The Anglo-Sikh Wars and the Annexation of the Punjab

The two Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845 to 1846 and 1848 to 1849) ended the Sikh Empire and the Punjab was annexed by Lord Dalhousie in 1849.

The First Anglo-Sikh War (1845 to 1846)

• Background: After Ranjit Singh's death (1839), the Sikh court was unstable, and the Khalsa army was strong but badly led. The British moved troops near the Sutlej.
• War: The Sikh army crossed the Sutlej in December 1845. The main battles were Mudki (18 December 1845), Ferozeshah (21 to 22 December 1845), Aliwal (28 January 1846) and Sobraon (10 February 1846). The Sikh commanders Lal Singh and Tej Singh are said to have betrayed their own army. Governor-General Hardinge and Gough led the British.
• Treaty of Lahore (9 March 1846): The Sikhs ceded the Jalandhar Doab, paid a large indemnity (Rs 1.5 crore), and Duleep Singh stayed as the ruler. A British Resident was placed at Lahore (Henry Lawrence).
• Since the Sikhs could not pay the entire sum, the Company took Kashmir and Hazara and gave them to Gulab Singh of Jammu by the Treaty of Amritsar (16 March 1846) for Rs 75 lakh.
• Treaty of Bhairowal (December 1846): Rani Jindan was removed from the regency, a council ruled under the Resident's control, and British troops stayed in the Punjab.

The Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848 to 1849)

• Cause: Revolt of Diwan Mulraj at Multan (April 1848) after the murder of two British officers. Sher Singh Attariwala joined the rebels.
• Battles: Ramnagar (1848), Chillianwala (13 January 1849) (a costly engagement for the British under Gough), and Gujrat (21 February 1849), the decisive battle.
• Result: Dalhousie annexed the Punjab (29 March 1849). Duleep Singh was pensioned and sent to England (1854), and the Koh-i-Noor was given to Queen Victoria (1850). The Punjab was ruled by a Board of Administration (Henry Lawrence, John Lawrence, Charles Mansel) and from 1853 by a Chief Commissioner (John Lawrence).