Sher Singh
Encyclopedia
Maharaja
Sher Singh (December 1807 - September 16 1843) was a Sikh
ruler of the sovereign
country of Punjab
and the Sikh Empire. He was the son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
and Queen Rani Mehtab Kaur (not to be confused with Maharani Mahtab Devi Sahiba, d/o Maharaja Sansar Chand of Kangra, another wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh) who was also the mother of Prince Tara Singh. He became Maharaja in 1841 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's father, Kharhak Singh.
Proclaimed Maharaja by his Vizier
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, his prime minister
), he won the throne after a protracted siege of the Lahore Fort
which was held by the Royal family. Thousands died in the siege. Historians record that he was not very smart politically and let the Dogra
brothers take charge of all functions of state. The Dogra brothers, like puppet masters, pulled the strings of others to bring about the death of Sher Singh. Sher Singh was killed as he reached for a new shotgun held by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia his cousin, who pulled the trigger. Sher Singh only had time to utter, "what treachery." The Sandhawalias also murdered Wazir Dhian Singh Dogra. The Sandhawalias were thought to have also had designs on the empire.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh had three other sons Maharaja Kharhak Singh, Prince Pashaura Singh
and Prince Tara Singh. (Prince Tara Singh born of same mother as Sher Singh Rani Mehtab Kaur). Prince Peshaura Singh had rebelled and had taken Attock
under the instructions of the Dogra brothers. Prime minister Jawahar Singh (Jind Kaur
's brother) rushed forces to Attock to stop the rebellion and in the process Prince Peshaura Singh was killed. The Sikh Khalsa army in revenge for the killing of the rebelling prince killed Duleep Singh's maternal uncle Prime minister Jawahar Singh in front of her and Duleep Singh as punishment at Lahore on September 21, 1845.
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
Sher Singh (December 1807 - September 16 1843) was a Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
ruler of the sovereign
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
country of Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
and the Sikh Empire. He was the son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
and Queen Rani Mehtab Kaur (not to be confused with Maharani Mahtab Devi Sahiba, d/o Maharaja Sansar Chand of Kangra, another wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh) who was also the mother of Prince Tara Singh. He became Maharaja in 1841 after the sudden death of Nau Nihal Singh
Nau Nihal Singh
Maharaja Nau Nihal Singh was a Sikh ruler of the sovereign country of Punjab and the Sikh Empire. He was the son of Maharani Chand Kaur and Maharaja Kharak Singh, himself eldest son and heir of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Sher-e-Panjab and the Grandson of Datar Kaur.After the death of Ranjit 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's father, Kharhak Singh.
Proclaimed Maharaja by his Vizier
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
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Wazir
Wazir or Vazir means Minister in Middle Eastern languages. It may refer to:-People:* Wazir Akbar Khan, an Afghan prince, general, wazir, ghazi, tribal leader, victor of first Anglo-Afghan war, hero and an Afghan legend....
, his prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
), he won the throne after a protracted siege of the Lahore Fort
Lahore Fort
The Lahore Fort, locally referred to as Shahi Qila is citadel of the city of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the northwestern corner of the Walled City of Lahore...
which was held by the Royal family. Thousands died in the siege. Historians record that he was not very smart politically and let the Dogra
Dogra
The Dogras are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group in South Asia. Being a diversified group, the Dogras include both Savarnas such as Brahmins, Rajputs and Non-savarnas. The Dogras also incluide merchant castes such as Mahajans...
brothers take charge of all functions of state. The Dogra brothers, like puppet masters, pulled the strings of others to bring about the death of Sher Singh. Sher Singh was killed as he reached for a new shotgun held by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia his cousin, who pulled the trigger. Sher Singh only had time to utter, "what treachery." The Sandhawalias also murdered Wazir Dhian Singh Dogra. The Sandhawalias were thought to have also had designs on the empire.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh had three other sons Maharaja Kharhak Singh, Prince Pashaura Singh
Pashaura Singh
Prince Pashaura Singh was one of the sons of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. His mother was Rani Daya Kaur.Following the death Ranjit Singh the kingdom of the Punjab was subject to bitter infighting between the various factions who were vying for power...
and Prince Tara Singh. (Prince Tara Singh born of same mother as Sher Singh Rani Mehtab Kaur). Prince Peshaura Singh had rebelled and had taken Attock
Attock
Attock is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Attock District...
under the instructions of the Dogra brothers. Prime minister Jawahar Singh (Jind Kaur
Jind Kaur
Maharani Jind Kaur, also popularly known as Rani Jindan. She was the youngest wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the mother of the last Sikh Emperor, Maharajah Duleep Singh. In 1845 she became Regent of Punjab for Duleep Singh. The Queen Mother of the last Sikh sovereign of the Punjab...
's brother) rushed forces to Attock to stop the rebellion and in the process Prince Peshaura Singh was killed. The Sikh Khalsa army in revenge for the killing of the rebelling prince killed Duleep Singh's maternal uncle Prime minister Jawahar Singh in front of her and Duleep Singh as punishment at Lahore on September 21, 1845.