Sher Singh was the fourth Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. Elder of the twins of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire and Maharani Mehtab Kaur. His reign began on 18 January 1840 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.
Painting of Maharaja Sher Singh wearing the Koh-i-Noor diamond (located on his right bicep), by August Schoefft, ca.1841–42
The Maharaja Sher Singh
Maharaja Sher Singh (1807-1843) seated, attended by his council in the Lahore Fort.
Depiction of the assassination of Maharaja Sher Singh by the Sandhawalia Sardars
Ranjit Singh, popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab or "Lion of Punjab", was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. He survived smallpox in infancy but lost sight in his left eye. He fought his first battle alongside his father at age 10. After his father died around Ranjit's early teenage years, Ranjit subsequently fought several wars to expel the Afghans throughout his teenage years. At the age of 21, he was proclaimed the "Maharaja of Punjab". His empire grew in the Punjab region under his leadership through 1839.
Painting of Maharaja Ranjit Singh from the Tazkirat al-Umara, written for James Skinner, ca.1830
Image: Handprint signature and Gurmukhi script seal of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who was illiterate in the official Perso Arabic script of his empire
Birthplace of Ranjit Singh in Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan.
Ranjit Singh as a young boy, detail from a late 18th century painting of a diplomatic meeting between Sikh Misls
