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{{Short description|Fourth Maharaja of the Sikh Empire from 1841–1843}}
{{Short description|Maharaja of the Sikh Empire from 1841 to 1843}}
{{for|other people with the same two names|Sher Singh (disambiguation)}}{{Refimprove|date=June 2011}}
{{for|other people with the same two names|Sher Singh (disambiguation)}}{{Refimprove|date=June 2011}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox royalty
{{Infobox royalty
| name        = Maharaja Sher Singh
| name        = Sher Singh
| title        = [[Maharaja]] of [[Sikh Empire]] <br> Maharaja of Punjab <br> Maharaja of Lahore <br> Sarkar-i- Wallah<ref>{{Cite book|last=Suri.|first=Sohan Lal|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/163394684|title=Umdat-ut-tawarikh ['Umdat at-tawārīh, engl.] An outstanding original source of Panjab history by Lala Sohan Lal Suri.|date=1961|oclc=163394684}}</ref>  <br> Sarkar Khalsaji<ref>{{Cite book|last=Suri.|first=Sohan Lal|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/163394684|title=Umdat-ut-tawarikh ['Umdat at-tawārīh, engl.] An outstanding original source of Panjab history by Lala Sohan Lal Suri.|date=1961|oclc=163394684}}</ref>
| title        = Maharaja of Punjab <br> Maharaja of Lahore <br> [[Sarkar (surname)|Sarkar]]-i-[[Wallah]]<ref name="Suri. 1961">{{Cite book|last=Suri.|first=Sohan Lal|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/163394684|title=Umdat-ut-tawarikh ['Umdat at-tawārīh, engl.] An outstanding original source of Panjab history by Lala Sohan Lal Suri.|date=1961|oclc=163394684}}</ref>  <br> Sarkar [[Khalsa]][[-ji|ji]]<ref name="Suri. 1961">{{Cite book|last=Suri.|first=Sohan Lal|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/163394684|title=Umdat-ut-tawarikh ['Umdat at-tawārīh, engl.] An outstanding original source of Panjab history by Lala Sohan Lal Suri.|date=1961|oclc=163394684}}</ref>
| image        = File:Sher Singh.jpg
| image        = File:Painting of Maharaja Sher Singh wearing the Koh-i-Noor diamond, by August Schoefft, ca.1841–42.jpg
| succession  = [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|30px]] 4th [[Maharaja]] of the [[Sikh Empire]]
| caption      = Painting of Maharaja Sher Singh wearing the [[Koh-i-Noor]] diamond (on his right bicep), by August Schoefft, {{circa|1841–42}}
| succession  = [[Sikh Empire|Maharaja of Punjab, Kashmir and Jammu]]
| reign        = 18 January 1841 – 15 September 1843
| reign        = 18 January 1841 – 15 September 1843
| coronation  = 27 January 1841<br> [[Lahore Fort]], [[Lahore]]
| coronation  = {{unbulleted list|27 January 1841|[[Lahore Fort]], [[Lahore]]}}
| cor-type    = Coronation
| cor-type    = Coronation
| predecessor  = [[Chand Kaur|Maharani Chand Kaur]]
| predecessor  = [[Nau Nihal Singh]] {{small|(as monarch until 1840)}}<br>[[Chand Kaur]] {{small|(as regent in 1840–1841)}}
| successor    = [[Duleep Singh|Maharaja Duleep Singh]]
| successor    = [[Duleep Singh]]
| birth_date  = 4 December 1807
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1807|12|4|df=yes}}
| birth_place  = [[Batala]], [[Sikh Empire]], now [[Gurdaspur district]], [[Punjab, India]]
| birth_place  = {{unbulleted list|[[Batala]], [[Sikh Empire]]|(present-day [[Gurdaspur district]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India)}}
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1843|09|15|1807|12|4|df=y}}
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1843|09|15|1807|12|4|df=y}}
| death_place  = Shah Bilaal gardens, [[Lahore]], [[Sikh Empire]], now Kot Khawaja Saeed, [[Lahore]], [[Punjab, Pakistan]]
| death_place  = {{unbulleted list|Shah Bilaal gardens, [[Lahore]], [[Sikh Empire]]|(present-day Kot Khawaja Saeed, Lahore, [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]])}}
| spouse      = [[Prem Kaur|Prem Kaur Waraich]] (m.1822)
| spouse      = {{marriage|[[Prem Kaur|Prem Kaur Waraich]]|1822}}
| spouse-type  = Consort
| spouse-type  = Consort
| spouses      = {{plainlist|
| issue        = By ''[[Prem Kaur|Maharani Prem Kaur]]:''<br>* [[Pratap Singh (Sikh prince)|Yuvraj Pratap Singh Bahadur]]<br>By ''Maharani Pratap Kaur:''<br>* Kanwar Deva Singh Bahadur<br>By '' Maharani Dakno Kaur:''<br>*  [[Shahdeo Singh|Shahdeo Singh Bahadur]]
*{{marriage|Desa Kaur Nakai|1819|1821|end=died}}
*{{marriage|Bibi Pratap Kaur Jagat Singh Brar|1825}}
*{{marriage|Dakno Kaur Mai Sahiba|1842}}
}}
| issue        = By ''Maharani Desa Kaur:''<br> * None<br>By ''[[Prem Kaur|Maharani Prem Kaur]]:''<br>* Yuvraj Pratap Singh Bahadur<br>By ''Maharani Pratap Kaur:''<br>* Kanwar Deva Singh Bahadur<br>By '' Maharani Dakno Kaur:''<br>*  Shahdeo Singh Bahadur
| house        = [[Sukerchakia]]
| house        = [[Sukerchakia]]
| father      = [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab]]
| father      = [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab]]
| mother      = [[Mehtab Kaur|Mehtab Kaur Kanhaiyā]]
| mother      = [[Mehtab Kaur|Mehtab Kaur Kanhaiyā]]
| signature    = Maharaja Sher Singh seal or stamp.jpg
| signature_type = Seal or stamp of approval
| religion    = [[Sikhism]]
| religion    = [[Sikhism]]
| image_size  = 215
| image_size  =
| reg-type1    = {{nowrap|Prime Minister}}
| reg-type1    = Prime minister
| regent1      = {{List collapsed|title=''See list''|1=Dhian Singh Dogra
| regent1      = Dhian Singh Dogra
}}
}}
}}


