- "You're one of a kind. Benevolent, they say. All castes and creeds under one roof. You haven't even the temper to order the death of one lowly thief."
- ―Francis Cotton to Ranjit Singh, 1839.[src]
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was the founder of the Sikh Empire, which rose to power in the Panjab region of the Indian subcontinent in the early 19th century.
Biography
In 1830, Singh acquired the Koh-i-Noor diamond, a powerful Piece of Eden, serving as its keeper for nine years. In 1839, the British Templars plotted to take the diamond from Singh by assassinating the Maharaja, realizing that his successors didn't share Singh's determination to protect it. During a feast at the Maharaja's palace, Singh was poisoned by General Francis Cotton.
As the Assassin Arbaaz Mir tried to prevent Singh from drinking more of his tea, Cotton instead placed the blame on the Assassin, making guards chase Mir through the palace. Singh's health quickly deteriorated, and his granddaughter Pyara Kaur came rushing to his aid. Realizing that he would be dead the next day, Singh gave his granddaughter the Koh-i-Noor, telling her to take it somewhere safe and to never return.
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Reference
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