Name:
Persian:
سرکارِ خالصه (Sarkār-ē-Khālsā)1
Punjabi: سکھ خالصا راج / ਸਿੱਖ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਰਾਜ (Sikkh Khālsā Rāj)
Head of State: Maharaja Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh
Head of Government: Maharani Jind Kaur
Ideology: The Sikh Empire is currently practicing a reformist-styled governance it refers to as "Pan-Indianism". Their ideology combines various Sikh tenants with the ideals of French-styled Liberalism to nation-build and foster a sense of Indian nationalism throughout the subcontinent, which it actively promotes as forbearing an era of Indian renaissance composing of Hindi, Islamic, Buddhist, and Sikh values all throughout India. Quite rare for its time, the Sikh Empire places ho hold on persons of differing religions, nationalities, or even those of differing sex, from rising to ranks of prominence within its government - a trait that is practically unheard of for any of its contemporaries, and is perhaps the largest influence of Sikhism upon its ideology.
Army Numbers: Approximately 100,000 soldiers in varying degrees of combat readiness, ranging from elite Punjabi Guards to basic ad-hoc formations of armed peasants. As part of its current reforms, the military is becoming increasingly professionalized, while its irregular peasant formations are currently being demobilized after the Anglo-Sikh War. Army Equipment:
- Kirpan Swords
- Firangi Swords
- 1836 Brunswick Rifles
- 1829 Delvigne Rifles with Minie Rounds
- Indigenous "Jezail" Pattern Rifles
- 1828 Valée Cannons
- 1841 RBL 9 Pounder Guns
Navy Numbers: The Sikh Empire is a landlocked nation, and thus has no navy. History, Expansion, and Economics
History:
After the clashes between Afghanistan and the Sikh Empire ceased with the Fifth Afghan-Sikh War in 1837 followed immediately by the intergovernmental crises that followed the death of the famous "Lion of Punjab" - Maharaja Ranjit Singh - in 1839, the fate of the prominent Sikh Empire very much seemed to be in limbo. His eldest son and heir presumant to the throne, Kharak Singh, was incredibly unpopular and almost immediately died of so-called, "mysterious illness". Almost immediately after his death, the Empire was wrought by internal divisions, predominantly splitting into two factions - each of whom had differing views of whom to put on the throne: The Sikh Sindhanwalias, who in turn represented the legitimate line of succession to the Lahore throne, and the Hindu Dogras, who would attempt to make a power play by making issue to put Sher Singh - Ranjit's eldest illegitimate son - upon the throne. After a brief series of internal struggles that left most of the government in disarray, Ranjit's wife Maharani Jind Kaur took the regency of the Kingdom, while Ranjit's capable - but somewhat estranged - son Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh instead was sent to Paris to study law and military history. Many members of the Sindhanwalias clique would soonafter follow in Kanwar's footsteps in what was often called a "soft exile". There, Kanwar and many of his contemporaries would become influenced by French teachings of liberalism and nationalism, gaining valuable insights into governance that would prove vital in their career.
Along the homefront, the army was expanding rapidly in the aftermath of Ranjit Singh's death, from 29,000 men in 1839 to over 80,000 in 1845. The nearby British Princely states in turn saw the Sikh's military buildup - a move intended to solidify the internal control of the Empire - as nothing short of a sign of imminent warfare between the two. Immediately after the death of Ranjit Singh, the British East India Company had begun increasing its military strength, particularly in the regions adjacent to the Punjab, establishing a military cantonment at Ferozepur, only a few miles from the Sutlej River which marked the frontier between British-ruled India and the Punjab. In 1843, they conquered and annexed Sindh, to the south of the Punjab, in a move which even many British regarded as cynical and ignoble. This did not gain the British any respect in Punjab, and increased suspicions of British motives. The actions and attitudes of the British, under Governors General Lord Ellenborough and his successor, Sir Henry Hardinge, are disputed. By most British accounts, their main concern was that the Khalsa, without strong leadership to restrain them, was a serious threat to British territories along the border. After mutual demands and accusations between the Sikh Durbar and the East India Company, diplomatic relations were broken, with British troops soon marching into Punjab in late 1845. Kanwar and the Sindhanwalias clique were recalled in 1845 near the outbreak of the war, where Kanwar would lead many in battle against the British. Their return would herald a sudden shift in Punjabi strategy, however, as the resurgence in Sikh commanders had uncovered several agents in the employ of the British East Indies Company among the ranks of the Sikh armies - the most notable of which included Lal and Tej Singh - who were immediately found guilty of espionage and killed that following morning. With the bulk of the reformed Sikh Khalsa Army now under the guidance of Sindhanwalias officers - the majority of whom had just returned from studying military tactics in France - their effective leadership in turn with the cross-training of the varied Sikh Armies would prove invaluable in their defense against the British. Several key victories, including an encirclement of some 10,000 soldiers at the Battle of Mudki, were instrumental in weakening the highly fractured British armies, who had to at several points reinforce its hodgepodge troops from Delhi and Jagraon, all to no avail. With their hold over Northwest India severely fractured - and their gains already tenuous over the recently-annexed region of Sindh - the British soonafter sued for peace. The successful defense of Punjab in the face of British forces did much to boost Kanwar's popularity in the Empire, and was soonafter praised by the population as the Second Coming of The Lion of Punjab.
In an attempt to reform the Empire's governance and further both domestic and international legitimacy, the returning Sindhanwalias Clique reached a drastic compromise with their Dogras contemporaries: The creation of a constitution and parliament of electoral representatives, coupled with a compartmentalization of the Empire. Inspired by the American constitution and the French Parliamentary system, the reforms to the Empire were primarily set about to assist in the construction of a coherent identity as well as to effectively "future-proof" the Empire from the division suffered after the death of Ranjit Singh. Coupled with the efforts to further develop Punjab as the heart of India, Kanwar is well on the way to filling the shoes of his late father.
Yet, it seems like he is not yet content to settle with just the title to Punjab. Indeed, his teachings ascertained while in Paris have reignited a passion within the man to see not only Punjab, but all of India, united beneath wise guidance. Emboldened by the victories along the Indus, Kanwar has set his sights not only on his home keepings, but he has set unto the right of God to see all of India united once more. And when the Sikh Flag flies above the Red Fort, perhaps then will Kanwar be at peace, and his name echoed throughout all of India's history as its unifier in its darkest hour.
Territory:Controlled territory is in dark green - The territorial ambitions of the Empire as part of India are shown in light green.Economic Description: The bountiful lands of Punjab, Jammu, and Kashmir produce world-adored silks and tea that have been eyed covetously by the British as their own. The fabrics and textiles produced from Punjab's silk, cotton, and wool provide artisan clothing and sheets beloved by Paris and London. Cash crop plantations of tea spring up day by day like budding flours along the Indus. Deposits of coal, copper, lead, zinc, and precious stones in the mountains of Kashmir hardly go unnoticed, and have contributed greatly towards the development of its budding industry. Historical Claims: The Sikh Empire has the lofty ambitions of unifying the Indian subcontinent once more as its rightful incarnation as the Kingdom of the Indus. With most of the subcontinent under the control of Britain and her puppets, her goals are a indeed incredibly ambitious - but not insurmountable. Coupled with the assistance of foreign powers, the harsh governance of Britain over her subjects, and the Empire's recent victories, many in the upper echelons believe that it is only a matter of time until the continent comes under her sway.
1) Persian was the official language of governance in the Sikh Empire, while Punjabi is the most commonly-spoken language throughout the region. 