'''Sher Singh''' (4 December 1807 – 15 September 1843) was the fourth [[Maharaja]] of the [[Sikh Empire]]. Elder of the twins of [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]], founder of the Sikh Empire and [[Mehtab Kaur|Maharani Mehtab Kaur]]. His reign began on 18 January 1840 following his assault on [[Lahore]] which ended the brief regency of [[Chand Kaur|Maharani Chand Kaur]].<ref name="auto1">Syad Muhammad Latif, Lahore: Its History, Architectural Remains and Antiquities: With an Account of Its Modern Institutions, Inhabitants, Their Trade, Customs, Printed at the New Imperial Press, 1892</ref> He was assassinated on 15 September 1843 by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia.<ref name="auto1">Syad Muhammad Latif, Lahore: Its History, Architectural Remains and Antiquities: With an Account of Its Modern Institutions, Inhabitants, Their Trade, Customs, Printed at the New Imperial Press, 1892</ref>
'''Sher Singh''' (4 December 1807 – 15 September 1843) was the fourth [[Maharaja]] of the [[Sikh Empire]]. He was elder of the twins of [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]], founder of the Sikh Empire and [[Mehtab Kaur|Maharani Mehtab Kaur]]. His reign began on 18 January 1841 following his assault on [[Lahore]] which ended the brief regency of [[Chand Kaur|Maharani Chand Kaur]].<ref name="auto1">[[Syad Muhammad Latif]], Lahore: Its History, Architectural Remains and Antiquities: With an Account of Its Modern Institutions, Inhabitants, Their Trade, Customs, Printed at the New Imperial Press, 1892</ref> He was assassinated on 15 September 1843 by [[Ajit Singh Sandhawalia]], a relative.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=Lot 284: A large portrait of Maharajah Sher Singh, viewed in profile, Punjab, circa 1860-70 |url=https://www.bonhams.com/auction/30703/lot/284/a-large-portrait-of-maharajah-sher-singh-viewed-in-profile-punjab-circa-1860-70/ |access-date=6 June 2025 |website=Bonhams}}</ref> His short reign only lasted for two years.<ref name=":0" /> An experienced military-man, Sher Singh had the backing of the Sikh Army.<ref name=":0" />


