Who was the successor of Maharaja Ranjit Singh?

Key Fact(s)

After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839, his eldest son Kharak Singh succeeded him as the ruler of the Sikh Empire. Although he was the legitimate heir, Kharak Singh proved to be a weak and ineffective ruler, lacking his father’s administrative and military abilities.

Real power during his reign was exercised by court factions, especially Dhia Singh Dogra. His short and troubled rule marked the beginning of political instability in the Sikh kingdom. This instability after Ranjit Singh’s death eventually led to internal decay and facilitated British intervention in Punjab.