Alexander Gardner: The American who fought for the Sikh Empire

Alexander Gardner - adventurer, frontiersman and soldier is probably one of the most interesting men to have ever lived.
This American explorer and warrior travelled through central Asia and then fought for the Sikh Empire of the great Ranjit Singh.
My main source for this video was the Tartan Turban by John Keay and The History Of Reigning Family Of Lahore by Carmichael Smyth. archive.org/de...
If you disagree with things I say in this video then that's perfectly fine but please supply legitimate sources and not knee jerk emotions. I'm here for friendly exchanges of knowledge, not for arguing. "They were written by the British" is factually correct and I'll take that on the chin, but its also not the strongest of arguments.
Below are affiliate links to two books about the man:
Flashman and the mountain of light (fiction but very good) - amzn.to/3uHttTW
The Tartan Turban by John Keay - amzn.to/3KeofWl
If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: www.redcoathistory.com
If you are very generous, you can also buy me a coffee and help support the channel via ko-fi.com/redc...

[@redcoathistory]

My main source for this video was the Tartan Turban by John Keay. If you disagree with things I say in this video then please read that book and supply legitimate counter sources - don't just share knee jerk emotions. You may also wish to watch my interview on the 1st Anglo-Sikh war with Amarpal Singh Sidhu for more context. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4XJhn6hoLR4e7s

[@bold810]

I.. I have to admit that my favorite Metallica song is "Sikh and Destroy" #DenTwo

[@Actionable_wisdom]

What are your sources for speculating that Ranjit singh was a drinker and a ‘shagger’ and his wife Jind Kaur took part in orgies? Sounds rather slanderous

[@sharadowasdr]

The Sikh Empire also had an Italian and French military advisor. This is one fascinating Empire.

[@khushveersingh3297]

Napoleon's defeated comanders were in sikh army too.

[@harveykaler991]

Not advisors. It had European troops. An estimated 2-4,000 European troops/ officers.

[@mj897]

@@harveykaler991 the estimate is around 100, they wouldn't have just allowed anyone it, with the British on there doorstep spy's and treacherous expoliters would be common,

[@narveenaryaputri9759]

Maharaja Ranjeet Singh is known as the most wise and powerful leader in history. His education methods, schooling system, are the most superior. Worth looking into. It's a loss for the world that the British destroyed the Sikh empire by kidnapping the heir, Maharaja Dilip Singh, converting him into Christianity and taking over the Empire. It was then when the famous Kohinoor diamond, still in the British Queen's crown, was stolen. Btw..the princess Sophia was a sufferjet and fought hard for women's right to vote. She refused to pay taxes until the right to vote was granted. 'No taxation without representation' was her slogan.

[@tarunjassal9338]

@@khushveersingh3297 they deserted the posts of French army

[@averageviewer4903]

Maharaja Ranjit singh was easily one of the greatest sikh ruler There was alot of foreigners from different part of the world in his court

[@rav9681]

That actually made him a weak Sikh ruler and was his flaw ultimately which collapsed his empire. As nice as the gesture is, foreigners and people of other religions don’t have Sikh interest at their hearts or as a priority and the Sikh rules for ruling are to rule with dharam aka dharam raj

[@tarjd6796]

@@rav9681 Except that the collapse was caused by those in his inner circle and by those in close positons of leadership, who as a matter of fact weren't foreign. This included the act of treason perpertrated by the Dogra brothers on the battle field (by the Sikh Army commanders Raja Lal Singh and Tej Singh), as well as the internal civil war introduced by those in the courts (including the murder of the Maharajah's Son Kharak Singh and his grandson Nau Nihal Singh, said to be perpertated again by a Dogra, Raja Dhian Singh). In contrast, the foreign French Legion contingent unit of the Sikh army, which formed the Fauj-i-Kaus and led by foreign generals such as the French general Jean Francois Allard, were one of the most loyal and trusted in the Maharajahs inner circle. What was a weakness of the Maharajah was that he entrusted strong positions of power in his own circle ultimately to those who ended up being treasonous and incompetent, due to their own greed and lust for power.

[@groundzero5708]

@@tarjd6796 khalistan zindabad brother

[@Modi-Drink-Moot]

He is the greatest ruler of all time during his era there was no prisons because everyone was happy,not a single person slept hungry

[@lamedude8976]

​@@groundzero5708you don't even live in Panjab bruh & Khalistan=/Khalsa Raj

[@5abi143]

During Ranjit Singh’s reign in the Sikh Empire, literacy was at a very high rate and religious freedom common. Today if we look at Punjab, it was been partitioned many times and is only a fraction of what it use to do. Further, Punjab means land of the five rivers, yet according to NASA Punjab is en route to become a dessert in the close future

[@somedeepbarat9852]

How???i am indian and i did not knew that 😬

[@mr.bhullar4148]

@@somedeepbarat9852 read brother read

[@5abi143]

@@somedeepbarat9852 Hello ‘Somedeep’ I think a major reason why you are not aware of this situation is because you are in fact Indian as you mentioned. India does not broadcast the suffering of others, unless it is the suffering of Hindus at the hands of Muslims. Creating an enemy of the Hindu identity is sure fire way to rally the populous in your favor. Kinda like what Hitler did, he constructed an enemy. Now, don’t get carried away with this comparison because after all it’s not like Modi committed and facilitated genocide against a group of people….or did he????

