The Sikh Empire (also Sikh Khalsa Raj, Sarkar-i-Khalsa or Punjab Empire), was a major power in the Indian subcontinent, that arose under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh who established a secular empire basing it around the Punjab. The empire existed from 1799, when Ranjit Singh captured Lahore, to 1849 and was forged on the foundations of the Khalsa from a collection of autonomous Sikh misls. At its peak in the 19th century, the Empire extended from the Khyber Pass in the west to western Tibet in the east, and from Mithankot in the south to Kashmir in the north. It was the last major region of the subcontinent to be conquered by the British.
The foundations of the Sikh Empire can be traced to as early as 1707, the year of Aurangzeb's death and the start of the downfall of the Mughal Empire. With the Mughals significantly weakened, the Sikh army, known as the Dal Khalsa, a rearrangement of the Khalsa inaugurated by Guru Gobind Singh, led expeditions against them and the Afghans in the west. This led to a growth of the army which split into different confederacies or semi-independent misls. Each of these component armies controlled different areas and cities. However, in the period from 1762 to 1799, Sikh commanders of the misls appeared to be coming into their own as independent warlords.
The formation of the empire began with the capture of Lahore, by Ranjit Singh, from its Afghan ruler, Zaman Shah Durrani, and the subsequent and progressive expulsion of Afghans from the Punjab, by defeating them in the Afghan-Sikh Wars, and the unification of the separate Sikh misls. Ranjit Singh was proclaimed as Maharaja of the Punjab on 12 April 1801 (to coincide with Vaisakhi), creating a unified political state. Sahib Singh Bedi, a descendant of Guru Nanak, conducted the coronation. Ranjit Singh rose to power in a very short period, from a leader of a single misl to finally becoming the Maharaja of Punjab. He began to modernize his army, using the latest training as well as weapons and artillery. After the death of Ranjit Singh, the empire was weakened by internal divisions and political mismanagement. Finally, by 1849 the state was dissolved after the defeat in the Anglo-Sikh wars.
The Sikh Empire was divided into four provinces: Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, and Kashmir from 1799 to 1849.
The foundations of the Sikh Empire can be traced to as early as 1707, the year of Aurangzeb's death and the start of the downfall of the Mughal Empire. With the Mughals significantly weakened, the Sikh army, known as the Dal Khalsa, a rearrangement of the Khalsa inaugurated by Guru Gobind Singh, led expeditions against them and the Afghans in the west. This led to a growth of the army which split into different confederacies or semi-independent misls. Each of these component armies controlled different areas and cities. However, in the period from 1762 to 1799, Sikh commanders of the misls appeared to be coming into their own as independent warlords.
The formation of the empire began with the capture of Lahore, by Ranjit Singh, from its Afghan ruler, Zaman Shah Durrani, and the subsequent and progressive expulsion of Afghans from the Punjab, by defeating them in the Afghan-Sikh Wars, and the unification of the separate Sikh misls. Ranjit Singh was proclaimed as Maharaja of the Punjab on 12 April 1801 (to coincide with Vaisakhi), creating a unified political state. Sahib Singh Bedi, a descendant of Guru Nanak, conducted the coronation. Ranjit Singh rose to power in a very short period, from a leader of a single misl to finally becoming the Maharaja of Punjab. He began to modernize his army, using the latest training as well as weapons and artillery. After the death of Ranjit Singh, the empire was weakened by internal divisions and political mismanagement. Finally, by 1849 the state was dissolved after the defeat in the Anglo-Sikh wars.
The Sikh Empire was divided into four provinces: Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, and Kashmir from 1799 to 1849.
| Maharaja | Reign | |
| Ranjit Singh | 1801 – 1839 | |
| Kharak Singh | 1839 | |
| Nau Nihal Singh | 1839 - 1840 | |
| Chand Kaur | 1840 - 1841 | |
| Sher Singh | 1841 - 1843 | |
| Duleep Singh | 1843 - 1849 |
1 Rupee - Ranjit Singh, KM#20.1
Obv : Persian legend, Nanakshahi couplet
Sikka zad Bar Har do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast Fath Teg-i-Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak Wahib Ast
(Coin struck throught each of the two worlds by the grace of the True Lord. Of the Victory gained by the Sword of Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak is the provider).
Rev : Leaf in centre, Persian legend around, mint name and VS date
Sri Aamritsarjiv Zarb Takht Akal Bakht Julus Maimanat Manus Sanah, 1884
(Struck at illustrious Amritsar during the prosperous reign of the fortunate Akal Takht, 1884).
Details :
Plain edge
KM#20.1
HH#01.07.04
Sikka zad Bar Har do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast Fath Teg-i-Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak Wahib Ast
(Coin struck throught each of the two worlds by the grace of the True Lord. Of the Victory gained by the Sword of Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak is the provider).
Rev : Leaf in centre, Persian legend around, mint name and VS date
Sri Aamritsarjiv Zarb Takht Akal Bakht Julus Maimanat Manus Sanah, 1884
(Struck at illustrious Amritsar during the prosperous reign of the fortunate Akal Takht, 1884).
Details :
Plain edge
KM#20.1
HH#01.07.04
1 Rupee - Ranjit Singh, KM#21.1
Obv : Persian legend, Nanakshahi couplet, Actual date (18)85
Sikka zad Bar Har do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast Fath Teg-i-Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak Wahib Ast
(Coin struck throught each of the two worlds by the grace of the True Lord. Of the Victory gained by the Sword of Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak is the provider).