==Birth==
==Birth==
Sher Singh was the son of Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]] and Maharani [[Mehtab Kaur]], he had a younger twin brother [[Tara Singh (Sikh prince)|Tara Singh]] (1807-1859).{{Efn|Mehtab Kaur, who was also known as Mahitab Kaur, is not to be confused with Maharani Mahtab Devi Sahiba, another wife, who committed sati in 1839 with Ranjit Singh's body lying with his head on her lap.|name=|group=}}
Sher Singh was the son of Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]] and Maharani [[Mehtab Kaur]], he had a younger twin brother [[Tara Singh (Sikh prince)|Tara Singh]] (1807–1859).{{Efn|Mehtab Kaur, who was also known as Mahitab Kaur, is not to be confused with Maharani Mahtab Devi Sahiba, another wife, who committed sati in 1839 with Ranjit Singh's body lying with his head on her lap.|name=|group=}} He was the second son of Ranjit Singh.<ref name=":0" />


==Early life==
==Early life==
In 1820, Maharaja Ranjit Singh granted him the privilege of being seated in the Darbar and bestowed civil and military honours on him. From 1831 to 1834 he acted as Governor of Kashmir and in 1834 he was a commander in the force that captured [[Peshawar]] from the Afghans.<ref name=Hasrat/>
In 1820, Maharaja Ranjit Singh granted him the privilege of being seated in the Darbar and bestowed civil and military honors on him. From 1831 to 1834 he acted as Governor of Kashmir and in 1834 he was a commander of the force that captured [[Peshawar]] from the Afghans.<ref name=Hasrat/> During his governorship, [[Sher Singh's famine|a famine broke out in 1831]] which caused the population to drop from 800,000 to 200,000.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lawrence|first=Sir Walter Roper|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Valley_of_Kashmir/lSqNjsqIllEC?hl=en&gbpv=0|title=The Valley of Kashmir|date=1895|publisher=Frowde|pages=213|language=en}}</ref>
 
==Military campaigns==
[[Barelvi]] declared ''[[jihad]]'' against the [[Sikhs]] and established a camp in Balakot. Along with [[Shah Ismail Dehlvi]] and his tribesmen, in 1831, Sher Singh accompanied by Pratab Singh Attarwala and Akali Hanuman Singh arrived in Balakot. He invested Balakot on all sides. The Sikh slowly advanced narrowing the besieged area gradually. On reaching near the Sayyid residence, the Sikh drew out their swords, cut down the sayyid troops and shot down Sayyid Ahmed Khan. His head cut off for display, and about 500 followers of Sayyid were killed including [[Shah Ismail Dehlvi]]. The entire property of Sayyid fell into the hands of Sikhs. A sum of Rs. 50,000 along with a letter of appreciation was sent to Sher Singh promising an additional Jagir.<ref>{{cite book|author=Patwant Singh|title=Empire of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vr4VAQAAIAAJ |year=2008|publisher=Peter Owen|isbn=978-0-7206-1323-0|pages=73–76}}</ref>