[@KAIMA.N]

There was 70 percent literacy rate more than Europe and he did that in 40 years he had 2 strongest army in Asia

[@mr.bhullar4148]

@@parthdalvi7310 yes agree we paying the for feeding india in country's worst time

[@sharadowasdr]

This guy's Indian equivalent would be the Bengali adventurer, Suresh Biswas who became a Colonel in the Brazilian army. Hope you come around to cover him too sometime.

[@redcoathistory]

Wow thanks for sharing / I hadn’t heard of him. Will google.

[@narveenaryaputri9759]

Thanks for the tip. I had not known about Suresh Biswas. I will certainly study him.

[@orkkojit]

My father was from his village in Nathpur in modern day Nadia district in India. There's a statue of him at the central village square.

[@sharadowasdr]

@@orkkojit Is his house still there ?

[@DamianYamamoto]

@@redcoathistory You need to check out MN Roy an Indian communist politician who found Mexico's first communist party in Mexico. Another interesting bloke

[@cs2874]

He was known as "Gordana Khan" among the locals in Lahore durbar. He spent his later years and then died in my hometown Jammu. His expeditions to Kafiristan (now Nooristan, Afghanistan) are believed to have inspired Rudyard Kipling's "The man who would be King".

[@bobsingh5521]

You’re mixing him up with Joshua Harlan

[@ktgequestrian4475]

Josiah Harlan, who's character was also in Flashman and the Mountian of Light.

[@DIEGhostfish]

@@bobsingh5521 He, Harlan, and the White Rajah down in Borneo were all inspirations for the story to my recollection.

[@peterwodzianski1958]

History should be respected. The toast to the man, at the end, was a neat complimentary gesture.

[@narveenaryaputri9759]

I agree. A wonderful gesture. Plus the selection of Black Label: India's most popular brand

[@peterwodzianski1958]

@@narveenaryaputri9759 I’ll have to try it, sometimes.

[@gurminderpandher4587]

Punjab was very prosperous at that time and had the most fertile land in the world. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was voted the best ruler in the world recently by world historians and Hari Singh Nalwa, the best Commander. Sikh Empire were the only one who could control the Afghans and put an end to foreigners invading Punjab. Sikhs have the upper hand in the battle with British East India Company but lost the war because of treason by Dogras. As a reward, Gulab Singh was given control of Kashmir.

[@p.m.2388]

Sikhs joining India afterwards was the biggest mistake

[@theidleguy9041]

Afghans blew Golden Temple when they came with Abdali, and British defeated Punjab twice. So stop daydreaming.

[@deol0161]

It took 2 wars for British and backstabbing of jealous people of India like you who were already under British rule for more than 100 years before British entered Sikh empire.. day dreaming is believing in mythology not history

[@bitu0091]

Lot o.f infighting amongst Sikhs, the reigns were mostly done by dogras.

[@harjitsohal9555]

@@theidleguy9041 baba Deep Singh armed with 5,000 brave sikh soldiers defeated 20,000 afghans, sending them in humiliation and Harmandir Sahib was free.

[@manishg214]

Sikhs make up just over 1% of India but their impact is felt by 100%. These guys are not some rag tag bunch but have something special inside them all ! ❤

[@kiingisking]

Those who follow 10th Guru Gobind Singh and follow khalsa saroop that what make them fearless 😊

[@ps3862]

When Alexander met Ranjit SIngh. He was test to fire artillery piece. Alexander supposedly had no artillery experience, but got very lucky because he artillery piece came with manuals in English. He end up looking like a expert but reality was much further. Also Akali Nihangs were very effective against Afghans. Ranjit SIngh hated them because he couldn't control them, but he needed them vs Afghans. Akali always lead the front charge in all battles. They just didn't believe in death, hence the name Akali(Immortals). British hated the Akali too, they order shoot to kill an Akali they saw on sight. Akali's were virtually wiped out. A lot of their martial art and scripture knowledge and tradition was lost. Personally i always been fascinated by Alkali Nihang. Their names literally means Immortal Crocodiles. Quote about the Akali from British diplomats. "They are, without any exception, the most insolent and worthless race of people in all India. They are religious fanatics, and acknowledge no ruler and no laws but their own; think nothing of robbery, or even murder, should they happen to be in the humor for it. They move about constantly, armed to the teeth, and it is not an uncommon thing to see them riding about with a drawn sword in each hand, two more in their belt, a matchlock at their back, and three of four pair of quoits fastened round their turbans." Sir Lepel Griffin,

[@blaznsoccer3997]

Akali nihang is 2 different things, Akali's are those singhs under the 6th Guru Hargobind Singh Ji, they are the 1st Sikh army called immortals...Nihangs is a Persian word meaning whale as a mythical sea creature not crocodile lol this was a slang term given to akalis by Persians after encountering skirmishes with Sikhs after the time of the 10th guru. Hence the correct term is An Akali Singh.

[@sardar_gurjot]

That blind Ranjit Singh didn't hate akalis but definitely scrutinized the role of nihangs as they acted as a restraint on his absolute power. It were the akalis who'd bestowed the power upon that blind Ranjit Singh.