Rev : Leaf in centre, Persian legend around, mint name and frozen VS date 1884
Sri Aamritsarjiv Zarb Takht Akal Bakht Julus Maimanat Manus Sanah, 1884
(Struck at illustrious Amritsar during the prosperous reign of the fortunate Akal Takht, 1884).
Details :
Plain edge
KM#21.1
HH#01.10.04
Sikka zad Bar Har do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast Fath Teg-i-Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak Wahib Ast
(Coin struck throught each of the two worlds by the grace of the True Lord. Of the Victory gained by the Sword of Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak is the provider).
Rev : Leaf in centre, Persian legend around, mint name and frozen VS date 1884
Sri Aamritsarjiv Zarb Takht Akal Bakht Julus Maimanat Manus Sanah, 1884
(Struck at illustrious Amritsar during the prosperous reign of the fortunate Akal Takht, 1884).
Details :
Plain edge
KM#21.1
HH#01.10.04
1 Rupee - Ranjit Singh, KM#22.1
Obv : Persian legend, Nanakshahi couplet , Actual date (18)96
Sikka zad Bar Har do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast Fath Teg-i-Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak Wahib Ast
(Coin struck throught each of the two worlds by the grace of the True Lord. Of the Victory gained by the Sword of Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak is the provider).
Rev : Leaf in centre, Persian legend around, mint name and frozen VS date 1885
Sri Aamritsarjiv Zarb Takht Akal Bakht Julus Maimanat Manus Sanah, 1885
(Struck at illustrious Amritsar during the prosperous reign of the fortunate Akal Takht, 1885).
Details :
Plain edge
KM#22.1
HH#01.11.04
Sikka zad Bar Har do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast Fath Teg-i-Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak Wahib Ast
(Coin struck throught each of the two worlds by the grace of the True Lord. Of the Victory gained by the Sword of Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak is the provider).
Rev : Leaf in centre, Persian legend around, mint name and frozen VS date 1885
Sri Aamritsarjiv Zarb Takht Akal Bakht Julus Maimanat Manus Sanah, 1885
(Struck at illustrious Amritsar during the prosperous reign of the fortunate Akal Takht, 1885).
Details :
Plain edge
KM#22.1
HH#01.11.04
1 Rupee - Ranjit Singh, KM#22.2
Sikka zad Bar Har do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast Fath Teg-i-Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak Wahib Ast
(Coin struck throught each of the two worlds by the grace of the True Lord. Of the Victory gained by the Sword of Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak is the provider).
Rev : Leaf in centre, Katar, Persian legend around, mint name and frozen VS date 1885
Sri Aamritsarjiv Zarb Takht Akal Bakht Julus Maimanat Manus Sanah, 1885
(Struck at illustrious Amritsar during the prosperous reign of the fortunate Akal Takht, 1885).
Details :
Plain edge
KM#22.2
HH#01.11.04
1 Rupee - Duleep Singh, KM#22.5
Sikka zad Bar Har do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast Fath Teg-i-Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak Wahib Ast
(Coin struck throught each of the two worlds by the grace of the True Lord. Of the Victory gained by the Sword of Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak is the provider).
Rev : Leaf in centre, Persian legend around, mint name and frozen VS date 1885
Sri Aamritsarjiv Zarb Takht Akal Bakht Julus Maimanat Manus Sanah, 1885
(Struck at illustrious Amritsar during the prosperous reign of the fortunate Akal Takht, 1885).
Details :
Plain edge
KM#22.5
HH#01.11.04
1 Rupee - Duleep Singh, KM#22.6
Obv : Persian legend, Nanakshahi couplet , Actual date (18)99, Chhatra (umbrella)
Sikka zad Bar Har do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast Fath Teg-i-Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak Wahib Ast
(Coin struck throught each of the two worlds by the grace of the True Lord. Of the Victory gained by the Sword of Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak is the provider).
Rev : Leaf in centre, Persian legend around, mint name and frozen VS date 1885
Sri Aamritsarjiv Zarb Takht Akal Bakht Julus Maimanat Manus Sanah, 1885
(Struck at illustrious Amritsar during the prosperous reign of the fortunate Akal Takht, 1885).
Details :
Plain edge
KM#22.6
HH#01.12.04
Sikka zad Bar Har do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast Fath Teg-i-Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak Wahib Ast
(Coin struck throught each of the two worlds by the grace of the True Lord. Of the Victory gained by the Sword of Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak is the provider).
Rev : Leaf in centre, Persian legend around, mint name and frozen VS date 1885
Sri Aamritsarjiv Zarb Takht Akal Bakht Julus Maimanat Manus Sanah, 1885
(Struck at illustrious Amritsar during the prosperous reign of the fortunate Akal Takht, 1885).
Details :
Plain edge
KM#22.6
HH#01.12.04
1 Rupee - Duleep Singh, KM#22.10
Sikka zad Bar Har do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast Fath Teg-i-Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak Wahib Ast
(Coin struck throught each of the two worlds by the grace of the True Lord. Of the Victory gained by the Sword of Guru Gobind Singh Shah Nanak is the provider).
Rev : Leaf in centre, Persian legend around, mint name and frozen VS date 1885
Sri Aamritsarjiv Zarb Takht Akal Bakht Julus Maimanat Manus Sanah, 1885
(Struck at illustrious Amritsar during the prosperous reign of the fortunate Akal Takht, 1885).
Details :
Plain edge
KM#22.10
HH#01.12.04
References :
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh_Empire
- South Asian Coins & Paper Money (INDIAN EDITION) - Krause Publication
- The Coins of the Sikhs by Hans Herrli
