Gulbahar Begum

Maharani Gulbahar Begum (died 1863) was a wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire.

[1] Prior to the wedding there was opposition from orthodox quarters, who demanded that she needed to convert to Sikhism.

[3] As part of the wedding celebrations, her brothers were granted a jagir and given a nawabi title.

[4] After their wedding, Ranjit Singh renamed her Maharani Gulbahar Begum and elevated her to a position above the other courtly women, who were now tasked with massaging her feet.

[5] When the Maharaja died in 1839 she offered herself for sati, however was advised by a courtier that this was forbidden in Islam.