[@seanparker6371]

@@sardar_gurjot he could see more being blind than you could with your two eyes Singh ji. Behind those 2 eyes of yours gallops a ton of ego. What need is there for you to call him blind. So you could disassociate yourself from him being a Sikh yourself? Grow up

[@sardar_gurjot]

@@seanparker6371 because that's what he was, he lost the kingdom bestowed to him by Akalis going through immense hardships and tyranny but despite them warning of the dangers inside and outside the empire, he ordered his generals to attack Akalis themselves. And for your information, I belong from a family who has fought wars and died for the cause of Sikhs, it was not his kingdom and Ranjit Singh was constantly reminded of it whenever deemed necessary, he was whipped and punished for his irregularities in Sikh probity. There was no Ranjit Singh to begin with , it was the hardship that Akali ancestors had endured which resulted in the mighty sikh Empire which met it's unfortunate fate due to the mistakes he'd committed during his lifetime, his successors took this and their animosity towards nihangs for being schooled to another level. Don't remind me of my history, we wrote it and you don't and won't ever know the contents of the chapters that weren't even opened!

[@ps3862]

@@sardar_gurjot The collapse of SIkh empire happened due to inside factors rather than outside. Power wasn't consolidated as it should have been. Ranjit Singh did make a lot of good decisions through his rule, but the keen mistake was not planning his successor properly. Ranjit Singh did got lost in drinking and enjoying many concubines. If SIkh Empire was able to survive it would been great power today at least regional.

[@ramanbali4695]

Being Punjabi but born in California I find this to be pretty goddamn cool

[@brianmccarthy5557]

There've actually been Sikhs in California since at least the 1890's. I went to high school with some. The first time you see a Sikh farmer or rancher in the San Joaquin Valley wearing a Stetson with a turban underneath it's a little funny but then it's just a part of life. An acquaintance told me that his ten gallon hat perfectly accommodated his turban.

[@ramanbali4695]

@@brianmccarthy5557 Im aware I'm from the Coachella valley close to brawley el Centro area my grand father helped establish the first temple I believe in the u.s or atleast California around 1920s

[@ramansandhu23]

@@ramanbali4695 ​ @Brian McCarthy Stockton Gurudwara was the first Gurudwara in US. It was built in 1912. Sikhs has been contributing to the American economy since 1890's by working on Potato farms in Northern California or near by areas and building railroads in bay area and near by areas. It is the same Gurudwara where Kartar Singh Sarabha and Gadar Party use to have their meetings to fight against British Indian Govt. Since it was hard for Sikhs to bring their women with them back then so some of the Sikhs married Mexican and Native American women mostly. I read an article about these mixed families few years ago...

[@justicebydeathnote]

Ive seen a sikh with the surname bali for the first time I mean 80^ of my friends here in india are sikhs They have every punjabi surname But thats an interesting one

[@NiskaMagnusson]

ayy your parents did the reverse! They didn't walk and find themselves fighting for foreign monarchs on the way did they? I imagine that would be somewhat tiresome in the 20th-21st century

[@tarjd6796]

I encourage anyone interested in learning more about this amazing man and his contributions to the Sikh Empire to read the book by John Keay: The Tartan Turban In Search of Alexander Gardner (available in paperback or hard copy from most outlets. Sadly, there isn't a digital format copy.)

[@phillipallen3259]

Wonderful story! There were a few Americans in that period who went abroad and distinguished themselves throughout the world. Perhaps the rebellious nature of folks who emigrated to the new world rubbed off on subsequent generations, and continues to this day. There has been Americans killed in the Ukraine recently.

[@dullahan7677]

I always thought that, in many ways, the Empire sewed the seeds of its own destruction by exiling all of these "troublemaking incorrigibles" to other parts of the world and creating such a concentration of like minded individuals that would have otherwise never have been brought together. With that said, I can understand the short term logic behind the policy, but in the end, The Crown's penal colony system did little more than create some of the strongest international bonds that we currently know today.

[@jwh6540]

Americans in particular don't like bullies. Especially like Putin. Also remember that US servicemen have a skill set that is unmatched and many combat veterans can't handle the transition after leaving the service.

[@narveenaryaputri9759]

@@dullahan7677 Your comment is placing the 'doorer of the action' on the British. Please examine the matter from the other side: There are the many who are unwilling to live with an unbending, antiquated system that does not work. Plus, they have a wanderlust and an indomitable will, a lust for discovery that often translates into excellent work in the sciences and liberal arts. That will cannot be kept curtailed, as traditional societies are wont to do. Not all from the older world immigrate . But those who do, have a commonality in their nature. There is no choice for them

[@dullahan7677]

@@narveenaryaputri9759 I can definitely go along with that. In fact, I am only the second generation off the boat from Ireland. My great grandfather was involved with the Easter Uprising in 1916, and when everything fell apart he and a few other family members fled to the US to avoid capture by the English. My grandfather was only ten years old at the time.

[@narveenaryaputri9759]

@@dullahan7677 what a huge honor. To be involved in an uprising like that, and have it in your heritage. These are the true blue-blooded Americans. So many now emigrating are only in it for exploiting America. And yet, she makes place for them, knowing the system will teach them

[@tempusfugative1073]

Wow dude. That was awesome. I am a history guy and have known a few Sikhs in my day. All I knew was what they told me,which was a bunch,but none of this story. This should be a movie. I really enjoy your presentation style. You're like a grown up Trainspotter with a vision. So what is that vision?

[@manmeetsinghsekhon8649]

I'm from Punjab, India n I thank you for sharing this amazing real life story. Appreciate it.

[@keithagn]

Super interesting story! Would it be even possible to lead a life like that in today's world?! Love your humour, too! Regards from Canada 🇨🇦

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks Keith!

