Who Was When
Wars

First Anglo-Sikh War

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Sides

East India Company forces and British Army regiments

East India Company forces, British Army regiments, and Sepoy regiments of the Company's Bengal army

against
The Sikh Empire and Ladwa

The Sikh Empire and its army, the Khalsa and Ladwa, under Raja Ajit Singh

Countries today: India, Pakistan, and United Kingdom

What happened

After Maharaja Ranjit Singh died in 1839, the Sikh Empire of the Punjab fell into disorder, and its army, the Khalsa, grew powerful against the court of the boy Maharaja Duleep Singh and his mother, Maharani Jind Kaur, who acted as regent. As the East India Company massed troops on the frontier, the Khalsa crossed the Sutlej river into Company territory on 11 December 1845. Company and British Army troops under Sir Hugh Gough and the Governor-General, Sir Henry Hardinge, fought the Sikh armies at Mudki on 18 December and at Ferozeshah on 21–22 December, where both sides lost heavily. Sir Harry Smith defeated a Sikh force at Aliwal on 28 January 1846, and on 10 February Gough's army stormed the Sikh entrenchments at Sobraon; many Sikh soldiers were trapped against the river when the bridge of boats behind them was destroyed. Lal Singh and Tej Singh, two of the Khalsa's commanders, were later accused of secretly helping the British. By the Treaty of Lahore of 9 March 1846 the Sikh state gave up the Jullundur Doab and other lands and paid an indemnity, and the Company placed a Resident and a garrison at Lahore.

Outcome: By the Treaty of Lahore (9 March 1846) the Sikh state gave up the Jullundur Doab and other lands and paid an indemnity; the Company placed a Resident and a garrison at Lahore.

Key events

Leaders

  • Hugh Gough · Commander-in-Chief in India · East India Company forces and British Army regiments
  • Henry Hardinge · Governor-General; served in the field under Gough · East India Company forces and British Army regiments
  • Harry Smith · Won at Aliwal · East India Company forces and British Army regiments
  • Jind Kaur · Maharani; regent for her son Duleep Singh · The Sikh Empire and Ladwa
  • Lal Singh · Wazir; commanded at Mudki and Ferozeshah · The Sikh Empire and Ladwa
  • Tej Singh · Commander-in-chief of the Khalsa · The Sikh Empire and Ladwa
  • Ranjodh Singh Majithia · Commanded the Sikh force defeated at Aliwal · The Sikh Empire and Ladwa
  • Sham Singh Attariwala · Sikh general killed at Sobraon · The Sikh Empire and Ladwa

Meanwhile, elsewhere in

Sources