Ranjit Singh of Bharatpur

Maharaja Ranjit Singh (2 May 1745 – 6 December 1805) was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Bharatpur (r. 1778–1805) and the successor of Maharaja Kehri Singh, he was bestowed upon the title of Farzand Jang meaning Son of War by the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. He participated in the Second Anglo-Maratha War on the side of the Marathas and his forces proved to be a tough match for Lord Lake.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Maharaja of Bharatpur
Farzand Jang

Portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Reign 28 March 1778 – 6 December 1805
Coronation Gopal Bhavan, Deeg, 29 March 1778
Predecessor Kehri Singh
Successor Randhir Singh
Born 2 May 1745
Deeg
Died 6 December 1805
Govardhan
Issue Randhir Singh
Baldeo Singh
Lachman Singh
House Sinsinwar Jat Dynasty
Father Suraj Mal
Religion Hinduism

Biography

Jawahar Singh had no sons thus he was succeeded by his brother Ratan Singh, who was murdered in 1769. Nawal Singh seized Bharatpur, while Ranjit Singh occupied Kumbhar, which Nawal Singh invaded. Ranjit Singh called in the Sikhs for help, the Sikh then set out to help Ranjit Singh. They arrived near Aligarh in January 1770, Nawal Singh marched to oppose them. The rumours of the Sikhs’ ferocity terrified him so much he fled without even meeting them, the Sikh pursued him plundering and ravaging all the way.

In 1805 war between the Britishers and the Holkar broke out. Maharaja Ranjit Singh agreed to help Yashwant Rao Holkar and the two Maharajas fell back to Bharatpur fort. The British surrounded the fort and after three months, Ranjit Singh agreed to peace and signed a treaty with the British, thus becoming a princely state.