Sher Singh

Sher Singh (4 December 1807 – 15 September 1843) was the fourth Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. He was elder of the twins of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire and Maharani Mehtab Kaur. His reign began on 18 January 1841 following his assault on Lahore which ended the brief regency of Maharani Chand Kaur. He was assassinated on 15 September 1843 by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia, a relative. His short reign only lasted for two years.

Military campaigns Barelvi declared jihad against the Sikhs and established a camp in Balakot. Along with Shah Ismail Dehlvi and his tribesmen, in 1831, Sher Singh accompanied by Pratab Singh Attarwala and Akali Hanuman Singh arrived in Balakot. He invested Balakot on all sides. The Sikh slowly advanced narrowing the besieged area gradually. On reaching near the Sayyid residence, the Sikh drew out their swords, cut down the sayyid troops and shot down Sayyid Ahmed Khan. His head cut off for display, and about 500 followers of Sayyid were killed including Shah Ismail Dehlvi. The entire property of Sayyid fell into the hands of Sikhs. A sum of Rs. 50,000 along with a letter of appreciation was sent to Sher Singh promising an additional Jagir.

Reign Maharaja Sher Singh seated, attended by his Council in the Tambi-khana room of the Shish Mahal section of the Lahore Fort, by August Schoefft, ca.1841–55. He instigated the servant girls of Chand Kaur to murder her and marched to Lahore with his loyal troops to stake his claim to the Sikh throne in January 1841. Sher Singh became the maharaja on 27 January 1841, 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, former 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.

Sher Singh had pro-British views, a continuation of his father's amicable ties to the British. The painter August Schoefft arrived in the Punjab and worked during his reign. while he was asked to inspect a new shotgun brought by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia. Sandhawalia then pulled the trigger and then killed the wounded Sher Singh with his sword by cutting off his head.

Prem Kaur, daughter of Hari Singh, a Jatt zamindar of Mouza Luddhewala in Gujranwala, married 1822, given a pension of Rs. 7,200. Had a son named Pratap Singh, who was murdered in 1843. Later adopted a son named Narain Singh post-annexation in 1849. Partap Kaur (died August 1857), daughter of sardar Jugut Singh of Kot Kapura, married 1825, given a pension of Rs. 5,400. Adopted a cousin's son named Thakoor Singh in 1847, who went on to marry a Jatt woman who was the daughter of a zamindar from Nabha State. Golee, former prostitute from Gurdaspur, married 1832, given a pension of Rs. 3,600 Kundo, daughter of Jatt zamindar of a village near Kangra, originally sent as slave-girl in 1829 from Kangra, married 1841, given a pension of Rs. 1,260 Dukhno, daughter of a Chang zamindar, purportedly presented to Sher Singh by a kardar at Kangra, married 1842, given a pension of Rs. 9,000, resided in Benaras from July 1856 onwards, had a son named Shiv Deo Singh Dhurm Kaur Rundhavee, possibly married in 1841, given a pension of Rs. 7,200, may have adopted a son Chund Kaur, possibly married in 1842, reportedly had an illegitimate son of Sher Singh named Dewa Singh who was born in 1838

Issues The known male issues of Sher Singh were: