Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 1839 (c)

Miniature on ivory set in a gold frame as a brooch. Inscribed verso, 'Portrait of Ranjit Sing [sic] Presented by him to Honoria Lawrence', 1839 (c).

Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) was ruler of the Sikh Empire of the Punjab. Commander of a powerful army and skilled diplomat, he was on fairly good terms with the British for most of his reign. Prior to the 1st Afghan War (1839-1842), he had already attempted to replace Emir Dost Muhammad with Shah Shuja and had annexed Peshawar, the richest Afghan province.

The growing British fear of Russian influence in Afghanistan and Dost Muhammad's refusal to co-operate, led the British into joining Ranjit Singh in support of Shah Shuja's claim to the throne. On 25 June 1838 they therefore negotiated the Treaty of Simla between Shujah and the Sikh ruler, confirming the latter in possession of Peshawar. In return, the Sikhs were supposed to use their powerful army in support of Shuja. The British would offer only minor assistance. However, the cunning old maharaja was disinclined to risk his own soldiers and was happy to let the British take the lead militarily. He also refused to let the British cross the heartland of his territory en route to Afghanistan, which ruled out the use of the Khyber Pass as an invasion route.