==Reign==
==Reign==
[[File:The Maha-raja Shere Singh.jpg|thumb|left|150px|The Maharaja Sher Singh]]
[[File:Maharaja Sher Singh seated, attended by his Council in the Lahore Fort, by August Schoefft, ca.1841–55.jpg|thumb|300x300px|Maharaja Sher Singh seated, attended by his Council in the Tambi-khana room of the Shish Mahal section of the Lahore Fort, by August Schoefft, ca.1841–55.]]
Sher Singh became the maharaja on 27 January 1841,<ref name=Hasrat>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.learnpunjabi.org/eos/index.aspx |title=Sher Singh, Maharaja |last1=Hasrat |first1=B.J. |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, Editor-in-Chief Harbans Singh |publisher=Punjab University Patiala}}</ref>  after the sudden death of [[Nau Nihal Singh]] whose death was set in motion, some say purposely, while returning from his father's cremation. He was the half brother of [[Nau Nihal Singh]]'s father, former maharaja [[Kharak Singh]].
Sher Singh became the maharaja on 27 January 1841,<ref name=Hasrat>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.learnpunjabi.org/eos/index.aspx |title=Sher Singh, Maharaja |last1=Hasrat |first1=B.J. |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, Editor-in-Chief Harbans Singh |publisher=Punjab University Patiala}}</ref>  after the sudden death of [[Nau Nihal Singh]] whose death was set in motion, some say purposely while returning from his father's cremation. He was the half-brother of [[Nau Nihal Singh]]'s father, former Maharaja [[Kharak Singh]].


Proclaimed Maharaja by his [[vizier|wazir]] (prime minister) [[Dhian Singh]] Dogra, he won the throne after a protracted siege of the [[Lahore Fort]] which was held by the Royal family. Thousands died in the siege.  
Proclaimed Maharaja by his [[vizier|wazir]] (prime minister) [[Dhian Singh]] [[Dogra dynasty|Dogra]], he won the throne after a protracted siege of the [[Lahore Fort]] which was held by the royal family. Thousands died in the siege.


== Death ==
Sher Singh had pro-British views, a continuation of his father's amicable ties to the British.<ref name=":0" /> An example of Sher Singh's pro-British sympathies is him allowing the British army to [[1842 retreat from Kabul|retreat from Afghanistan via Punjab in 1842]].<ref name=":0" /> This is despite many of his officials wishing to raid the fatigued British during their Afghan retreat for spoils.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Maharaja Sher Singh (1807-1843) seated, attended by his council in the Lahore Fort..jpg|thumb|300px|Maharaja Sher Singh (1807-1843) seated, attended by his council in the Lahore Fort.]]


Sher Singh was killed as he reached for a new shotgun held by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia, who pulled the trigger.{{Clarify|reason=This sentence is quite unclear.|date=January 2021}} Ajit Singh Sandhawalia had served as Prime Minister first for Ranjit Singh then for Sher Singh's brother Kharak Singh then Karak Singh's son Nau Nihal each of whom had died shortly after taking office. Ajit Singh Sandhawalia then served as Prime Minister for Kharak Singh's widow Chand Kaur who served as regent. Ajit Singh Sandhawalia preferred having Chand Kaur as regent ruler as it allowed him more power. Chand Kaur had been removed as the expected heir her late son Nau Nihal's daughter in law was about to deliver died stillborn. Sher Singh only had time to utter, "what treachery."  The Sandhawalias also murdered Dhian Singh. The Sandhawalias were thought to have also had designs on the empire.
Sher Singh was a patron of the arts, with one of his court painters being [[Kehar Singh (artist)|Kehar Singh]].<ref name=":62">{{Cite journal |last=Khalid |first=Kanwal |date=July–December 2015 |title=Miniature Painters as Historiographers |url=https://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/HistoryPStudies/PDF-FILES/9-Kanwal_V28_no2.pdf |journal=Journal of the Punjab University Historical Society |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=124–132}}</ref> The painter [[August Schoefft]] arrived in the Punjab and worked during his reign.<ref name=":62" /> Sher Singh was also a fan of wrestling and often would take wrestlers outside the walled city of Lahore to the tomb of Qasim Khan.<ref name=":62" /> One of these wrestlers were Sultan Muhammad, who later became a contractor under the British colonial administration.<ref name=":62" />
 
