The Sikh Misls[1]

• (1) Ahluwalia Led by Sardar Jassa singh ahluwalia, area of Jullundar Doab and army of 10,000 regular horsemen. Their held territory in the neighborhood of Kapurthala, in the Jalandhar doab, and some villages in Majha such as Sarhali, Jandiala, Bundala, Vairowal and Fatehabad.
• (2) Bhangi Led by Sardar Hari singh Bhangi, so called Bhangi as they liked Bhang. ( They were also called Dhillon Sardars) Area between Beas and Ravi and Ravi and Chenab, so called Bari and Rachna Doabs. Approximately, 10,000 regular horsemen. The Bhangis owned Sialkote, Gujrat, Multan, Amritsar, Tarn tarn and Lahore.
• 3) Dalewalia Led by Gulab singh Dalewalia. Later under their leader Tara Singh Ghaiba they held Rahon, Mahatpur, Nawanshaher and Phillaur. Approximately 5000 regular horsemen. They were always ahead of others. Dalewalias were continuously moving and helping other Misls on the command of supreme commanders Nawab Kapur Singh and later Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
• (4) Faizalpuria. Led by Nawab Kapur singh virk. Approximately 5,000 horsemen. The territories held were Jalandhar, and the villages of Banur, Ghanauli, Manauli and Bharatgarh, in the Malwa.
• (5) Kanaihya. Led by Jai singh Kanaihya. This regiment ruled the area of riarki around Batala approximately 8,000 horsemen.
• (6) Karor singhia. Karora singh Dhaliwal established this Misl, Their territory was Hoshiarpur and its surrounding areas. His successor Baghel singh Dhaliwal subdued the force less Mughal Emperor Shah Alam I of Delhi, and located and constructed the Gurudwaras in Delhi, in the memory of Seventh Guru, Ninth Guru and others.
• (7) Nakai Led by Hari singh Nakai. This band ruled the area between Ravi and Ghara, Naka Area. Approximately 7,000 horsemen. They ruled over the country South of Lahore, between Ravi and the Sutlej.
• (8) Nishanwala Led by Dasaundha singh. So called Nishanwala cause they carry the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag in the battle. Approximately 2,000 horsemen. Their territory was Ambala, Ropar, Anandpur Sahib, several hill chiefs paid tribute to this misl.
• (9) Ramgarhia Led by Nand singh Sanghania, so called as they extended fort of Ram Rauni at Amritsar which was later called Ramgarh. Riarki Area around Batala Approximately 5,000 horsemen. Their territory was parts of Amritsar, Qadian, Batala and Sri Hargobindpur, in the Bari doab and Miani, Sarih, and Urmur Tanda in the Jalandhar Doab. Jassa Singh Ramgarhia was a great Sikh warrior of times of Nawab Kapur Singh and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
• (10) Sukerchakia Led by Nodh Singh, Ranjit singhs Misl. Area of Gujranwala, they often carried their arms beyond Jhelum. Approximately 5,000 horsemen. Their territories were Gujranwala and parts of Pothohar (currently Rawalpindi, Islamabad, etc.) Charat Singh, Ranjit singh's grandfather was one of the commanders with Nawab Kapur singh and then with Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
• (11) Shaheed. They drew their name from their Baba Deep Singh ji Shaheed, custodian of Damdama Sahib Gurudwara. This misl was in charge of Malwa part of Punjab which is current day Ludhiana. Approximately 5,000 horsemen. Their territories were also in some districts in Ambala (parganah of Shahzadpur) and district of Saharanpur.
• (12) Phulkian. Misl is the only misl that was kicked out of the Dal Khalsa due to its anti Sikh policies in the time of Baba Deep Singh and Nawab Kapur Singh. This misl was founded by Baba Ala Singh.
• All these Misls or bands together were called Dal Khalsa. They met at least twice a year at Amritsar for Sarbat Khalsa. So called Sarbat Khalsa as the whole community of the Sikh Panth (panth means path) gets together. The leader of the Dal Khalsa was to be head of the both Sikh state and "Church".

Rise of Raja Ranjit Singh

• In one of these Misis, the Suker Chakias, Ranjit Singh was born on November 2, 1780 at Gujranwala who was destined to build a mighty edifice of Sikh kingdom. As a great warrior and organizer, he brought all the Misis under his control. “His greatest achievement consisted in affecting a marvelous transformation of the warning Sikh states into a compact national monarchy”. In his time the Sikh Kingdom extended from Khyber pass to the Sutlej and from Sind to Ladakh.
• His reign (1778-1839), though not long, is significant because of its concept of dharma entwined with the practice of secularism.
• Ranjit Singh encircled himself with an array of strong generals and soldiers. They were men from different clans, castes and regions and religions.
• These included: Hari Singh Nalwa, Dewan Mokham Chand, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and his son Fateh Singh Ahluwalia, Ghaus Mohammad Khan, Shaikh Elahi Baksh, Veer Singh later Jallaha of Gurdaspore, Sawan Mal, Sardar Sangat Singh Saini, Sher Singh, Zorawar Singh, Chattar Singh Attariwalla, Balbhadra Kunwar - Gorkhali General who served for Ranjit Singh after the Anglo-Gorkha war (1814-1816), Mahan Singh Mirpuri
• Among his European Mercenary Generals were: Jean-François Allard, Jean-Baptiste Ventura - Italian (Modena), Paolo Di Avitabile - Italian (Naples), Claude August Court - French
• The only American mercenary was: Alexander Gardner
• “After Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death (in June, 1839) his achievements began to crumble rapidly owing to the incompetence of his successors and the intrigues of his generals and ministers. One weak ruler after another was deposed in quick succession, till in 1843 Dalip Singh, a minor, was acknowledged as king with his mother, Rani Jindan, as regent. The final collapse came almost as a result of the two Anglo Sikh Wars, which followed each other in succession and the Punjab was at last annexed by Lord Dalhousie in March, 1849”.

• First Anglo Sikh War

• ANGLO-SIKH WAR 1, 1845-46, resulting in partial subjugation of the Sikh kingdom, as the outcome of British expansionism. It was near-anarchical conditions that overtook the Lahore court after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in June 1839...

• Second Anglo Sikh War

• ANGLO-SIKH WAR II, 1848-49, which resulted in the abrogation of the Sikh kingdom of the Punjab, was virtually a campaign by the victors of the first Anglo-Sikh war and since then the de facto rulers of the State finally to overcome the resistance of some of the sardars