[@rav9681]

The akaali nihang Singhs are still maintaining the lifestyle and discipline of the nihangs of those years. Just type in nihang Singh on KZbin and check them out

[@JM-pr3my]

Sikh Empire was the Only Empire from British Empire was feared....... Respect For Maharaj Ranjit Singh.......Once again we will be king 👑

[@pranavr9783]

To be fair Sikh and Gurkha are loyal people. Despite the factor that Sikh never helped nepal against british, Nepalese mother send there son to help Sikh empire, even relative of prime minister of Nepal at that period lost their life. Maharaja ranjit Singh however retracted from ever fighting the British. IF any other kingdome requested assistance, he will not fight the British army. Sikh where the wealthiest kingdome in South Asia. I mean no wonder the British requested so much money for the exchange of empire freedom. But unlike the Sikh. British empire feared nepal. It was not the Sikh empire which proved to be the costliest campaign but it was nepal. The only place in history where britan has made an monument for their enemy. Stating how they faught as equal. The reason why British hired gurkhas in their army. To fight and control india, Afghanistan, even china with boxer rebellion and so on. Sikh and Gurkha people who are loyal to there work. Sikh founder guru nanak came to Nepal with his follower. And in Nepal it was peaceful there was no problem for which some of his follower decided to stay in Nepal. And the reason why nepal has some Sikh population. Being neighbour's of the Sikh empire. You can argue that there is some connection between the people like example kashmir * was controled by the khas people, even Afghanistan used to be controled by khas, even Iran and region of Pakistan. That is where the name origins kashmir for india and pakistan, kashmar for iran, Kash provience of Afghanistan, kashmere region of Pakistan , Kash ghar of china. I am not sure if the Sikh people shared the same ancestry as the khas of Nepal. Because khas are different to majority of india ethnicity. I mean they where bullied and harassed by Hindu of the same religion, because of so called racial superiority. The reason why they adopted Islam when Muslim had some sort of power. Just to survive and live a normal life. I mean such discrimination could even be noticed during ww2 when prime minister of Nepal told his subject not to recognize as khas . So thatbtehy will not be harassed. Khas in India specifically have been known for the introdiction of tradition such as use of right hand and left hand for certain things. The use of babylonian number, the spread of Iranian agriculture, as seen by the irigation system. Which even was used in Indus Valley cities for sewage movement. So khas people have had impact in India. But overall they are people around Asia even known to inhabit today's northern Bangladesh, bhutan, Tibet, Kazakhstan. But Sikh was not the empire British feared it was Nepal. Because nepal was allied with Qing and if British attacked Sikh before nepal, nepal could attack them. But knowing what Sikh did in before war and some diplomacy they decided to attack Nepal first. It also a place where British asked for treaty and gave one month but waited 9 month as they only faced gurkhas troop in 5 battle and only where occupied ind estrogen small vilages (200 vilages where destroyed), British brang war elephants, not knowing that Nepal supplied elephant to mughal, and the elephant they got couldn't navigate and move forward in nepal, the loss of life basically man power, wealth contribution in war nepal was a scarry phase for British. May be because of the war in treaty britan decided to recruit gurkhas as the British had low man power. You can argue because of this previous war it took britan certain time frame also the land they got from gorkha allowed them to attack Sikh empire with better strategy advantages.

[@justicebydeathnote]

I disagree Britsh disintegrated sikh empire They feared indians united Thats the only thing they feared Thats why divide and rule was a deal breaker for britishers

[@justicebydeathnote]

@@pranavr9783 nope Nepal did cost a lot of money But that doesnt mean nepal to be the most fearful

[@lveeratol4930]

@@pranavr9783 if British doesn’t fear from punjab then why didn’t they attack punjab until the maharaja death and you read in British India history documents like letters in womens maharani Jind kaur is the woman they feared the most that’s they deported her to nepal

[@pranavr9783]

@@lveeratol4930 4 year before Sikh empire was lost to britan, they where fighting gurkhas. It was not the Sikh empire which hold the most costliest campaign of Southern Asia, it was nepal. Did Sikh and British ever make a treaty. That British only gave 1 month to be valid. But nepal took 9 month and no reply and British didn't even touch nepal. Did British requested peace with Sikh first like they did with nepal. I mean all the invader of Nepal request peace with nepal first. Not once had any such battle exist where nepal requested peace first. It like of you want to fight, we will fight to death and won't stop until that spark of thinking to be able to defeat us finishes. Like has any of the Sikh enemy comited suicide than face the Sikh men. 1000 to 1200 Qing men comited suicide than face Gurkha army in a single battle. Which lead the Qing general to request peace in behalf of the Qing emperor. Tibet who request Qing assistance to fight nepal was instead conquerd by Qing as the general knew that if he couldn't bring nepal he will die, he had massive army, but he also knew against nepal he will surely die. So he instead captured Tibet which could be Leneccy toward his survival. 1000 to 1200 men comited suicide. Just 100 men of Kathmandu went to stop an entire Qing and Tibet army from entering Kathmandu. Which was over 100000 men (80000 where just qing), china second biggest empire and also the last.

[@khalildar6763]

Excellent narration. Loved it. Read in a book on George Hayward, Murder in Hindukush, that Col Alexander is buried in Sialkot, Pakistan. It's my home town. Will try to find his grave on my next visit. Exciting. Thanks Red Coat

[@redcoathistory]

That's wonderful - thanks so much for letting me know. If you find his grave perhaps you could send a picture? redcoathsitory at gmail dot com . . .

[@khalildar6763]

Would love to share the pic.

[@redcoathistory]

@@khalildar6763 Thanks a lot - by the way I managed to miss spell my own name above...the email is redcoathistory at gmail dot com 🤦🏼‍♂(I'm getting old!)

