Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a prominent leader and founder of the Sikh Empire in the early 19th century. He was born on November 13, 1780, in Gujranwala, which is now part of present-day Pakistan. Ranjit Singh's father, Maha Singh, was a Sikh chief who led a small army. After his father's death, Ranjit Singh inherited the leadership of the Sikh Confederacy at the young age of 21. He was a skilled military strategist and was able to unite the various Sikh factions into a formidable army. Under Ranjit Singh's leadership, the Sikh Empire expanded its territory and became a dominant force in northern India. He captured Lahore in 1799 and made it the capital of his empire. He then went on to conquer territories in present-day Pakistan, Afghanistan, and northwestern India. Ranjit Singh was known for his administrative reforms and was able to establish a centralized government that promoted religious tolerance and cultural richness. He encouraged trade and co...