Maharaja Kharak Singh
Ranjit Singh's eldest son and successor. Nominal commander at Multan in 1818, he was sidelined within months of his accession and died, possibly poisoned, in November 1840.
Kharak Singh was born in 1801 at Lahore, the eldest son of Ranjit Singh and Datar Kaur. He was nominal commander in some of his father's campaigns, including Multan in 1818 and Kashmir, and was named heir.
He succeeded his father in June 1839, but he was a weak and indolent ruler, dominated by his favourite, Chet Singh Bajwa. In October 1839 the powerful Dogra minister Dhian Singh and Kharak Singh's own son Nau Nihal Singh broke into the palace and killed Chet Singh in front of him. From then on Nau Nihal Singh ruled in his name.
Kharak Singh fell ill, it is widely believed through slow poisoning, and died on 5 November 1840 at thirty-nine.
Connected
Sher-e-Punjab, the Lion of Punjab. United the misls into the Sikh Empire, ruled from Lahore for forty years and covered the Harmandir Sahib in gold.
Able grandson of Ranjit Singh who effectively ruled in his father's place. Returning from his father's cremation, he was struck by falling masonry from a Lahore gateway and died the same day.
Widow of Kharak Singh and the only woman to rule the Sikh Empire, as regent for two months in 1840–41 before Sher Singh took Lahore.
Ranjit Singh's wife from the Nakai misl and mother of Kharak Singh, who accompanied the Multan campaign and handled its supplies.
Maharaja Kharak Singh
Maharaja Kharak Singh (Maharajah Karak Singh)National Army Museum, London · photo Wikimedia Commons (Wikimedia Commons) ↗