First Anglo-Sikh War

The Sikh state in Punjab grew at the beginning of the 19th century under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh , but at the same time the expansion of the British colonial empire was approaching the borders of Punjab. Ranjit Singh tried to maintain good relations with the British, but at the same time he was preparing his army to repel the possible aggression of both Britain and Afghanistan , then under the rule of the Emir Dost-Muhammad . He hired American and European specialists in his artillery, and also included in the army contingents of Hindus and Muslims.

Punjab Events

Ranjit Singh died in 1839. Almost immediately in his principality began strife. His legal heir, Harak Singh, was unpopular, and he was overthrown in a few months. He later died under mysterious circumstances; when the prince returned from the cremation of his father, an arch fell on him in Fort Lahore .

Two factions fought for power in the Sikh state: the Sikh Sindhanvali and the Hindu Dogra . Dogra succeeded in bringing to power in January 1841 the eldest son of Rajit Singh, Sher Singh . Sindhanwali was saved on British territory, leaving many supporters in the Punjab army.

After the death of Ranjit Singh, the army was sharply increased, from 29 thousand people and 192 cannons in 1839 to 80 thousand people in 1845, thanks to the arming of feudal lords. Now the army itself claimed the role of Khalsa - the Sikh community. The regimental panchayats (committees) became an alternative authority, executive, military and civil, claiming to achieve the ideal of Guru Gobind Singh . British observers described this system as a "dangerous military democracy." The British, who were visiting Punjab at that time, noted that the Sikh regiments maintained a “Puritan” order in the country, but at the same time were in constant opposition to Durbar (the central court). In one of the notable cases, Sikh soldiers rebelled, and began killing everyone who they thought spoke Persian (the language used by the clerks who were responsible for Halsa’s finances).

Maharaja Sher Singh was not able to pay Halsa’s demands, although he continued to spend money on his yard. In September 1843, he was killed by his cousin, an officer of Halsa, Ajit Singh Sindhanvali . Dzind Kaur , the youngest widow of Ranjit Singh, became regent with her young son, Dalipe Singh . After the vizier Hira Singh was killed while trying to escape from the capital, robbing the royal treasury ( Toshkana ), in December 1844, brother Kaur, Jawahir Singh , became a vizier. He tried to bribe Khalsa with promises of non-existent treasures, and in September 1845 he was killed in a parade in front of Kaur and Dulip Singh.

Although Kaur had publicly vowed to take revenge on her brother's murderers, she remained regent. Liz Singh became the leader , Tej Singh became the commander-in-chief. Both belonged to the Dogra faction, and were Hindu high castes from outside Punjab who converted to Sikhism in 1818, like many Punjabis at the time.

British actions

At the same time, the British East India Company began to build up its armed forces, in particular, in the areas bordering the Punjab. In 1844, she annexed Sind , who was south of Punjab . They also built a military base in Firozpur , just a few miles from the Sutlej River, which was then the border between British India and Sikhs.

British actions were ambiguous, and could be caused by fears that the unrest in Khals could make it dangerous for British territories along the border. However, Sikh and Hindu historians note the offensive nature of these military preparations.

A British political agent in the border areas, Major George Broadfoot, noted unrest in the Sikh state, and counted numerous cases of corruption in the yard. Many Britons were tempted to extend the influence of the empire on the Sikhs, at that time the only force in India that could theoretically be a threat to the British, and the only principality that remained independent.

Having exchanged mutual accusations, the Sikh Darbar and the British East India Company broke off diplomatic relations. The British, led by Sir Hugh Gough , the commander-in-chief of the Bengal army, began to march to Firozpur, where one division was already stationed. These "British" troops consisted of formations of the Bengal army , where one British unit accounted for three or four native units of the Bengali infantry and cavalry. Artillery consisted mainly of light guns elite Bengal horse artillery.

In response, the Sikhs cross the Sutlej River on December 11, 1845 . Although the army consisted mainly of Sikhs, it also served Punjabi , Pashtun and Kashmir foot soldiers. Artillery consisted of heavy guns, was formed and trained by European mercenaries.

Sikhs declared that they were only moving towards the Sikh possessions, but the British perceived their actions as hostile and declared war. One Sikh unit led by Tej Singh advanced to Firozpur, but did not attempt to either storm or siege the British. The second unit, led by Lil Singh, clashed with the British on December 18 at the Battle of Mudka , and was defeated.

The next day, the British found a large mix of Sikhs marching on Firozesh . The Governor-General of Bengal Hardinge ordered not to attack them, waiting for reinforcements. When they arrived on December 21st, Sir Hugh Gough attacked them, just a few hours before sunset. Well-organized Sikh artillery inflicted heavy losses on the British, and their infantry fought desperately. On the other hand, the elite irregular cavalry of the Sikhs, Ghodachad (or Gorachara), proved ineffective against the cavalry and infantry of the British, and was deterred by Lil Singh from the battle.

After sunset, some of the units of Gough continued to fight in Sikh positions, but the rest retreated in disarray. Hardinge expected defeat, and ordered to burn the documents in Mukdi in this case. However, the next morning the British drove the Sikhs out of the remaining fortifications. At this point, the army appeared Teja Singh. Exhausted British forces were waiting for a catastrophe, but Tej Singh unexpectedly retreated.

The fighting temporarily ceased, both sides waiting for reinforcements. With the resumption of operations, the Sikhs sent a detachment across the Sutlej River to cut communications and supplies to the British. Troops led by Sir Harry Smith were sent to fight them. The Sikh cavalry attacked him on the march, and captured the wagon train, but in the battle of Alivale on January 28, 1846, Smith won, seizing the Sikh springboard.

The main army of Gough, in the meantime, received reinforcements, and joined Smith. Then the British attacked the main Sikh springboard in Sobraon on 10 February. According to rumors, Tedzh Singh deserted from the Sikh army at the beginning of the battle. Despite the desperate resistance of the Sikhs, Goha's troops broke through their lines. The bridges behind the Sikhs were destroyed by British artillery fire, or, according to other sources, were destroyed by the retreating Tej Singh, in order to avoid persecution of the British. Sikhs are trapped. They refused to surrender, and the British showed no mercy. The British victory inflicted a serious blow to the Sikh army.

According to the Lahore Agreement on March 9, 1846, the Sikhs conceded to the British the valuable Jullundur Doab district between the rivers of Bias and Sutlej. Lahore Durbar was also forced to pay a contribution of 15 million rupees (1.5 million crore). Without such money, Durbar is inferior as the equivalent of one crore to Kashmir, Hazarey, all forts, territories, rights, and profits in the principalities between the Bias and Indus rivers. In a later separate agreement (Amritsar Treaty), Raja Jammu received from the British Kashmir for 7.500.000 rupees (75 lakhs), and was titled by Maharaja Jammu and Kashmir.

Maharaja Dulip Singh remained the ruler of Punjab, and his mother the regent, but the British presence was to remain until the age of majority of the Maharaja (16 years). The Treaty of Bhiroval on December 16, 1846, appointed the Regent a British pension of 150,000 rupees (1.5 lakhs). With the support of the Regency Council in Lahore, a British resident was replaced with agents in other cities and regions. Thus, the British East India Company gained control of the Sikh government.

• First Anglo-Sikh War
• Anglo sikh wars

• Indian Wars of the British // Military Encyclopedia : [in 18 t.] / Ed. VF Novitsky [et al.]. - SPb. ; [ M. ]: Type. t-islands I. D. Sytin , 1911-1915.
• Fursov K.A. The Lions of Pyatirechye: Sikhs are great warriors of Asia. M .: Partnership of scientific publications KMK, 2011.