Treaty of Amritsar (1809)
Amritsar, Punjab, India
What happened
The British feared a French or Russian invasion of India and wanted Ranjit Singh's kingdom as a friendly buffer. At Amritsar the two sides agreed that the Sutlej River would be the border between British and Sikh lands. Chiefs south of the river came under British protection, while Ranjit Singh was free to act north of it.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It stopped Sikh expansion south of the Sutlej and pushed British India's boundary up to that river. It opened with the words 'Perpetual friendship shall subsist.'
What came next
Ranjit Singh turned his attention north and west, toward the Punjab Hills, Multan, Peshawar and Kashmir.
Did you know?
By the time it was signed, the British fear of a French invasion had faded, so they offered milder terms; Ranjit Singh did not know this.
Timeline
- 25 April 1809Treaty signed at Amritsar.
- 30 May 1809Ratified by the Governor-General.
- 12 June 1809The ratified treaty is delivered to Ranjit Singh.