The Road to Empire

The Forging of an Empire: Sikh Visions of Sovereignty

From the late seventeenth to the late eighteenth century, the Sikh community experienced a remarkable transformation, rising from a relatively minor religious group to a position of power, kingship, and empire. Under the guidance of Guru Gobind Singh (1661–1708), Sikh elites and peasants increasingly embraced concepts of power and authority. Within a few decades, Khalsa Sikh warriors had conquered some of the richest territories …