==Death==
[[File:Depiction of the assassination of Maharaja Sher Singh by the Sandhawalia Sardars.jpg|thumb|Depiction of the assassination of Maharaja Sher Singh by the [[Sandhawalia]] Sardars]]
Sher Singh was killed in September 1843 as he was asked to inspect a new shotgun brought by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia. Sandhawalia then pulled the trigger and then killed the wounded Sher Singh with his sword by cutting off his head.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khalid |first=Haroon |date=2016-05-13 |title=In Lahore, overflowing garbage marks the spot where the final blow was dealt to the Sikh Empire |url=http://scroll.in/article/808042/in-lahore-overflowing-garbage-marks-the-spot-where-the-final-blow-was-dealt-to-the-sikh-empire |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Ajit Singh Sandhawalia had served as Prime Minister first for Ranjit Singh then for Sher Singh's brother Kharak Singh then Kharak Singh's son Nau Nihal each of whom had died shortly after taking office. Ajit Singh Sandhawalia then served as Prime Minister for Kharak Singh's widow Chand Kaur, who served as regent. Ajit Singh Sandhawalia preferred having Chand Kaur as regent ruler as it allowed him more power. Chand Kaur had been removed as the expected heir her late son Nau Nihal's daughter- in-law was about to deliver died stillborn. Sher Singh only had time to utter, "what treachery."  The Sandhawalias also murdered Dhian Singh. The Sandhawalias were thought to have also had designs on the empire.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
 
== Family ==
 
=== Wives ===
According to Priya Atwal, the known wives of Sher Singh are:<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Atwal |first=Priya |title=Royals and Rebels: The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780197548318 |pages=216–223 |chapter=Appendices: Queens of the Sikh Empire - Appendix II. List of All Known Queens of the Empire}}</ref>
 
* Prem Kaur, daughter of Hari Singh, a Jatt zamindar of Mouza Luddhewala in Gujranwala, married 1822, given a pension of Rs. 7,200. Had a son named [[Pratap Singh (Sikh prince)|Pratap Singh]], who was murdered in 1843. Later adopted a son named Narain Singh post-annexation in 1849.
* Partap Kaur (died August 1857), daughter of sardar Jugut Singh of [[Kotkapura|Kot Kapura]], married 1825, given a pension of Rs. 5,400. Adopted a cousin's son named Thakoor Singh in 1847, who went on to marry a Jatt woman who was the daughter of a zamindar from [[Nabha State]].
* Golee, former prostitute from Gurdaspur, married 1832, given a pension of Rs. 3,600
* Kundo, daughter of Jatt zamindar of a village near Kangra, originally sent as slave-girl in 1829 from Kangra, married 1841, given a pension of Rs. 1,260
* Dukhno, daughter of a Chang zamindar, purportedly presented to Sher Singh by a ''kardar'' at Kangra, married 1842, given a pension of Rs. 9,000, resided in Benaras from July 1856 onwards, had a son named [[Shahdeo Singh|Shiv Deo Singh]]
* Dhurm Kaur Rundhavee, possibly married in 1841, given a pension of Rs. 7,200, may have adopted a son{{Efn|According to pension records, Dhurm Kaur Rundhavee and Chund Kaur were supposedly originally the wives of Tara Singh, Sher Singh’s brother; however, they are mentioned as having joined Sher Singh’s ''zenana'' once he became the maharaja.|group=}}
* Chund Kaur, possibly married in 1842, reportedly had an illegitimate son of Sher Singh named Dewa Singh who was born in 1838{{Efn|According to pension records, Dhurm Kaur Rundhavee and Chund Kaur were supposedly originally the wives of Tara Singh, Sher Singh’s brother; however, they are mentioned as having joined Sher Singh’s ''zenana'' once he became the maharaja.|group=}}
 
=== Issues ===
The known male issues of Sher Singh were:<ref name=":3" />
 
* [[Pratap Singh (Sikh prince)|Partap Singh]] (murdered in 1843), son of Prem Kaur
* [[Shahdeo Singh]], son of Dukhno, he was awarded a jagir worth Rs. 10,000 outside of Punjab after 1849
* Dewa Singh (born 1838), son of Chund Kaur


