Sahib Singh (1773–1813) was the third ruler and the Raja-e-Rajgan (King of Kings) of the Patiala. Singh's reign was noted for the power and influence wielded by his sister, Sahib Kaur, who served as his Chief Minister and the General of Patiala's army.[1] He was also a member of the Phulkian dynasty. In 1809, Singh allied with and pledged loyalty to the British Empire.[2]
| Sahib Singh | |
|---|---|
| Raja-e-Rajgan | |
 Detail of an equestrian portrait of Sahib Singh | |
| Maharaja of Patiala | |
| Predecessor | Amar Singh |
| Successor | Karam Singh |
| Regent | Dewan Nandu Mal (1781–1790) |
| Born | 18 August 1773 |
| Died | 1813 |
| Spouse | Rattan Kaur |
| Issue | Karam Singh |
| Dynasty | Phulkian dynasty |
| Father | Amar Singh |
| Religion | Sikhism |
Early life
editSahib Singh was born on 18 August 1773 and succeeded his father, Amar Singh, as the Raja-e-Rajgan (King of Kings) of Patiala in 1781 at the age of 7.[3]
Reign
editRegency
editSingh acceded to the throne in 1781 when he was seven years old. From 1781 to 1790, the prime minister of Patiala, Dewan Nandu Mal, was the regent of Patiala and his grandmother, Rani Hukman also played a key role in the state's administration.[4] During his regency, Singh faced rebellion from several family members, which Mal successfully suppressed. In 1787, he married Rattan Kaur and in 1790, the regency in Patiala ended and Singh removed Mal as prime minister by exiling him from the state.[4]
Rule and administration
edit
After Singh took full control of Patiala State in 1790, he appointed his sister Sahib Kaur, as his Chief Minister and the leader of his armies.[1][5] In 1794, the Maratha Confederacy invaded Patiala; however, Kaur managed to successfully repel the Marathas.[1] Kaur was later dismissed from her offices after a quarrel with Singh.[1] In 1809, Singh and the rulers of the other the Cis-Sutlej states, pledged their loyalty to the British Empire, in return for protection from Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire.[2][6]
Death and succession
editSingh died in 1813 and was succeeded by his son Karam Singh, who was a minor at the time.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Imperial Gazetteer of India. Vol. XX. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1908. pp. 35–36. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
- ^ a b Griffin, Sir Lepel Henry (1870). The Rajas of the Punjab: Being the History of the Principal States in the Punjab and Their Political Relations with the British Government. Lahore: Punjab Printing Company. pp. 105–107. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
- ^ Singh, Ganda, ed. (1985). The Punjab Past and Present. Part 1. Vol. 19. Patiala: Punjabi University. pp. 32–36.
- ^ a b Herrli, Hans (1993). The Coins of the Sikhs. Indian Coin Society. p. 206. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ a b Singh, Kirpal (2005). Baba Ala Singh: Founder of Patiala Kingdom (2nd ed.). Amritsar: Guru Nanak Dev University. p. 121.
- ^ Sharma, B.R. (1984). Gazzeteer Of Punjab Sangrur. Chandigarh: Revenue Department, Punjab. pp. 30–32.