Karam Singh of Patiala

Karam Singh
Maharaja of Patiala
Detail of a painting of Karam Singh, ca. 1836
Maharaja of Patiala
Reign1813 – 1845
PredecessorSahib Singh
SuccessorNarinder Singh
Born1798
Died1845
IssueNarinder Singh
DynastyPhulkian dynasty
FatherSahib Singh
MotherRattan Kaur

Karam Singh (1798 – 1845) was the fourth ruler of Patiala State and the Maharaja of Patiala. Singh was the first of the Patiala rulers to have the title of Maharaja. His reign was noted for Patiala State's territorial expansion and his support for the British Empire.[1]

Early life and background

Karam Singh was born in 1798. He was the son Sahib Singh, the ruler and Raja-e-Rajgan of Patiala.[2] Singh was also the member of the Phulkian dynasty.[2]

Reign

Singh became the ruler of Patiala in 1813.[3] He was also the first ruler of Patiala to have been referred to as a Maharaja, the title having been bestowed on him by Mughal Emperor Akbar II.[4][1] Singh was also noted as a patron of paintings, and from 1814 to 1815, he had a family of Rajasthani painters at his court.[5]

Administration and rule

During his early reign, Singh had disputes with his mother and his younger brother, Ajit Singh.[6] Singh continued his dispute with Nabha State, another Phulkian dynasty state, which had been carrying on since 1807.[6] From 1838 to 1843, Singh had a border dispute with Kaithal State.[6]

Relations with the British Empire and territorial expansion

Singh and his son, Narinder Singh, with a holy man

Singh supported the British Empire during the Anglo-Nepalese War from 1814 to 1816.[7][8] In return for Singh's support during the Anglo-Nepalese War, the British awarded Singh territory in the hill states, extending Patiala State's territory to Shimla, Chail and other areas in modern-day Himachal Pradesh.[7][8] In 1845, Singh declared his support for the British against the Sikh Empire.[9]

Death and succession

Singh died in 1845 and was succeeded by his son, Narinder Singh, as the Maharaja of Patiala.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Singh, Khushwant (15 February 2017). Captain Amarinder Singh: The People's Maharaja: An Authorized Biography. Hay House, Inc. ISBN 978-93-85827-44-0.
  2. ^ a b Singh, Kirpal (2005). Baba Ala Singh: Founder of Patiala Kingdom (2nd ed.). Amritsar: Guru Nanak Dev University. p. 121.
  3. ^ Wade, Bonnie C. (1984). Khyal: Creativity Within North India's Classical Music Tradition. Cambridge: CUP Archive. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-521-25659-9.
  4. ^ Fenech, Louis E. (2021). The Cherished Five in Sikh History. Oxford University Press. pp. 109–111. ISBN 978-0-19-753284-3.
  5. ^ Singh, Mohinder. History and Culture of Panjab. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and Distributors. p. 275.
  6. ^ a b c Punjab District and State Gazetteers: Part A]. Part 1. Punjab Government Press. 1900. pp. 48–52. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b Massy, Charles Francis (1890). Chiefs and Families of Note in the Delhi, Jalandhar, Peshawar and Derajat Divisions of the Panjab. Allahabad: Pioneer Press. pp. 12–15.
  8. ^ a b Singh, Khushwant (15 February 2017). Captain Amarinder Singh: The People's Maharaja: An Authorized Biography. Hay House, Inc. ISBN 978-93-85827-44-0. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  9. ^ Imperial Gazetteer of India. Vol. XX. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1908. p. 37. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  10. ^ Srivastava, R. P. (1983). Punjab Painting. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. p. xviii. ISBN 978-81-7017-174-4.