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
His palace is leased to [[Baring Union Christian College]].
[[File:Photograph of the samadhs of Maharaja Sher Singh of the Sikh Empire and his two wives, Shah Bilawal, Lahore, ca.1900.jpg|thumb|Photograph of the samadhs of Maharaja Sher Singh of the Sikh Empire and his two wives, Shah Bilawal, Lahore, ca.1900]]
His palace is leased to [[Baring Union Christian College]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BUCC, Batala - College History |url=https://www.buccbatala.org/history.html |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=www.buccbatala.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-30 |title=Maharaja Sher Singh’s mansion: Amid row over possession, minority panel seeks report |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/maharaja-sher-singh-s-mansion-amid-row-over-possession-minority-panel-seeks-report-101672340120631.html |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>


== Notes ==
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
{{Notelist}}


Line 64: Line 88:


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|Sher Singh}}
* {{Commons category inline|Sher Singh}}
* [http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/warriors/shersingh.html Maharaja Sher Singh (1807 - 1843)]
* [http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/warriors/shersingh.html Maharaja Sher Singh (1807 - 1843)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211170813/http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/warriors/shersingh.html |date=11 February 2014 }}


{{S-start}}
{{S-start}}
Line 71: Line 95:
| title = [[Maharaja]] of the [[Sikh Empire]]
| title = [[Maharaja]] of the [[Sikh Empire]]
| years = 18 January 1841– 15 September 1843
| years = 18 January 1841– 15 September 1843
| before = [[Chand Kaur]]
| before = [[Chand Kaur]] as regent
| after = [[Duleep Singh]]
| after = [[Duleep Singh]]
}}
}}
{{S-end}}
{{S-end}}
{{Sikh Empire|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Sher}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Sher}}
[[Category:Sikh emperors|Sher Singh]]
[[Category:Sikh emperors|Sher Singh]]
[[Category:1807 births]]
[[Category:1807 births]]
[[Category:1843 deaths]]
[[Category:1843 deaths]]
{{India-royal-stub}}
{{Sikhism-stub}}

Latest revision as of 22:48, 29 March 2026


For other people with the same two names, see Sher Singh (disambiguation).

Sher Singh
Maharaja of Punjab
Maharaja of Lahore
Sarkar-i-Wallah[1]
Sarkar Khalsaji[1]
Painting of Maharaja Sher Singh wearing the Koh-i-Noor diamond (on his right bicep), by August Schoefft, c. 1841–42
Maharaja of Punjab, Kashmir and Jammu
Reign18 January 1841 – 15 September 1843
Coronation
PredecessorNau Nihal Singh (as monarch until 1840)
Chand Kaur (as regent in 1840–1841)
SuccessorDuleep Singh
Prime ministerDhian Singh Dogra
Born(1807-12-04)4 December 1807
Died15 September 1843(1843-09-15) (aged 35)
Consort
IssueBy Maharani Prem Kaur:
* Yuvraj Pratap Singh Bahadur
By Maharani Pratap Kaur:
* Kanwar Deva Singh Bahadur
By Maharani Dakno Kaur:
* Shahdeo Singh Bahadur
HouseSukerchakia
FatherMaharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab
MotherMehtab Kaur Kanhaiyā
ReligionSikhism
Seal or stamp of approvalSher Singh's signature

Sher Singh (4 December 1807 – 15 September 1843) was the fourth Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. He was elder of the twins of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire and Maharani Mehtab Kaur. His reign began on 18 January 1841 following his assault on Lahore which ended the brief regency of Maharani Chand Kaur.[2] He was assassinated on 15 September 1843 by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia, a relative.[2][3] His short reign only lasted for two years.[3] An experienced military-man, Sher Singh had the backing of the Sikh Army.[3]

Birth[edit | edit source]

Sher Singh was the son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Maharani Mehtab Kaur, he had a younger twin brother Tara Singh (1807–1859).[lower-alpha 1] He was the second son of Ranjit Singh.[3]

Early life[edit | edit source]

