Sikh Empire

Sikh Empire was an empire in Indus, Punjab and Kashmir (South Asia) that lasted from 1799 to 1849 CE, about 50 years. Its people spoke Indo-Aryan languages (Vedic, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Sinhala).

Ranjit Singh took Lahore in 1799 and built a modern army with European officers, conquering Multan, Kashmir and Peshawar. After his death the British won two Anglo-Sikh wars and annexed Punjab in 1849.

See Sikh Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1799 to 1849 CE

Duration

50 years

Type

Empire

Region

Indus, Punjab and Kashmir, South Asia

Language family

Indo-Aryan

Capital

Lahore

Came from

• Sikh Misls c. 1716 to 1799 CE

Became

• Company rule in India 1757 to 1858 CE

Neighbours in South Asia

• Mughal Empire 1526 to 1857 CE
• Ahom Kingdom 1228 to 1826 CE
• Kingdom of Mysore c. 1399 to 1950 CE
• Kingdom of Kandy 1469 to 1815 CE
• Kingdom of Nepal 1768 to 2008 CE
• Hyderabad State 1724 to 1948 CE
• Maratha Confederacy 1674 to 1818 CE
• Company rule in India 1757 to 1858 CE
• Durrani Empire 1747 to 1823 CE
• Kingdom of Mewar c. 728 to 1949 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Portuguese Brazil 1500 to 1815 CE, South America
• New Spain 1521 to 1821 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Viceroyalty of Peru 1542 to 1824 CE, South America
• Habsburg Monarchy 1526 to 1804 CE, Europe

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