[@DMG00111-p]

Fascinating character. I'd have never heard of him if it weren't for the Flashman novels.

[@mpetersen6]

Wisconsin!!!!

[@Zenmyster]

I've read five of Fraser's novels and cannot figure where he got all of the characters and the details.

[@mpetersen6]

@@Zenmyster Research, research, research.

[@MandeepSingh-bv2zw]

One amazing way to tell a story 👏👏 Loved it!

[@SandeepSingh-uf2kh]

Sikh men helped to swell the BIA from 189,000 at the start of the war to more than 2.5 million by the end of the war. They served in Middle East, Burma, Greece, the North African desert and Italy. They fought and stopped the Japanese advance through Burma and into India

[@harpreetsinghjawaharke]

i think you got numbers wrong, it went from 30k to 300k, Sikh pop was 3M in 1940s, 10% of sikhs pop volunteered for the war.

[@TheScoopGorrilla]

Thank you for this, more real life characters from the Flashman books would be a great series !

[@cloud9rkd]

Thank you so much for making a video on this lost legend. Power to you!!

[@chxyz1048]

The Flashman books are amazing, I had never so munch fun reading historical books

[@trueKENTUCKY]

Dashing

[@derrickpeterson3400]

This guy is a badass. The type of man who went out into the world and took what he wanted. They don't make them like that anymore.

[@theblackprince1346]

A fascinating individual I'd never heard of before.

[@user-on3mw3xq4o]

*Thank You Mr Alexander for giving your service to the India and our one of the greatest ruler of mankind Maharaja Ranjit Singh.*

[@philipcallicoat3147]

Fame is fleeting....🇺🇸 Most people today have no idea who he was... Like me!!! He was a mans man...A true warrior...I have no doubt that he couldn't stand the boredom of the"good life"... Exciting life that I can only imagine...

[@dhruvbhamra2738]

Proud to be a sikh

[@MrHerberttarlek]

My grand uncle was in the first Indian Air Force he was sent to Briton to learn to fly the Canaberra Jet , Britain’s first Jet . He died in a botched landing and was givin a full military funeral by his British hosts. I’ve always wanted to thank the RAF for that generous gesture….. “Thank You” !!!

[@amanpreetkaur8937]

I proud to be Punjabi SIKH

[@kartikchary]

Don't be. You didn't earn it.

[@thehistoadian]

Awesome video and such an amazing story! someone really needs to make a movie about him and his adventures

[@redcoathistory]

That would be a great film!

[@brianmccarthy5557]

Not in the Age of Woke.

[@ranjithperimpulavil2950]

Also there was a certain Eustachius De Lannoy from Netherlands working as a Captain in the army of Travancore, a South Indian princely state during 18 th century. He and his wife were buried after their demise at Udayagiri Fort now situated in Kerala State, India.

[@MyMy-tv7fd]

Alexander Gardner: The American who fought for the Sikh Empire

[@patrickcooper7629]

This is like the opposite of the 1 Sikh who fought for the Brits in WW1 they made into a standard video game or movie prop.

[@redcoathistory]

@@patrickcooper7629 I’m confused / tens of thousands of Sikhs fought with Britain in both world wars. Great allies.

[@japjeetmehton9921]

@@patrickcooper7629 I’m Sikh, my family members fought in both WWs. WTF you talking about.

[@Raven-qj8xk]

@@patrickcooper7629 heres an older documentary about the huge amount of brave Sikh volunteers in both world wars, kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJbYiHt9dqypiNE

[@frankezane583]

@@redcoathistory I think he might be a Lawrence Fox fan, who didn’t know thousands of Sikhs fought for the British in both world wars but thought he could talk about it on national TV….a complete tool for sure

[@SandeepSingh-uf2kh]

Sikhs/Khalsa defeated/overan Delhi during the Mughal rule 18 times. They even sat on/occupied the throne for a day, but relinquished it.

[@welshwarrior5263]

What a guy, eat your heart out Rambo. Thanks for posting mate. It was excellent to listen to.

[@redcoathistory]

Cheers mate - I'm hoping to do more like this. Just need to find more time!

[@edwinsalau150]

Never stop learning. History is something else! Intrigue!

[@jamesmiller3548]

Growing up on the shores of Lake Superior in the late 1700s and early 1800s would have been a rugged life. No doubt this environment helped Forge the toughness and imagination of Alexander Gardner. To the north and west of Michigan lay unexplored mountains, deserts, rivers and lakes filled with Native American tribes whom many had never had contact with Europeans. I find it interesting that Gardner ended up on the frontiers of the British empire instead of in the unknown wilderness of the American west at that time.

[@brianmccarthy5557]

He could have been a mountain man, or more likely a fur trading entrepreneur like John Jacob Astor. His life span paralleled the American expansion west. Born just after the Revolution, living through the era of the War of 1812; the Mountain Men; the Mexican Anerican War; the California Gold Rush; the Civil War; the beginning of the huge industrial expansion and dying after the 1876 Centennial and the last major Indian Wars in 1876-77. Had he stuck around he could also have had a life of adventure. He might have died a national figure instead of an obscure widower soldier in a remote backwater, and quite possibly become rich.

[@pspkidblack]

He was born and raised in Mexico for most of his younger years, his mother was the daughter of a Mexican woman and Englishman

[@narveenaryaputri9759]

The comments about Maharani Jind Kaur, the Queen, are unacceptable. The Sikhs are comfortable with controversy. Theirs is an unparalleled path. Controversy is almost a rite of passage, in a manner of speaking, on any unparalleled path. But the records are buried in Lahore. So how can such comments be made without research? Even Princess Sophia, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh's granddaughter, a Britisher by birth, the God-daughter of Queen Victoria, was a controversial figure, seen differently in England, and in Panjab.

