Sher Singh

Maharaja Sher Singh
A bust portrait of Sher Singh, King of Lahore
Reign	1841 - 1843
Born	4 December 1807
Died	15 September 1843
Spouse	Prem Kaur
Religion	Sikh
Occupation	Maharaja of Sikh Empire

Maharaja Sher Singh (4 December 1807 - 15 September 1843) was a Sikh ruler of the sovereign country of Punjab and the Sikh Empire.

He was the son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Maharani Mehtab Kaur, who was also the mother of Prince Tara Singh (1807-1859). (Mehtab Kaur, who was also known as Mahitab Kaur, is not to be confused with Maharani Mahtab Devi Sahiba, daughter of Maharaja Sansar Chand of Kangra, another wife, who committed sati in 1839 with Ranjit Singh lying with his head on her lap.)

Life

The Maharaja Sher Singh

Sher Singh

He became Maharaja on 27 January 1841,^[1] after the sudden death of Nau Nihal Singh whose death was set in motion, some say purposely, while returning from his father's cremation. He was the half brother of Nau Nihal Singh's father, Maharaja Kharak Singh.

Proclaimed Maharaja by his wazir (prime minister) Dhian Singh Dogra, he won the throne after a protracted siege of the Lahore Fort which was held by the Royal family. Thousands died in the siege.

Historians record that he was not very smart politically and let the Dogra brothers take charge of all functions of state. The Dogras, like puppet masters, pulled the strings of others to bring about the death of Sher Singh.

Sher Singh was killed as he reached for a new shotgun held by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia, his cousin, who pulled the trigger. Sher Singh only had time to utter, "what treachery." The Sandhawalias also murdered Dhian Singh. The Sandhawalias were thought to have also had designs on the empire.

Notes

Maharaja Sher Singh (1807-1843) seated, attended by his council in the Lahore Fort.

1. Hasrat, B.J. "Sher Singh, Maharaja". Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Punjab University Patiala.

External links

• Maharaja Sher Singh (1807 - 1843)
• .