First Anglo-Sikh War

The First Anglo-Sikh War began in December 1845 when units of the Khalsa army crossed the Sutlej. British and East India Company forces under Hugh Gough and Henry Hardinge advanced against Sikh armies commanded by figures including Lal Singh, Tej Singh and Ranjodh Singh Majithia.

The campaign was decided through hard-fought engagements at Mudki, Ferozeshah, Bhudowal, Aliwal and Sobraon. Both armies suffered severe losses, and disputes over Sikh command decisions became central to later interpretations of the war.

The British advance to Lahore produced a sequence of settlements that reduced the Sikh state, transferred territory and established growing British control over its government.