[3] Through warfare and diplomacy, Singh began to acquire territory that would form the foundations of Patiala State.

[2] Singh sought the help of Najib-ud-Daula, the Mughal Empire's Administrator of Delhi, and was forced to pay a humiliating fee of five lakh rupees as a tribute and an additional twenty-five thousand rupees for permission to appear before Ahmed Shah Durrani with his long hair intact.

[2] Singh was later detained for a short period of time but was released on the promise that his territory would pay an annual tribute to the Durrani Empire.

[2] By 1758, Singh's successful conquests of cities and villages had established him as a dominant figure in the Malwa region.

[4] According to historian Karam Singh, this period marked his transition from a Sardar chief to de facto kingship.

[4] By the beginning of the 1760s, Singh had conquered a considerable amount of territory in Punjab, including Sunam, Samana, Banur, Ghuram, and Sanaur, and his capital was located in Barnala.

[5][19] In Patiala, he also built Qila Mubarak in 1763, which was initially constructed as a mud fortress and later reconstructed with bricks.

[20] In 1764, while leading the Sikh Confederacy against the Durrani Empire, he conquered Sirhind and the surrounding territories along with his close friend Nanu Singh Saini.

[6] Singh and other Sikh leaders were noted for forming beneficial alliances and gaining concessions from more powerful empires that were competing for dominance in Punjab.

In early 1765, the Dal Khalsa, angered by Singh's relations with the Durrani Empire and his royal titles, attacked Patiala State.

[22] During Singh's ruler, the Patiala army consisted primarily of horseback cavalry and artillery that was transported by camels.

[22] This not only boosted his finances and provided surplus grains for future emergencies but also secured the loyalty of the inhabitants of his territories.

[22] Singh's agricultural success enabled him to support political allies with provisions during critical times, which included the Mughal Emperor Alamgir II in 1758 and the Maratha Confederacy during the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761.