In 1820, Maharaja Ranjit Singh granted him the privilege of being seated in the Darbar and bestowed civil and military honors on him. From 1831 to 1834 he acted as Governor of Kashmir and in 1834 he was a commander of the force that captured Peshawar from the Afghans.[4] During his governorship, a famine broke out in 1831 which caused the population to drop from 800,000 to 200,000.[5]

Military campaigns[edit | edit source]

Barelvi declared jihad against the Sikhs and established a camp in Balakot. Along with Shah Ismail Dehlvi and his tribesmen, in 1831, Sher Singh accompanied by Pratab Singh Attarwala and Akali Hanuman Singh arrived in Balakot. He invested Balakot on all sides. The Sikh slowly advanced narrowing the besieged area gradually. On reaching near the Sayyid residence, the Sikh drew out their swords, cut down the sayyid troops and shot down Sayyid Ahmed Khan. His head cut off for display, and about 500 followers of Sayyid were killed including Shah Ismail Dehlvi. The entire property of Sayyid fell into the hands of Sikhs. A sum of Rs. 50,000 along with a letter of appreciation was sent to Sher Singh promising an additional Jagir.[6]

Reign[edit | edit source]

Maharaja Sher Singh seated, attended by his Council in the Tambi-khana room of the Shish Mahal section of the Lahore Fort, by August Schoefft, ca.1841–55.

Sher Singh became the maharaja on 27 January 1841,[4] after the sudden death of Nau Nihal Singh whose death was set in motion, some say purposely while returning from his father's cremation. He was the half-brother of Nau Nihal Singh's father, former Maharaja Kharak Singh.

Proclaimed Maharaja by his wazir (prime minister) Dhian Singh Dogra, he won the throne after a protracted siege of the Lahore Fort which was held by the royal family. Thousands died in the siege.

Sher Singh had pro-British views, a continuation of his father's amicable ties to the British.[3] An example of Sher Singh's pro-British sympathies is him allowing the British army to retreat from Afghanistan via Punjab in 1842.[3] This is despite many of his officials wishing to raid the fatigued British during their Afghan retreat for spoils.[3]

Sher Singh was a patron of the arts, with one of his court painters being Kehar Singh.[7] The painter August Schoefft arrived in the Punjab and worked during his reign.[7] Sher Singh was also a fan of wrestling and often would take wrestlers outside the walled city of Lahore to the tomb of Qasim Khan.[7] One of these wrestlers were Sultan Muhammad, who later became a contractor under the British colonial administration.[7]

Death[edit | edit source]

Depiction of the assassination of Maharaja Sher Singh by the Sandhawalia Sardars

Sher Singh was killed in September 1843 as he was asked to inspect a new shotgun brought by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia. Sandhawalia then pulled the trigger and then killed the wounded Sher Singh with his sword by cutting off his head.[8][3] Ajit Singh Sandhawalia had served as Prime Minister first for Ranjit Singh then for Sher Singh's brother Kharak Singh then Kharak Singh's son Nau Nihal each of whom had died shortly after taking office. Ajit Singh Sandhawalia then served as Prime Minister for Kharak Singh's widow Chand Kaur, who served as regent. Ajit Singh Sandhawalia preferred having Chand Kaur as regent ruler as it allowed him more power. Chand Kaur had been removed as the expected heir her late son Nau Nihal's daughter- in-law was about to deliver died stillborn. Sher Singh only had time to utter, "what treachery." The Sandhawalias also murdered Dhian Singh. The Sandhawalias were thought to have also had designs on the empire.[citation needed]

Family[edit | edit source]

Wives[edit | edit source]

According to Priya Atwal, the known wives of Sher Singh are:[9]

