broken. An East India Company army began marching towards Ferozepur , where a division was already stationed. In response to the British move, the Sikh army began crossing the Sutlej on 11 December 1845. The Sikhs claimed they were only moving into Sikh possessions (specifically
2451-481: The rest of the line. (It is believed that Lal Singh had supplied this information to Major Henry Lawrence , the Political Agent at Gough's headquarters.) Nevertheless, Dick's division was driven back by Sikh counter-attacks after initially gaining footholds within the Sikh lines. Dick himself was killed. As the British fell back, some frenzied Sikh soldiers attacked British wounded left in the ditch in front of
2508-635: The rise of the company and the fall of the Mughal empire. Although the Sikh Army was weakened by the war, resentment at British interference in the government led to the Second Anglo-Sikh War within three years. Dhian Singh In the turbulent four years following the Ranjit Singh's death on 27 June 1839, Dhian remained at the helm, grappling with a power struggle in which three successive emperors and one empress died suddenly, in
2565-471: The same time as the British-controlled territories were advanced by conquest or annexation to the borders of the Punjab. When shown the map of India, Maharaja Ranjit Singh said, "What does the red colour stand for?" The cartographer replied "Your Majesty, red marks the extent of British possessions." The Maharaja scanned the map with his single eye and saw nearly the whole of Hindustan except
2622-485: The swollen river. Whichever account is correct, the bridge broke, trapping nearly 20,000 of the Sikh Khalsa Army on the east bank. None of the trapped Sikh soldiers attempted to surrender. Many detachments, including one led by Sham Singh Attariwala, fought to the death. Some Sikhs rushed forward to attack the British regiments sword in hand; others tried to ford or swim the river. British horse artillery lined
2679-548: The tens of thousands of Jargirdari Fauj. The British army in India at the time generally consisted of three types: the regular units of the British Army (sometimes referred to in India as "Queen's" troops), who were used as the shock formations of the military in India, which in combination with disease resulted in them being almost permanently understrength; the European troops raised by the East India Company, who represented
2736-421: The throne as emperor. Later, Dhian had the deposed Chand Kaur's servants changed, who then assassinated Chand in her palace by smashing her head with wooden pikes on 11 June 1842. Dhian Singh and emperor Sher Singh were both assassinated on 15 September 1843, in a plot led by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia . Dhian was shot and his body cut into pieces. Dhian's son Hira Singh led a counter-coup the next day, and killed
2793-465: The village of Moran, whose ownership was disputed) on the east side of the river, but the move was regarded by the British as clearly hostile and they declared war. After Raja Gurdit Singh's death, his son Ajit Singh succeeded him. Ajit Singh upgraded his fort at Ladwa to face the danger of the British. During the First Sikh war in 1845, he fought on the side of the Sikh army against the British. He
2850-665: The war fewer than 25,000 soldiers were actively fighting. The army was commanded by Sir Hugh Gough , the Commander in Chief of the Bengal Army, who was accompanied by Sir Henry Hardinge , the British Governor General of Bengal, who placed himself beneath Gough in the military chain of command . Gough was an aggressive commander who was unwilling to await for reinforcements. This almost led to disaster despite
2907-413: The war with the deliberate intent of breaking their own army. In particular, Lal Singh was corresponding with a British political officer and betraying state and military secrets throughout the war. Lal Singh's and Tej Singh's desertion of their armies and refusal to attack when opportunity offered seem inexplicable otherwise. The Sikh empire was until then one of the few remaining states in India after
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#17327720583332964-477: Was defeated. The Sikh defenders of Wudnee surrendered on 30 December after the Sikh defeat at Ferozeshah prevented the Sikh army reinforcing them. This battle was the last fought by the Raja of Ladwa (alt. spelt as "Ladva"), Ajit Singh. The fort was designed by Dewan Mohkam Chand, with the assistance of Ranjit Singh's French and Italian generals. It was constructed as a response to the British, who built Lodhi fort in nearby Ludhiana . The fort's architecture has
3021-425: Was exhausted and required rest and reinforcements. The battle of Budhowal was fought on 21 January 1846. Ranjodh Singh Majithia was the son of Desa Singh Majithia, one of the most able ministers under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He commanded a large army, (10,000 infantry and some regular cavalry with sixty guns) and crossed the Sutlej in force and was joined by Ajit Singh of Ladwa. They marched towards Ludhiana and burned
3078-415: Was injured, noted that five artillery men carried the emperor into the fort under the orders of Dhian. Two of these men died mysteriously, two asked for leave and never returned, and one inexplicably disappeared. On 13 January 1841, Sher Singh led a coup against Chand Kaur, and after two days of siege and battle, Dhian negotiated a ceasefire, which led to Chand Kaur's abdication , and Sher succeeding to
3135-419: Was killed in the same incident. Dhian had the teenage emperor carried indoors, and barred any visitors, including the emperor's mother Chand Kaur . Eyewitness accounts had initially reported the emperor had minor injuries from the accident, however later the emperor was pronounced dead when Dhian presented the corpse with its head smashed. American colonel Alexander Gardner , who was with Nau Nihal when he
3192-403: Was usually one British unit to every three or four Bengal units. The artillery of the Bengal Army contained 3 brigades and 5 battalions. Most of the artillery which took part in the war consisted of light guns from the elite Bengal Horse Artillery . Despite an overwhelming superiority in overall numbers the British struggled to assemble an army above 40,000 for the campaign and even at the end of
3249-531: Was widely believed that he was poisoned. He was replaced by his able but estranged son Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh , who also died within a few months in suspicious circumstances, after being injured by a falling archway at the Lahore Fort while returning from his father's cremation. At the time, two major factions within the Punjab were contending for power and influence; the Sikh Sindhanwalias and
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