In December, 1845 AD approximately 60,000 Sikh soldiers crossed the Sutlej river under the leadership of Lal Singh and Tej Singh. On December 13, Lord Hardinge declared war against the Sikhs.

Battle of Mudki, December 18, 1845 A.D. : The British army, reached Mudki, fifteen Kms. away from Ferozeshah under the leadership of Sir Hugh Gough. Lal Singh brought a small army of the Sikhs at Mudki. On December 18, 1845 A.D. the war started. As soon as the war started, Lal Singh fled from the battlefield as per his plan. The Sikh soldiers fought bravely. But they were defeated due to their small number and treachery of their leader.

Battle of Ferozeshah or Ferozeshahar, December 21, 1845 A.D. : After the battle of Mudki on December 20, 1845, the British army joined the army of Hugh Gough under the leadership of John Littler from Ferozepur. On December 21, at 4 o'clock in the evening, the British army attacked the Sikh army which was camping at Ferozeshah or Ferozeshahar. In this battle, Lal Singh and Tej Singh were leading the Sikh army. The Sikh army fought with extraordinary courage and bravery. The cannons of the Sikhs destroyed one-third cannons of the enemy. But at night, Lal Singh fled from the battlefield. On the other hand, Tej Singh who did not want the victory of the Sikh army also fled even on the arrival of fresh and brave battalions. As a result, the Britishers won the battle.

Battle of Baddowal, January 21, 1846 AD : On January 21, 1846 A.D. Sardar Ranjodh Singh Majithia and Sardar Ajit Singh of Ladwa crossed the river Sutlej along will their army. They made preparations to attack Ludhiana. When Sir Henry Smith came to know about it he moved alongwith his army, to defend Ludhiana. Both the sides fought at Baddowal. Sardar Ranjodh Singh won this battle. The Sikhs got hold of the ration and other goods of the Britishers.

Battle of Aliwal, January 28, 1846 A.D. : On the arrival of army assistance from Ferozepur, Sir Henry Smith suddenly attacked the Sikh army camping at Aliwal under the leadership of Sardar Ranjodh Singh. As a result, the Sikh army fled and crossed the river Satluj.The British were declared victorious in this war.

Battle of Sabhraon, February 10, 1846 A.D. : The Sikh army had encamped at Sabhraon under the leadership of Tej Singh and Lal Singh. The Sikhs gave the Britishers 13 days to regain their position and did not attack them.On February 10, 1846 A.D. when the war started between the Britishers and the Sikhs, Tej Singh and Lal Singh fled from the battlefield.Sham Singh Attariwala fought with the enemies till his last breath. The Sikh army was defeated because of his death.Around 320 British soldiers were killed and 2083 wounded.As many as 3125 Sikh Soldiers died fighting.

The British army crossed river Sutlej after the victory of Sabhraon. The Sikhs did not resist the army advancing towards Lahore. The British army reached Lahore on February 20, 1846 A.D. After the victory in the Battle of Sabhraon, the British Governor-General, Lord Hardinge concluded Treaty of Lahore with Maharaja of Punjab, Dalip Singh on 9th March, 1846.

Treaties of Lahore :

The First Treaty of Lahore, March 9, 1846 A.D. : After the first Anglo-Sikh War, the Governor General Lord Hardinge signed a treaty with the Lahore Government. The main terms of the treaty are given below :

• The British Government would maintain friendship with Maharja Dalip Singh and his successors.
• The Maharaja of Lahore on his behalf and on behalf of his successors agreed to remove his possession from areas in the south of river Satluj
• The Maharaja handed over the forts situated between the areas of river Satluj and Beas to the British.
• The British demanded Rupees one and half crores from Lahore Government in the form of war indemnity.
• The Maharaja promised to dissolve the rebellious brigades of Lahore army and snatch their weapons.
• It was also decided that the Lahore Kingdom army would comprise twenty thousand infantry and twelve thousand cavalry soldiers.
• The Maharaja would not recruit any British, European or American in his service without the permission of the British Government.
• The British Government accepted Dalip Singh, as the Maharaja of Lahore, Rant Jindan as his Guardian and Lal Singh as the Prime Minister.
• The boundaries of the Lahore Kingdom would not be changed without the permission of British Government.
• The British Government would not interfere in the internal affairs of Lahore Kingdom.
• If the British Government gives some hilly regions to Gulab Singh, the Maharaja would accept Gulab Singh’s hold over it.

