Maha Singh

Maha Singh
Tomb of Maha Singh or Mahan Singh in Gujaranwala
Tomb of Maha Singh or Mahan Singh
Predecessor Charat Singh
Successor Ranjit Singh
Spouse Raj Kaur
Issue Ranjit Singh
Father Charat Singh
Religion Sikhism

Maha Singh (Punjabi: ਮਹਾਂ ਸਿੰਘ) (alternatively Mahan Singh)(1756– April 1792)[1] [2] was ruler of Sukerchakia Misl of Punjab. Upon the death of his father, Charat Singh, he succeeded to the leadership of the Sukerchakia Misl. His son Ranjit Singh succeeded him and established the Sikh Empire. He is known for his alliance with Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and for reducing the power of the Kanheya Misl.

Early life

Maha Singh was son of Sardar Charat Singh Sukerchakia, and the father of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.He was born into a Sikh family.

Leadership of the Sukerchakia Misl

As the new leader of the Sukerchakia Misl he captured the Rohtas Fort from Nur ud-Din Bamezai, a general of Ahmad Shah Durrani. With the help of Jai Singh Kanheya he laid a four-month siege to Rasool Nagar and captured the city from Pir Mohammed, its Chattha leader. The reputation he gained as a result of the siege led to Sardars loyal to the Bhangi Misl defecting to him[3] He continued to expand his territory and captured Pindi Bhattian, Sahiwal, Isakhel, Kotli Loharan, and Jhang.[4] In 1784-5, He used a feud between rulers to raid Jammu, but because he gained a great degree of wealth without sharing or informing his partner Jai Singh Kanheya, Jai Singh refused his attempts to reconcile.[5] Maha Singh then created an alliance with Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and defeated the Kanheya Misl at the Battle of Batala. During the Battle Jai Singh Kanheya's son and successor, Gurbaksh Singh Kanheya, was killed. His widow, Sada Kaur betrothed her daughter to Ranjit Singh, Singh's Son. Sada Kaur would later succeed to the leadership of the Kanheya Misl and aided Ranjit Singh in his early victories.

During the siege of Sodhra, which was being occupied by the Bhangi Misl, he contracted dysentry and died in April 1790.[1]

Preceded by
Charat Singh		 Leader of the Sukerchakia Misl
1770 –1792		 Succeeded by
Ranjit Singh

References

  1. 1 2 Khurana, J.S. "MAHAN SINGH". Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Punjabi University Patiala. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Kakshi, S.R.; Pathak, Rashmi; Pathak, S.R.Bakshi R. (2007-01-01). Punjab Through the Ages. Sarup & Sons. pp. 272–274. ISBN 978-81-7625-738-1. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  3. ↑ Kakshi, S.R.; Rashmi Pathak; S.R.Bakshi; R. Pathak (2007). Punjab Through the Ages. New Delhi: Sarup and Son. pp. 16–17. ISBN 978-81-7625-738-1.
  4. ↑ Mahan Singh, The Sikh Encyclopedia
  5. ↑ Cunningham, Joseph Davey (1918). A history of the Sikhs, from the origin of the nation to the battles of the Sutlej. London, Newyork: Oxford University Press. p. 118.


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