Amar Singh (7 June 1748 – February 1781) was the second ruler of the Patiala State in the Punjab region of northern India. He held the title Raja‑e‑Rajgan (King of Kings) and reigned from 1765 until his death in 1781. A member of the Phulkian dynasty, he succeeded his grandfather, Ala Singh, and was followed by his son, Sahib Singh.
Early life and background
Amar Singh was born on 7 June 1748, the son of Sardul Singh and the grandson of Ala Singh, the founder of the Patiala State. Through his paternal line he was descended from the Jaisal Singh of the Kingdom of Jaisalmer. He was initiated into Sikh rites by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. After the death of Ala Singh in 1765, the eighteen‑year‑old Amar Singh was installed on the throne by his paternal grandmother, Fateh Kaur, despite contestation from other family members, including his half‑brother Himat Singh.
Reign and titles
During his rule Amar Singh continued the diplomatic policies of his grandfather, maintaining amicable relations with both the Dal Khalsa (the Sikh confederate army) and the Durrani Empire of Afghanistan. In 1767, Ahmad Shah Durrani, the Afghan ruler, conferred upon him the honorific Raja‑e‑Rajgan Bahadur, signifying a superior royal status among Sikh rulers. He also earned the epithet Bandi Chhor (Releaser of Captives) for paying the ransom of prisoners taken by Durrani forces.
Military activities
Amar Singh engaged in numerous campaigns to expand and consolidate Patiala’s territory. Notable actions include:
- 1766: Capture of the villages Kotla and Issru alongside Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
- 1767: Seizure of the village Tibba from the Nawab of Malerkotla.
- 1768: Assistance to the Raja of Nahan in taking Pinjore.
- 1771: Annexation of territories around Bathinda.
- 1774–1778: Conflicts with the Bhatti clans in the Hisar region, resulting in heavy losses and the death of his son Himmat Singh.
- 1779: Participation in a joint Sikh effort that repelled Mughal forces advancing into Punjab.
Administration and policies
Amar Singh upheld a pragmatic foreign policy, balancing alliances between the Sikh confederacy and the Afghan Durrani Empire. Unlike his predecessor, he was not publicly criticized by other Sikh leaders for his diplomatic stance, and he was accepted as a member of the Dal Khalsa. His administration continued the centralization and strengthening of Patiala, making it the most powerful state between the Yamuna and Sutlej rivers during his reign.
Death and succession
Amar Singh died in February 1781 at the age of 34; contemporary accounts attribute his death to health complications associated with alcoholism. He was succeeded by his six‑year‑old son, Sahib Singh. His daughter, Sahib Kaur, later served as a minister and military commander in the Patiala court.
Historical assessment
Scholars note that Amar Singh’s early death curtailed the further expansion of Patiala. Some historians have speculated that, had he lived longer, Patiala might have emerged as a rival to the later Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh and could have altered the pattern of British colonial expansion in the Punjab region. Such conjectures remain speculative.