Supplementary Articles of the Agreement, March 11, 1846 A.D. :

A second treaty of Lahore was signed on March 11, 1846 A.D. on the request of Lal Singh. The main provisions of the treaty are given below :

• The British Government would keep a large army in Lahore till the end of 1846 A.D. for the protection of Maharaja Dalip Singh and the residents.
• The Fort and City of Lahore would remain in the possession of the British army.
• The Lahore Government would honour the Jagirdars and officials of the regions given to the Britishers according to the terms and conditions of the treaty of Lahore signed on March 9, 1846.
• The Lahore Government would have the right to take the property and treasure with the exception of the cannons from the forts of the regions given to the Britishers.

Significance of the Treaties of Lahore :

Although Lord Hardinge did not annexe Punjab to the British Empire after defeating the Sikhs, yet he weakened the Lahore Government. The Britishers captured the areas of Lahore Kingdom situated in the south of the Satluj. They also occupied fertile areas of Doab Bist Jalandhar, Kashmir, Kangra and the hill States of Hazara were also freed from the reign of Lahore Kingdom. The Lahore army was reduced.A huge amount was also collected from Lahore Kingdom Punjab was weakened economically and militarily to the extent that the British could occupy it any time.

Treaty of Bhairowal, December 16, 1846 AD. :

The treaty of Bhairowal was signed after the Treaty of Lahore.

Causes :

According to the Treaty of Lahore, the British army was to stay in Lahore for one year. After the completion of one year, Hardinge thought of appointing a British resident and also keeping the army in Lahore State. Maharani Jindan did not want this. A special meeting of the ministers and sardars of Lahore durbar was convened on December 15,1846 A.D to discuss this issue. In the meeting, only those terms of Governor General were declared which were related to keeping of British army in Lahore based on the treaty of 1846 A.D. On December 16, prominent sardars signed the agreement except Maharani Jindan.

Terms of the Treaty :

• A British Resident appointed by the Governor General would stay in Lahore.
• The administration of the Lahore Kingdom would be run by a Council of Regency of eight Sardars till the time Maharaja Dalip Singh was a minor. The names of those sardars were also mentioned in the treaty.
• The Council of Regency would look after the administrative work on the advice of the British Resident.
• Maharani Jindan was disassociated from the Kingdom. She was given an annual pension of Rs one and half lacs.
• The British Army would stay at Lahore for the protection of the Maharaja and to maintain peace and order.
• The British soldiers would be entitled to capture any fort or military cantonment in Lahore on the orders of the Governor General
• The Lahore Kingdom would pay Rs. twenty two lacs annually to the British Government for the expenditure of the British Army.
• The terms of the treaty would remain in force till Maharaja Dalip Singh attains adulthood.

Significance :

The Treaty of Bhairowal was very significant in the history of Punjab and India :

• According to this Treaty, the Britishers became the masters of Punjab. The British Resident got unlimited rights and powers in the administrative matters of the Lahore Kingdom. Henry Lawrence was appointed the First British Resident of Punjab.
• According to this Treaty, Maharani Jindan was disassociated from the administration. After some time she was sent to Shekhupura. Thereafter, she was exiled and sent to Benares.

Reasons for not annexing Punjab by the British in 1846 A.D. :

Lord Hardinge did not annexe Punjab to the British Empire even after the defeat of the Sikhs in the First Anglo-Sikh War. It had following reasons :

• Although the Sikhs were defeated in the battles of Mudki, Ferozeshah and Sabhraon but still the Sikh soldiers were camping at Lahore, Amritsar and Peshawar. If the Britishers had annexed Punjab, they would have to fight with those soldiers.
• To maintain law and order in Punjab, the expenditure would have been more than the income and Lord Hardinge did not want to increase the expenditure by annexing Punjab to the British Empire.
• The Sikh Kingdom was a buffer between the British Empire and Afghanistan.
• Lord Hardinge wanted to enter into such an alliance with the Punjabis which could weaken Punjab, so that he could annexe Punjab whenever he wanted.