First Anglo-Sikh War

The First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846) was a major military conflict fought between the British East India Company and the Sikh Empire in north-western India. It marked a turning point in the subcontinent’s colonial history, leading to the weakening of Sikh sovereignty in Punjab and the eventual establishment of British dominance over the region. The war was primarily triggered by political instability in the Sikh Empire following the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and by growing mistrust and tension between the Sikh army and the British authorities along the frontier.

Background

After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839, the powerful and unified Sikh Empire he had built began to disintegrate. A series of assassinations, internal conspiracies, and power struggles destabilised the Lahore Durbar (Sikh court). Between 1839 and 1845, five different rulers ascended the throne, including Ranjit Singh’s sons Kharak Singh and Sher Singh, both of whom were assassinated.
The real power gradually came to be held by the Khalsa Army, a large and well-trained force originally created by Ranjit Singh but now largely uncontrolled. The army became increasingly assertive, influencing state policy and resenting the growing British presence along the Sutlej River, which demarcated the Sikh frontier from British-controlled territories.
On the British side, the East India Company had expanded its influence steadily across India and viewed the turbulent situation in Punjab with suspicion. British forces were stationed along the Sutlej, particularly at Ferozepur and Ambala, ready to respond to any perceived Sikh aggression.

Causes of the War

Several political and military factors contributed to the outbreak of the First Anglo-Sikh War:

• Succession Crisis and Weak Leadership: The constant power struggles at the Lahore Durbar after Ranjit Singh’s death weakened central authority.
• Rise of the Khalsa Army: The Sikh army, frustrated by court intrigues, became independent and often acted against the Durbar’s authority.
• British Expansionism: The British policy of annexation and interference in neighbouring states alarmed the Sikhs, who feared the eventual takeover of Punjab.
• Frontier Tensions: The presence of large British forces near the Sutlej and their fortifications at Ferozepur were viewed by the Sikhs as provocative.
• Mutual Distrust: Both sides misinterpreted each other’s defensive measures as preparations for war, eventually leading to open hostilities.

Outbreak of War

The war began in December 1845, when the Sikh army under the command of Tej Singh and Lal Singh crossed the Sutlej River into British territory. Although this move was not formally sanctioned by the Lahore Durbar, it was treated by the British as an act of invasion.
The Governor-General, Sir Henry Hardinge, and Sir Hugh Gough, the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in India, took immediate charge of military operations. The conflict quickly escalated into a series of fierce battles across Punjab and the Sutlej frontier.

Major Battles of the First Anglo-Sikh War

1. Battle of Mudki (18 December 1845): This was the first major engagement, fought near Mudki in Punjab. The British forces under Sir Hugh Gough faced the Sikh army led by Lal Singh. Despite the Sikhs’ strong artillery and resistance, the British managed to win due to superior coordination and discipline.
2. Battle of Ferozeshah (21–22 December 1845): One of the bloodiest battles of the war, fought near Ferozeshah. The Sikhs fought with determination, and the outcome initially seemed uncertain. However, disunity among Sikh commanders and British reinforcements turned the tide in favour of the British.
3. Battle of Baddowal (21 January 1846): A smaller engagement in which the Sikh forces defeated a British detachment under Sir Harry Smith, inflicting heavy losses. It was a temporary setback for the British.
4. Battle of Aliwal (28 January 1846): Regarded as one of the most decisive British victories, this battle saw Sir Harry Smith defeat the Sikh army under Ranjodh Singh Majithia. The British success restored their morale and strategic advantage.
5. Battle of Sobraon (10 February 1846): The final and most decisive battle of the war. The Sikh army, commanded by Tej Singh, entrenched itself strongly on the eastern bank of the Sutlej. After a prolonged and brutal fight, the British forces stormed the Sikh defences and inflicted a crushing defeat. Thousands of Sikh soldiers were killed or drowned in the river during their retreat. This battle effectively ended the First Anglo-Sikh War.

Treaty of Lahore (1846)

The war formally concluded with the Treaty of Lahore, signed on 9 March 1846 between the Sikh Durbar and the British East India Company. The terms were harsh and significantly reduced Sikh sovereignty:

• The Sikhs had to cede the territories between the Beas and Sutlej rivers, as well as the hill regions including Jammu and Kashmir, to the British.
• The Lahore Durbar was required to pay an indemnity of one and a half crore rupees as war compensation.
• The size of the Sikh army was drastically reduced.
• A British Resident was stationed at Lahore, placing the Sikh administration under indirect British supervision.
• The infant Maharaja Duleep Singh was recognised as the ruler of Punjab, with his mother Rani Jindan Kaur as regent under British control.

Since the indemnity could not be fully paid in cash, the Sikh government ceded the Kashmir region, which the British later sold to Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu under the Treaty of Amritsar (1846), creating the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Consequences of the War

The First Anglo-Sikh War had far-reaching political and territorial implications:

• Loss of Sikh Independence: Although Punjab remained nominally under Duleep Singh, effective power passed to the British Resident.
• British Expansion: The war extended British influence to the entire north-western frontier of India.
• Discontent in Punjab: The imposition of British authority and the disbanding of large sections of the Sikh army created resentment, setting the stage for future conflict.
• Creation of Jammu and Kashmir: The sale of Kashmir to Gulab Singh established the Dogra dynasty, which ruled the region until 1947.
• Prelude to the Second Anglo-Sikh War: Continued tension and dissatisfaction with British interference ultimately led to another conflict in 1848–49, resulting in the annexation of Punjab.

Leadership and Military Strategy

The Sikh army, known as the Khalsa, was one of the most formidable indigenous forces in Asia at the time. Trained along European lines by French and Italian officers in Ranjit Singh’s service, it possessed advanced artillery and excellent cavalry. However, during the war, the effectiveness of the Khalsa was undermined by poor leadership and treachery from some of its commanders, particularly Lal Singh and Tej Singh, who were suspected of colluding with the British.
The British army, though initially under pressure, benefitted from its discipline, superior logistics, and reinforcements. The leadership of Sir Hugh Gough and Governor-General Hardinge proved decisive in the later stages of the war.

Significance

The First Anglo-Sikh War was one of the most intense and evenly matched conflicts fought by the British in India. It demonstrated both the military strength of the Sikh Empire and the strategic superiority of British forces. The war’s outcome marked the beginning of the end of Sikh sovereignty, paving the way for the complete annexation of Punjab after the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49).