Ranjit Singh
![[[Company style|Company School]] portrait painting of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Lucknow, Awadh, ca.1810–20](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Oval-shaped_tondo_portrait_painting_of_Maharaja_Ranjit_Singh%2C_Lucknow%2C_Awadh%2C_ca.1810%E2%80%9320_%28cropped%29.jpg)
After his father died around Ranjit's early teenage years, Ranjit subsequently fought several wars to expel the Afghans throughout his teenage years. At the age of 21, he was proclaimed the "Maharaja of Punjab". His empire grew in the Punjab region under his leadership through 1839.
Before his rise, the Punjab region had numerous warring misls (confederacies), twelve of which were under Sikh rulers and one Muslim. Ranjit Singh successfully absorbed and united the Sikh misls and took over other local kingdoms to create the Sikh Empire. He repeatedly defeated invasions by outside armies, particularly those arriving from Afghanistan, and established friendly relations with the British.
Ranjit Singh's reign introduced reforms, modernisation, investment in infrastructure and general prosperity. His Khalsa army and government included Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and Europeans. His legacy includes a period of Sikh cultural and artistic renaissance, including the rebuilding of the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar as well as other major gurdwaras, including Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Bihar and Hazur Sahib Nanded, Maharashtra under his sponsorship. Ranjit Singh was succeeded by his son Kharak Singh. Ranjit Singh also founded the Order of the Propitious Star of Punjab in 1837. Singh is known by several titles such as ''Sher-e-Punjab'' ("Lion of Punjab") and ''Sarkar-e Wallah'' (Head of Government). Provided by Wikipedia
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