Ranjit Singh of Bharatpur

For other uses, see Maharaja Ranjit Singh (disambiguation).

Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Hindi: महाराजा रणजीत सिंह) was the ruling Maharaja of princely state Bharatpur (1776–1805) and successor of Maharaja Nawal Singh.

Maharaja Jawahar Singh ruled from 1763 to 1768. As he left no son, he was succeeded by his incapable, licentious and extravagant brother Maharaja Ratan Singh. Ratan Singh was ultimately killed by a juggler at Mathura. His son Kehri Singh died of smallpox in childhood. In the absence of any capable and powerful ruler, the inevitable result was a civil war and maladministration within the state. Conflict arose between Jawahar Singh's remaining brothers, Nawal Singh and Ranjit Singh. Nawal Singh ruled from 1771 to 1176, but his health was indifferent, and he finally died thereby clearing the way for Ranjit Singh to ascend the throne of Bharatpur in 1776. These internal dissensions caused the economic condition of the state to deteriorate.

In this period the seven years War between France and England was taking place. France was flourishing under the leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte who was thinking of colonising India. The British were also trying to do the same through the East India Company.

The French Governor of Pondicherry approached Captain Samru and Captain Madek to resign their service with the Jats who were considered friends of the British. According to the instructions from their Government, both the reliable and trustworthy commanders of Jats Force had to leave them, and take up their new assignment at Delhi under the Mughal Emperor.

Taking advantage of their intimate knowledge of the weakness of Bharatpur State, Mirza Najaf Khan attacked Bharatpur and defeated Ranjit Singh at Hathras. Ranjit Singh was exiled from the State and Maharani Kishori was left with the territory of Kumher having a yearly income of Rs. 7 Lakhs. However, after the death of Mirza, the Mughals in defiance of his decision attempted to capture Kumbher. Ranjit Singh consolidated his strength during his period of exile, rallied against the Mughals, gave them a crushing defeat and returned to Bharatpur victoriously. He not only regained his lost territory but also annexed some Mughal territory.

He was supported by Marathas on the condition of chauth (1/4 of war benefits). He cultivated diplomatic relations with the East India Company and gained more territory resulting in further amelioration of his position. After acquiring sufficient power, he discontinued the grant of Chauth to the Marathas, which resulted in strained relations between Marathas and Jats.

In 1802, in the war between the British and the Marathas, the latter were badly vanquished by the foreign forces under command of Lord Lake.

Yashwantrao Holkar had attacked the British and chased Colonel Manson. He had attacked Delhi to free the Moghul Emperor from the British. Meanwhile he learnt that Colonel Mare and Colonel Wallace had attacked his kingdom. He retreated, and the Jats greeted him with open arms. Lord Lake advanced on Bharatpur in spite of the combined forces of Jats and Holkars. On 13 December 1804 war broke out; it lasted for 7 months. This war is compared with the Mahabharata war by Shri Harnam Singh. Due to heavy pressure from the enemy, the Jats had to evacuate Deeg to better defensive positions.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh remained the friend of British rulers throughout his life. He fully followed the treaty with British. He died in December 1805. He had four sons, of which Maharaja Randhir Singh was the eldest and succeeded him.

Ranjit Singh of Bharatpur Sinsiniwar Jat Dynasty Born: ? ? Died: 1805
Regnal titles
Preceded by Maharaja Nawal Singh	Maharaja of Bharatpur 1776–1805 AD	Succeeded by Maharaja Randhir Singh

References

• Dr Natthan Singh: Jat - Itihasa (Hindi), Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad Gwalior, 2004
• Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihasa (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992.

Persondata
Name	Bharatpur, Ranjit Singh Of
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Date of death	1805
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