[@SMoneyT]

Yes. But Kindly correct the name of Maharani Jind Kaur also known as Jinda* not Jindal.🙏

[@narveenaryaputri9759]

@@SMoneyT thank you. I was typing on my little phone.

[@ramandeep2764]

Amazing work Sir 👏 thank you so much 🙏

[@KamalSingh-xi4yb]

God bless America, God bless A Gardner . I love your content, plus your unnumbered like : British Goox at Dniffing etc & background scores of video. Keep us updated Mate . Cheers

[@sabihatanveer8494]

A fascinating person he was a revelation for this part of the world, Indian history has not covered it

[@jackmcnally9237]

George Mac Donald Fraser ;a very underrated Historian !

[@mattowens3451]

Video actually started at the beginning. Thanks for not wasting my time. I'm subbing to 👍👍👍👍

[@thad117]

Excellent video as always Chris. Great editing work as well!

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot Thad.

[@siddharthshekhar909]

I am half Hindu and half Sikh. And I was fascinated to hear this story. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had a great General ( who is considered as one of the greatest military commanders in history) ,his name was Hari Singh Nalwa. It is a fact that Afghans used to flee if they knew that Nalwa was in command of the Army.

[@theidleguy9041]

They blew Golden Temple before fleeing 😉

[@sardar_gurjot]

@@theidleguy9041 and we blew their asses.

[@gsingh8098]

@@theidleguy9041 No that was Abdali of the Durrani Empire in the mid 1700's during the persecution campaigns led by Zakriya Khan Bahaduar, Lakpat Rai, Mir Manni, Adina Beg and invading partying from the Pathans. Hari Singh Nalwa And Akali Pholla Singh ji led the charge and sealed the Khyber, then Jamrud and swept Kabul. Nadir Shah was not spared either and was stripped pf all his loot from his Delhi campaign and the Mughals in Dehli were defeated 14 times.

[@theidleguy9041]

@@gsingh8098 and where did you learnt all that history from, your grandfather? Because no one else agrees on that. Nadir defeated Mughals only once, it was enough because Mughals were destroyed after that no need to defeat them 14 times. One of his generals Ahmed Shah abdali came again and destroyed North India. And no one was able to even scratch them. On his way back to kabul after destroying Marathas, he destroyed the city of Amritsar, laid waste the Golden Temple there by stuffing it with gunpowder and blown it. Not even one wall of the temple was standing when they left. And no one was able to do anything to them. The loot was so much that Afghans didn't required to work for a long time. Learn and accept the true history, it's the only thing that will stop the history from repeating itself again

[@mr.bhullar4148]

@@theidleguy9041 buddy i think you are the one who is listening only dumbs, we are sikhs man we respect every brave man for their bravery, but you really need to read history well, sikhs do not had that much in counting or any forts they just live by and fight. But after the massacre done by abdali sikhs flew them very well. And let me tell you i know the word "abdal" so it a big mistake by an abdal to destroy any home of god.

[@ducthman4737]

The 79th Cameron Highlanders . The very best out there.

[@wildcolonialman]

Truly fascinating. This entire history, certainly of the Raj, of India, is little known to me. From Nanny State NZ. Thank you.

[@technophiliac2282]

Simon Poyton British occupied Punjab 100 years after they occupied India. Punjab was a different country, also called Sikh Empire or Sarkaar-e-Khalsa. When British left in 1947, they clubbed all the annexed lands and gave it to Hindu leaders. Punjab is presently illegally occupied by India and Sikhs want freedom. Sikhs have also been victims of Genocide at the hands of Hindu nationalists jn 1984 led by Indira Ghandi who was later assassinated for committing mass killings of Sikhs in Punjab. There is a huge propaganda going on for last 75 years by Indian government to tarnish Sikhs and label them as terrorists. About 400,000 Sikhs have died at the hands of Indian Hindu governments since 1947. World needs to stand with Sikhs too.

[@shanuyok615]

What's raj ?

[@brianmccarthy5557]

If Gardiner was born in the area of Lake Superior in the area you indicated in 1785 that would have been far west of the most advanced settlement lines, which were in the Ohio Valley. He would have been one of the first, if not the first, Americans born there. His father must have been a fur trader. Who was his mother? Most women in the area were either from Native tribes or French Quebecois. That he identified as an American is telling. Loyalists from the Revolution self identified as British. The area was very chaotic due to the just completed American Revolution and conflict would continue there until 1794 and "Mad" Anthony Wayne's victory at Fallen Timbers in what is now Indiana. After that the British were forced to retreat into Canada and evacuate the remaining American territories they had ceded in the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Gardiner must have grown up in very dangerous circumstances. Tough as the Indian Northwest could be it probably wasn't nearly as dangerous as where he grew up. It was also far more civilized and comfortable. The Old American Northwest was an extremely rugged wilderness place with few creature comforts. There is no need to assume British service to learn artillery. The Americans were building up a small but very effective navy prior to the War of 1812. They concentrated on building very strong, heavily gunned frigates with excellent sailing qualities. Though vastly outnumbered by the British fleet they destroyed enemy naval power on the Great Lakes and performed very credibly on the high seas during the war. The USS Constitution is still afloat and a National Monument. Gardiner could have easily learned artillery in the American Navy or Army or militia. There were lots of Napoleonic War veterans in the American forces to teach him. Gardiner and his brother wouldn't be the first Americans to serve the Russians in the area. John Paul Jones, the founder and first hero of the American Navy, commanded ships for Catharine the Great in the Black Sea where the current Russo-Ukraine War is going on after the American Revolution. Gardiner would have been following in the footsteps of other Americans and Scots while leaving a few new ones of his own. Parts of the world never before seen by Europeans? Well Gardiner wasn't a European. He was born in America and semms to identified as an American. In any case members of European civilization and Christendom had been there long before. They just didn't happen to come from the English approved list of far Western European Protestants.

