The beginning of the 19th century saw the rise of a remarkable Sikh leader in the Punjab province of north-west India. Unifying the feudal rulers under his authority, the conquering Maharaja Ranjit Singh pursued campaigns of expansion for nearly 40 years, creating for the purpose a new regular army on the Western model. His death in 1839 found the frontiers of Sikh and British power in confrontation; in the 1840s the inevitable trial of strength brought British crown and East India Company troops into battle against the most formidable Indian army they ever faced. Its story is told here in fascinating detail, illustrated with rare early paintings and with colourful reconstructions of Punjabi regular soldiers and feudal warriors.
|
|
|
3 | (2) |
|
The unification of the Punjab under Ranjit Singh |
|
|
|
Ranjit's campaigns of expansion, 1805--39 |
|
|
|
The Birth of the Sikh Army |
|
|
5 | (2) |
|
Ranjit's adoption of a European military system |
|
|
|
The twin armies: state and feudal |
|
|
|
The Regular Army -- Fauj-I-Ain |
|
|
7 | (9) |
|
Unit composition and strengths -- battalion staff -- junior officer and NCO ranks -- attached non-combatants -- discipline -- pay -- strength at the end of the 1830s -- public and private British assessments |
|
|
|
The French connection: foreign instructors -- the French and Italians -- general departure from 1843 -- the last renegades |
|
|
|
The royal army -- Fauj-i-khas |
|
|
|
Allard and Ventura's `French Legion' |
|
|
|
Other brigades -- higher formations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Cavalry Army -- Ghorchurra Fauj |
|
|
16 | (2) |
|
Ghorchurra Khas -- Ardaly Khas -- Misldar Sowars |
|
|
|
From land grants to cash wages |
|
|
|
Unit organization -- ranks |
|
|
|
|
|
18 | (5) |
|
Ghaus Khan and the creation of the Topkhana-i-khas |
|
|
|
1831: Claude Court's reforms |
|
|
|
Rapid expansion, 1839--45 |
|
|
|
Battery organization & composition: strengths -- calibres -- crews -- non-combatants -- teams |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Feudal Army -- Jagirdari Fauj |
|
|
23 | (10) |
|
Cavalry obligations of land-holders -- the chihra rolls |
|
|
|
Jagirdari regular infantry -- artillery |
|
|
|
The Garrison Army -- Fauj-I-Qilajat |
|
|
33 | (1) |
|
|
|
33 | (2) |
|
Recruitment & Composition |
|
|
35 | (3) |
|
The Demise of the Sikh Army |
|
|
38 | (5) |
|
Anarchy following Ranjit's death, 1839--45 |
|
|
|
The Sikh Wars, 1845--46 & 1848--49 |
|
|
| Select Bibliography |
|
43 | (1) |
| The Plates |
|
44 | (4) |
| Index |
|
48 | |
Ian Heath is a highly respected author and has written a number of Osprey titles, including Men-at-Arms volumes 89: 'Byzantine Armies 886-1118', 287: 'Byzantine Armies 1118-1461' and 275: 'The Taiping Rebellion 1851-66'. He is currently working on a five-volume project covering the armies of 19th-century Asia. Ian lives and works in Cambridgeshire, UK. Michael Perry has worked for 22 years as a sculptor/designer at Games Workshop and 16 years for the historical figure company, Wargames Foundry, along with his twin brother Alan. He has illustrated several books for Osprey, specialising in Chinese subjects including Men-at-Arms 275: 'The Taiping Rebellion 1851-66'.
