Editing History of India (section)

=== Sikh Empire ===
{{Main|Sikh Empire}}
{{See also|Sikh architecture}}
The Sikh Empire was a political entity that governed the Northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent, based around the [[Punjab]], from 1799 to 1849. It was forged, on the foundations of the [[Khalsa]], under the leadership of [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]] (1780–1839).{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Maharaja Ranjit Singh consolidated much of northern India into an empire using his [[Sikh Khalsa Army]], trained in European military techniques and equipped with modern military technologies. Ranjit Singh proved himself to be a master strategist and selected well-qualified generals for his army. He successfully ended the [[Afghan-Sikh Wars]]. In stages, he added central Punjab, the provinces of Multan and Kashmir, and the Peshawar Valley to his empire.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Singh|first=Gulcharan|date=July 1981|title=Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Principles of War|journal=USI Journal|volume=111|issue=465|pages=184–192}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Grewal|first=J.S.|author-link=J. S. Grewal|year=1990|title=The Sikhs of the Punjab|publisher=Cambridge University Press|series=The New Cambridge History of India|volume=II.3|pages=101, 103–104|isbn=978-0-521-26884-4|quote=Aggrandisement which made him the master of an empire ... the British recognized Ranjit Singh as the sole sovereign ruler of the Punjab and left him free to ... oust the Afghans from Multan and Kashmir ... Peshawar was taken over ... The real strength of Ranjit Singh's army lay in its infantry and artillery ... these new wings played an increasingly decisive role ... possessed 200 guns. Horse artillery was added in the 1820s ... nearly half of his army in terms of numbers consisted of men and officers trained on European lines ... In the expansion of Ranjit Singh's dominions ... vassalage proved to be nearly as important as the westernized wings of his army.}}</ref>

At its peak in the 19th century, the empire extended from the [[Khyber Pass]] in the west, to [[Kashmir]] in the north, to [[Sindh]] in the south, running along Sutlej river to [[Himachal Pradesh|Himachal]] in the east. After the death of Ranjit Singh, the empire weakened, leading to conflict with the British East India Company. The [[First Anglo-Sikh War]] and [[Second Anglo-Sikh War]] marked the downfall of the Sikh Empire, making it among the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to be conquered by the British.