[@SacredDreamer]

WoW ! Thank you so much for that valuable information !

[@BumMcFluff]

I have a copy of all of the Flashman books, and well worn they are. Flashman would make a great series of videos, but I fear many modern agendas would prevent this.

[@davidgardner634]

Gardners do love South Asia, myself included, thanks for the information

[@kartikchary]

😂😂😂😂 ROFL

[@nl396]

This is my first time watching your channel and boy am I glad I did! I knew a little about this time period but never knew of Alexander Gardner till now, thanks!

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks for watching!

[@Raman42002]

Never heard about him,Maharaja Ranjit Singh had generals and colonels from France and Italy but Hari Singh Nalwa and Zorawar Singh were greatest who won all the fights even afghan.

[@baljitaulakh6535]

Hari singh nulwa was trained to fight by mohammed khan gada from afganistan.

[@Raman42002]

@@baljitaulakh6535 kuch Vi,Where it is written that Muhammad taught him, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh used to organise competition of different martial arts,Hari Singh Nalwa came first in Archery,Gatka, Horse Riding, Fighting and other games than Maharaja Selected him in his army.He was a gifted man.

[@baljitaulakh6535]

Read this in history on google

[@Raman42002]

@@baljitaulakh6535 send me link,Kindly check who wrote it and from where that article was taken.

[@baljitaulakh6535]

@@Raman42002 it was Mohammed khan GADA

[@ulrichenry4881]

An Interesting man. I am glad he helped the sikhs

[@mj897]

The truth is he was only there for money

[@ulrichenry4881]

@@mj897 sources please?

[@mj897]

There were many firangi in court, they nearly all jumped ship as the empire imploded, they essentially were all mercenaries that had various employment over there careers. See a book called lions firangis are gardners biography of his escapades.

[@ulrichenry4881]

@@mj897 okay that's fine but honestly he could have just did all that without immersing himself into the sikh community

[@shanuyok615]

A mercenary only works for personal things money or fame or spies

[@jayturner3397]

Fascinating, thanks.., love that ZOU LOU poster...

[@mikebrase5161]

Sir Percy Wyndham would be a good video. Fought for 6 Different countries and was part of most of the early to mid war Cavalry operations in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Plus he has a Boss level moustache.

[@jot965]

wow Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji was such a great ruler. He even have French generals in his army, thtz why Britishers never defet Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji..

[@shanuyok615]

Not a thing to be proud of

[@gurindersingh4655]

You provided very good information about Alexander Gardner. I just subscribed your channel.

[@asidhu4550]

There is a Book on him called the "Tartan Sikh"

[@FranciscoPreira]

What a great odyssey, great info Chris.

[@user-df7og3lp4p]

Thankyou i had never heard of this legend alexander gardner fascinating

[@panjabvibes4]

Sikh empire is a great empire

[@QNEGRO1]

Good choice in whisky at the end of the video, Bushmills🥃 Lovely drop💧😎

[@octopusfly]

How inspiring! Your depiction is brilliant! Thank you so much for sharing your time and energy. I love the editing and the asides ("I know which one I would want to go to...don't tell the missus!"). Quality, m8...pure quality!

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks, Robert - glad you liked it!

[@tahahormozan]

Please have some content for Howard Baskerville he is a legend and popular American between Iranians who fought bravely next to them in constitutional revolution in Iran and got killed we Iranians honor him respectfully

[@sinaaafshar4154]

Similar story happens to Austrian military comamders who came to Iran. That austrian man converted to Islam and married a local woman. Later on his son became the Founder of Iranian civil Airways

[@artair70]

Do you know his name?

[@sinaaafshar4154]

@@artair70 I don't know how write its Austrian German last name. But name of the guy was Baron Shtudaxt. One of Austrian officers of Iranian army. Converted to Islam and changed his name into Abdollah shtudaxt. Later on his son Isa ( means Jesus) Shtudaxt was the 1st Iranian pilot who flight over Iranian sky

[@sinaaafshar4154]

@@artair70 interesting fact his father married to doghtier of Naser addin shah of Qajar

[@craigdutton6072]

That was a full on story that was 🙏what a tough life he lived good story 👍

[@eastern_n_northeast_punjab4100]

There were lots of Europeans in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Panjab ♥️⚔️. They were Officers, Cabinet Ministers & Commanders.

[@aledcharles16]

I remember this guy appearing in one of the Flashman books. Very interesting historical figure 👍🏻

[@g.pmoore4293]

Flashmen and the mountain of light .

[@aledcharles16]

@@g.pmoore4293 That’s the one 👍🏻 I should’ve watched the whole video before commenting 😅

[@ColoradoStreaming]

"WISCONSIN!"

[@mpetersen6]

@@ColoradoStreaming First thing that came to my mind too. If you are a fan of Flashy I highly recommend the audio editions.

