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First Anglo Sikh WarStock informationGeneral Fields
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DescriptionDuring the eighteenth and early years of the nineteenth century, the red tide of British expansion had covered almost the entire Indian subcontinent, stretching to the borders of the Punjab. There the great Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh had developed his military forces to thwart any British advance into his kingdom north of the River Sutlej. Yet on the death of Ranjit Singh, unworthy successors and disparate forces fought over his legacy while the British East India Company seized on the opportunity and prepared for battle. In the winter of 1845, the First Anglo-Sikh War broke out. From the start, the two-month campaign was marred by Victorian arrogance and bluster on the British side and personal ambition, intrigue and treason in the Sikh camp. Five keenly fought contests ensued, including the great battle of Ferozeshah where the British force found itself caught between two powerful Sikh armies and came close to destruction. Declining to retreat, Sir Hugh Gough, the British Commander-in-Chief, told his second in command: 'My mind is made up. Author descriptionAmarpal Singh was born in India in 1962, and moved to Britain when he was six. He now lives with his family in London. He has worked as a computer software engineer for over 20 years, but his passion lies in writing history. He has given up his old job to concentrate on his writing. He frequently visits India where he has many family connections and is able to carry out historical research at his leisure. |