The Sikh Empire Series Triple Weighted Wooden Handmade Chess Pieces in Bud Rosewood (Padauk) and Indian Boxwood - 4.5" King

The Sikh Empire (Khalsa Raaj) existed from 1799 to 1849 in Punjab, covering parts of India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China. It was founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib, in response to Mughal cruelty.

Dal Khalsa Period and The Empire: In August 1708, Guru Gobind Singh renamed Madho Das as Banda Singh Bahadur and tasked him with reconquering Punjab from the Mughals. Captured in 1716 while defending his fort, Banda Singh and his 700 men, along with his 5-year-old son, were executed for refusing to convert to Islam. The period from 1716 to 1799 saw political and military turmoil in Punjab due to a leadership vacuum, filled by the Sikh misls, which were later unified by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Sikh Empire's main territory stretched from the Punjab region to the Khyber Pass, Kashmir, Sindh, and Tibet. In 1799, Ranjit Singh moved the capital from Gujranwala to Lahore, Punjab (now Pakistan).

During Maharaja Ranjit Singh's rule in the early 1800s, the population of the Khalsa Empire was estimated at around 12 million. The religious composition was: Muslims 8.4 million, Hindus 2.88 million, and Sikhs 722,000.

The Khanda: The King finial is inspired by the double-edged sword of the Sikh Khanda symbol, which comes from the Sanskrit word "khaṅga," meaning "to break, divide, or destroy." The King stands at 4.5 inches with a sturdy 1.9-inch base and features two beautiful finials on each side. Changing the finials is quick and easy. This luxurious design also highlights the robust, solitary knight.

The Knight: The knight is inspired by the armored warrior horse of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Laili.      

A piece of art: Handcrafted in India, by the sikh carvers of Amritsar whose forefathers were part of the Golden era of Punjab. 

Our expert carvers have meticulously focused on every detail of this chess set, working closely to bring the pieces as close to history as possible. The result is a masterpiece, crafted with dedication, that any connoisseur will truly admire.

Chess Pieces Weight: 2126 grams (74.99 oz). Please note that the weight in the set is added manually so the final weight of the set can vary by plus or minus (±) 10%.

Uniformity of pieces: The shapes of turned pieces are guided by metal profiles and so all turned pieces are identical especially the pawns. You can expect some variation where hand carving or cutting comes i.e. knights.

Weights: 2126 grams (74.99 oz). Please note that the weight in the set is added manually so the final weight of the set can vary by plus or minus (±) 10%.

In-Box items: Retail package consists of 34 chessmen, 2 extra queens included ( No board and box are included )