  • Prem Kaur, daughter of Hari Singh, a Jatt zamindar of Mouza Luddhewala in Gujranwala, married 1822, given a pension of Rs. 7,200. Had a son named Pratap Singh, who was murdered in 1843. Later adopted a son named Narain Singh post-annexation in 1849.
  • Partap Kaur (died August 1857), daughter of sardar Jugut Singh of Kot Kapura, married 1825, given a pension of Rs. 5,400. Adopted a cousin's son named Thakoor Singh in 1847, who went on to marry a Jatt woman who was the daughter of a zamindar from Nabha State.
  • Golee, former prostitute from Gurdaspur, married 1832, given a pension of Rs. 3,600
  • Kundo, daughter of Jatt zamindar of a village near Kangra, originally sent as slave-girl in 1829 from Kangra, married 1841, given a pension of Rs. 1,260
  • Dukhno, daughter of a Chang zamindar, purportedly presented to Sher Singh by a kardar at Kangra, married 1842, given a pension of Rs. 9,000, resided in Benaras from July 1856 onwards, had a son named Shiv Deo Singh
  • Dhurm Kaur Rundhavee, possibly married in 1841, given a pension of Rs. 7,200, may have adopted a son[lower-alpha 2]
  • Chund Kaur, possibly married in 1842, reportedly had an illegitimate son of Sher Singh named Dewa Singh who was born in 1838[lower-alpha 3]

Issues[edit | edit source]

The known male issues of Sher Singh were:[9]

  • Partap Singh (murdered in 1843), son of Prem Kaur
  • Shahdeo Singh, son of Dukhno, he was awarded a jagir worth Rs. 10,000 outside of Punjab after 1849
  • Dewa Singh (born 1838), son of Chund Kaur

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Photograph of the samadhs of Maharaja Sher Singh of the Sikh Empire and his two wives, Shah Bilawal, Lahore, ca.1900

His palace is leased to Baring Union Christian College.[10][11]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Mehtab Kaur, who was also known as Mahitab Kaur, is not to be confused with Maharani Mahtab Devi Sahiba, another wife, who committed sati in 1839 with Ranjit Singh's body lying with his head on her lap.
  2. ↑ According to pension records, Dhurm Kaur Rundhavee and Chund Kaur were supposedly originally the wives of Tara Singh, Sher Singh’s brother; however, they are mentioned as having joined Sher Singh’s zenana once he became the maharaja.
  3. ↑ According to pension records, Dhurm Kaur Rundhavee and Chund Kaur were supposedly originally the wives of Tara Singh, Sher Singh’s brother; however, they are mentioned as having joined Sher Singh’s zenana once he became the maharaja.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Suri., Sohan Lal (1961). Umdat-ut-tawarikh ['Umdat at-tawārīh, engl.] An outstanding original source of Panjab history by Lala Sohan Lal Suri. OCLC 163394684.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Syad Muhammad Latif, Lahore: Its History, Architectural Remains and Antiquities: With an Account of Its Modern Institutions, Inhabitants, Their Trade, Customs, Printed at the New Imperial Press, 1892
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "Lot 284: A large portrait of Maharajah Sher Singh, viewed in profile, Punjab, circa 1860-70". Bonhams. 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hasrat, B.J. "Sher Singh, Maharaja". Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, Editor-in-Chief Harbans Singh. Punjab University Patiala.
  5. ↑ Lawrence, Sir Walter Roper (1895). The Valley of Kashmir. Frowde. p. 213.
  6. ↑ Patwant Singh (2008). Empire of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Peter Owen. pp. 73–76. ISBN 978-0-7206-1323-0.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Khalid, Kanwal (July–December 2015). "Miniature Painters as Historiographers" (PDF). Journal of the Punjab University Historical Society. 28 (2): 124–132.
  8. ↑ Khalid, Haroon (13 May 2016). "In Lahore, overflowing garbage marks the spot where the final blow was dealt to the Sikh Empire". Scroll.in. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Atwal, Priya. "Appendices: Queens of the Sikh Empire - Appendix II. List of All Known Queens of the Empire". Royals and Rebels: The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Oxford University Press. pp. 216–223. ISBN 9780197548318.
  10. ↑ "BUCC, Batala - College History". www.buccbatala.org. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  11. ↑ "Maharaja Sher Singh's mansion: Amid row over possession, minority panel seeks report". Hindustan Times. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2024.

External links[edit | edit source]

Preceded by
Chand Kaur as regent 		Maharaja of the Sikh Empire
18 January 1841– 15 September 1843 		Succeeded by
Duleep Singh
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