Anglo -Sikh Relations from 1800 to 1839 were very cordial, as the British East India Company was very busy dealing with other Indian kings, establishing its imperial power in India, managing other powers, and facing the danger of attacks by other foreign powers in India. The British East India Company maintained very friendly relations with Maharaja Ranjit Singh. However, when the scenario changed, they took the opportunity to sign the Treaty of Amritsar in 1809 AD.
The period of Anglo-Sikh relations from 1800 to 1839 witnessed many ups and downs. The credit goes to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who had the foresight to maintain cordial relations with the British so that they would not get an opportunity to attack the Sikh Empire. Thus, Anglo-Sikh relations are divided into two stages for a better understanding from the perspective of competitive exams.
Anglo-Sikh Relations: First State (1800 – 1809 A.D.)
Emissary Yusuf Ali
Maharaja Ranjit Singh had very sharp and far-sighted thinking, as he maintained very cordial relations with the Afghan ruler, Shah Zaman. At that time, the British were annexing the territories of other kings using various tactics and excuses. Maharaja Ranjit Singh developed cordial relations with Shah Zaman, which alarmed the British Government. They feared that if Shah Zaman and Maharaja Ranjit Singh jointly attacked the British, it could prove disastrous for them.
To prevent such a situation, the British sent an emissary, Yusuf Ali, to the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. However, while the mission was still on its way, a civil war broke out in Afghanistan, and the threat posed by Shah Zaman to British India came to an end. As a result, Yusuf Ali was recalled, and the mission remained merely a goodwill mission. Nevertheless, the establishment of this mission initially laid the foundation for contact between Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the British.
Jaswant Rao Holkar visit to Punjab (1805 A.D.)
Maratha Sardar Jaswant Rao Holkar suffered a defeat against the British in 1805 AD and reached Amritsar to seek the help of Maharaja Ranjit Singh against them. At that time, Maharaja Ranjit Singh was on a military expedition against the ruler of Multan, Muzaffar Khan. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh heard that Jaswant Rao Holkar had come to Amritsar to seek his help, as British General Lake was pursuing him, he signed a pact with the ruler of Multan, Muzaffar Khan, and returned to Punjab. Maharaja Ranjit Singh gave a warm welcome to Jaswant Rao Holkar but did not agree to help him against the British, which was the main purpose of Jaswant Rao Holkar’s visit to Punjab.
Treaty of Lahore 1806 A.D.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh wisely avoided a direct conflict with the British by refusing to help the Maratha leader Jaswant Rao Holkar, who had come to Amritsar seeking assistance against the British. Therefore, Maharaja Ranjit Singh signed a treaty with the British on 1 January 1806 AD. John Malcolm represented the British, while Fateh Singh Ahluwalia represented Maharaja Ranjit Singh. This Treaty of Lahore, also known as the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, had the following clauses:
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh would not help the Maratha leader Jaswant Rao Holkar or any of his companions, especially Amir Khan. He also permitted them to leave peacefully and move at least 30 miles away from Amritsar.
- In the future, Maharaja Ranjit Singh would not maintain any kind of relations with Jaswant Rao Holkar.
- The British included an important clause stating that as long as Maharaja Ranjit Singh abstained from any kind of relations with the enemies of the British Government, the British would not enter the territory of the Sikh Empire.
Through this Treaty of Lahore in 1806 AD, Maharaja Ranjit Singh avoided a direct conflict with the British and protected the Sikh Empire from potential danger. The treaty also helped maintain cordial relations with the British, which provided protection against other possible threats.
Treaty of Amritsar 1809 A.D.
As time passed, Maharaja Ranjit Singh undertook three Malwa expeditions in 1806, 1807 and 1808, respectively. As a result, the Sardars of the Malwa region became alarmed. The British were also concerned about the growing influence of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Consequently, the British began making preparations for war against Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In response, Maharaja Ranjit Singh also started making military preparations. However, despite all the preparations, Maharaja Ranjit Singh yielded at the last moment and signed the Treaty of Amritsar on 25 April 1809 AD with the following clauses:
- There would be perpetual friendship between the British Government and the State of Lahore. It was also stated that the British Government would have no concern with the territories and subjects of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to the north of the River Sutlej.
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh would not make any encroachment into the Cis-Sutlej territories.
- Any violation of these clauses would render the treaty null and void.
The treaty was signed on 25 April 1809 AD at Amritsar by Charles Metcalfe on behalf of the British and Maharaja Ranjit Singh on behalf of the State of Lahore.
In this article, you have learned about Anglo-Sikh relations and their first phase. This topic is very important for all competitive exams, especially Punjab-level exams such as PSSSB, Patwari, Excise Inspector, Punjab Police and others.
The Treaty of Amritsar is a favourite topic among examiners and has been asked many times in various examination papers. Therefore, understanding this topic will give you extra confidence in your exam preparation.
To learn about the second phase of Anglo-Sikh relations, please read our next article, which is equally important for competitive exams.
