Sikh Khalsa Army
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Sikh Khalsa Army (1801-1849) was the military force of the Sikh Empire responsible for land warfare, land defence, and all responsibilities, last and final, for the protection of the Empire's political institutions and national security.
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[edit] Command Structure
The Sikh Khalsa Army was commanded by, responsible and answerable to its supreme Commander in Chief (military leader) Emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh. However, the Sikh military high command could contest a decision by the Commander in Chief, thereby permitting a process of reconsideration in policy. This reconsideration process was very rarely used, as the Commander in Chief rarely acted unilaterally and extensively consulted his high command on major military issues affecting the Sikh Empire.
[edit] Military Structure and Strength
The military strength was 35000 regular fully professional soldiers, qualified to the latest, cutting-edge military training of the time. The army was divided into six main military divisions, these were, Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Medical, Engineering and logistical support. The regular military force was backed-up and supported by a further 52000, well trained and equipped, professional irregular forces. In addition, to these forces a very large reservoir of feudal and militia forces were available, numbering approximately 250,000 (one quarter of a million). The Artillery division, in 1838, had 188 heavy artillery guns[1][2][3]. The army at the time was regarded as the premier (highest) fighting force of Asia[4]. The Fauj-i-Khas was a special elite brigade of the Sikh Khalsa Army.
[edit] Sikh Cavalry
The Sikh Cavalry was divided into three divisions:
- Regular Cavalry
- Ghorchara fauj Cavalry
- Jagirdari Cavalry
The Ghorchara Fauj and Jagirdari cavalry did not undertake standard training, as the regular cavalry did. They were modeled on the legendary Sikh principality’s (misl) armies. The main tactic employed by these sections of the cavalry was a direct charge. This section of the Cavalry was the most feared of the Sikh Khalsa Army; a handful of these Cavalry men could change the strategic nature and outcome of a battle within minutes. They did not follow the principles of modern organization, the science of war, nor did they follow any prescribed rules of strict discipline. It was often said during the time, "Because of their desperate courage, the ghorchara had earned for themselves, a name, and for Sikhs; an Empire."
[edit] Military Social Background
The Sikh Khalsa Army was strongly Sikh but had a significant multi-religious component in the army, made up from other parts of the Punjabi people. The informal motto of the army was "merit & excellence above all else". A promotion to a higher military rank was based on how good the person was militarily not on their social or religious background.
[edit] Military Strength Statistics (Standing force)
| Year | Regular Infantry | Cavalry | Irregular Infantry/Forces | Artillery Personnel | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1819 | 7,748 | 750 | 3,577 | 834 | 12,909 |
| 1823 | 11,681 | 1650 | 7,300 | *- | *- |
| 1828 | 15,825 | 4315 | 7,200 | 3,778 | 31,118 |
| 1838 | 26,617 | 4090 | 10,795 (25,000**) (Total With Jagirdari: 52,000***) | 4,535 | *87,242 |
Table 1: Showing military strength build-up over ~20 years[5][6].
**Combined with Irregular Infantry Reserves total number was 25,000. ***Jagirdari: 27,000 in 1838. *Total with Irregular Infantry Reserves and Jagirdari
Note: The above tables do not include the feudal levees, FaujiQHajat, the Emperor's bodyguards and garrison infantry for which no figures are available. In addition, it does not include 4,000 strong crack-brigade of Akalis or Nihangs under the direct military command of General Akali Phula Singh.
| Year | Heavy Guns | Swivel Guns | Artillery Personnel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1819 | 22 | 190 | 834 |
| 1823* | - | - | - |
| 1828 | 130 | 280 | 3,778 |
| 1838 | 188 | 280 | 4,535 |
Table 2: Showing Artillery military strength build-up over ~20 years[7][8]. *1823: Figures not available.
[edit] See also
- Misl
- Sikh Confederacy
- Ranjit Singh
- History of Punjab
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Generals
- Punjab Chiefs
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes
- ^ Major Pearse, Hugh; Ranjit Singh and his white officers
- ^ The Sikh Army (1799-1849) (Men-at-arms), By Ian Heath. (Date:2005, ISBN 1841767778)
- ^ The Heritage of the Sikhs By Harbans Singh. (Date:1994, ISBN 8173040648)
- ^ Khalsa - Anglo Sikh Wars
- ^ Major Pearse, Hugh; Ranjit Singh and his white officers
- ^ The Sikh Army (1799-1849) (Men-at-arms), By Ian Heath. (Date:2005, ISBN 1841767778)
- ^ Major Pearse, Hugh; Ranjit Singh and his white officers
- ^ The Sikh Army (1799-1849) (Men-at-arms), By Ian Heath. (Date:2005, ISBN 1841767778)
[edit] References
- Major Pearse, Hugh; Ranjit Singh and his white officers. ISBN 81-7116-231-2.
- The Sikh Army (1799-1849) (Men-at-arms), By Ian Heath. (Date:2005, ISBN 1841767778).
- The Heritage of the Sikhs By Harbans Singh. (Date:1994, ISBN 8173040648).
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Lord of the Five Rivers, By Jean-Marie Lafont. (Oxford University Press. Date:2002, ISBN 0195661117).
- History of Panjab, Dr L. M. Joshi, Dr Fauja Singh.
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