Runjeet Singh and his Suwarree, or Cavalcade of Seiks Encamped under a Banian Tree on the River Sutlej

Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s court was renowned for its splendor. European visitors unfailingly remarked upon its extraordinary beauty and were often astonished by the opulence they saw. The British commander-in-chief of India, Sir Henry Fane, observed that “the dresses and jewels of the Rajah’s court were the most superb that can be conceived.” Others commented on the grandeur of military displays, imperial horses, and on the size, scale, and brilliance of court gemstones—which included the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond, one of the largest in the world.