HIGHLIGHT OBJECTS

Order of Merit of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Gold, enamelled and set with emeralds and a portrait of Ranjit Singh by an artist of the court.
Lahore, c.1838
Height 9.1 cm, Width 4.8 cm.
Museum no. IS 92-1981

The official history of Ranjit Singh's reign records his curiosity concerning the medals worn by the English Governor Sir Henry Fane, when he arrived at the court in 1837 for the marriage of Nau Nihal Singh. General Allard, the French general in Ranjit Singhs service, wore the Legion d'Honneur, and these European decorations seem to have intrigued the Maharaja. Discussions took place on 23 October that year about Fane's suggestion that medals be introduced at court, and it was decided to make three fixed awards: the highest was reserved for the princes, the second for the 'relatives and brotherhood' of the Maharaja, and the third rank would go to high dignitaries, colonels and those providing honourable service. The European practice of awarding service medals was also discussed at length with the British local representative, Captain Wade, in April 1838 and this seems to have led indirectly to an order that henceforth the uniforms of all his platoons should have their own identifying mark. At the same time, medals were given out to a range of royal and other individuals including Allard, Avitabile and Court, Faqir Aziz ud-Din and Raja Hira Singh and Lehna Singh Majithia. The order was called 'Star of the Prosperity of the Panjab'.