[@ColoradoStreaming]

@@mpetersen6 I have listened to some snips of the audio and they are entertaining for sure. At the end of the day though, I enjoy picking up an old paperback Flashman book with the smell of the old paper and being able to flip through to the footnotes which are entertaining in their own right.

[@GoldenArrow297]

Looking forward hear many more fascinating stories.

[@andrewlittle250]

Great video Chris!

[@sukumarponneri1280]

There were plenty of European soldiers of fortune during those times in India. Apart from Gardner there was a French general by the name Monsieur Raymond in the service of Nizam of Hyderabad. To Hindus he was Musa Ram and to Muslims he was Musa Rahim. If you can make a show of this French general it would be great. Love your show, Thanks

[@rajeevdatta8881]

Maharaja Ranjit singh trained and commanded ist modern army of asia consisting of Sikhs , Punjabi Hindus , Punjabi Mussalmans, Dogras , Gurkhas , pushtoon. pathans , he was the ist ruler in 1000 yrs who was able to push back Afghans fm punjab and even took many areas belonging to Afghan rulers, His Generals included Hari Singh Nalwa, Gulab Singh Dogra,Dewan Mokham Chand,Veer Singh Dillon,Sham Singh Atariwala,Zorawar Singh,Chattar Singh Attariwalla,Mahan Singh Mirpuri[ my ancestor],Misr Diwan Chand, DEWAN MULRAJ last sikh rebellion against the British was led by Dewan Mulraj Governor of Multan.

[@michaelobrien3492]

Great video. Fascinating material and very well-presented. I was sitting on the edge of my chair…

[@rockywarren2383]

holy crap! finally someone qho has read flashman and the mountain of light!! amazing! gotta love the youtube algorithm sometimes. i read this book randomly 12 years ago and ( being from Kansas ) have never known anyone who has heard of it or read it to discuss it with. Fantastic and fun read but I had assumed it was loosely based on historical fact. but to finally know the background on the protagonist is enriching and satisfying. gonna go ahead and hit the subscribe. Great channel!

[@generalzod9042]

Reading mountain of light right now

[@genemalinowski]

Wow, just discovered your channel. Impressive and fun!

[@sharkfinbite]

Hmm.... We did have a war of 1812 in the U.S. He would be 27 years old in the 1812. There was also a Amercan-Barbary war in 1801-1805. He would be 20 at the beginning. It might have been around one of those he learned artillery.

[@jigggro]

Living in Joburg is like living in a warzone anyway. Your graphic was apt.

[@TheSoLuna2]

This needs to be made into a movie!

[@simoneantonini5181]

Probably the coolest man of the XIX century was Charles De Rudio (originally Carlo di Rubio). An italian Who fought the french in Rome in 1848, tryied to kill Napoleon III and managed to escape the Island of the Devil (the unescapable french prison in South America). After the escape he moved to the US where he fought in the ACW (if I'm not wrong he commanded a brigade of african americans), fought at Little Big Horn and survived to tell the tale.

[@redcoathistory]

Sounds like a fascinating guy - will look him up!

[@The_Gavvy]

he is great general of sikh empire or trustworthy our sher-E-Panjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh..

[@rehmit]

Thank you I learned a lot from this video

[@andyshaw5378]

Absolutely fascinating 👍

[@seamusmcfitz913]

Great comments below! Great channel!

[@ramamoorthyh]

Noccolo Manucci, Italian was artillery officer in Shah Jehan's army in Mughal India during 1650s. His work, "A Pepys of Mughal India (1653 -1708)" gives insight into Mughal period.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot - will look it up.

[@steveng.7269]

👏 well done, that was very interesting

[@BoerChris]

Excellent video about a fascinating and incredibly adventurous man! Congratulations on acquiring your qualification as a KZN tour guide, and compliments on the progress of your style of video presentation, which is now extremely slick.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks Chris. Got some 1st Anglo-Boer war videos coming next month which you should enjoy.

[@BoerChris]

@@redcoathistory Looking forward to those!

[@donaldhoult7713]

@BoerChris. But contains very little which is personal research.

[@michaeldelucci4379]

Thank you for your video I never heard of the man.

[@jeffbruin5487]

Love watching your stuff, very interesting and informative. I've been a Zulu war buff since childhood. Keep the good content up mate!

[@mpetersen6]

Thank you George MacDonald Fraser featuring him in Flashman and the Mountain of Light. The Flashman books may have had a fictious cad as a man character but they were always fleshed out with real people that were intregral to the story. Flashies code word for rescue in the book is either Wisconsin or Ouisconsin.

[@kiwigrunt330]

"...few places I would rather live less than NZ..." Yeah, the novelty is rapidly wearing off....

[@kiwiprouddavids724]

Our PM sucks at the moment,but we still a awesome county

[@balwantsingh4283]

Maharani Jindan was NOT against sikh army but Dogras turned then against Maharaja Ranjit singh family also offering them more wages and blaming Rani Jindan. She called her brother, Sham Singh Ataariwala, at an old age to defend Punjab who fought and died because Dogras betrayed by NOT sending him the real ammunition then backed off (as they were with British), broke the bridge made be boats on their way out so that the British will win.

[@thesikhwars1826]

Check out this Video we have created on the Anglo Sikh war kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6nYqZeNZ5d2prM

[@rattanbanait132]

Thanks for the video!!!!

[@ef6957]

I hope you can make a video and I have to see your videos are pretty good hope you make a video showing the valiant Afghan warriors who defeated the British and the sheets let’s see you do that or is it always against the Afghan Muslims? Lol.

[@paaruxd9679]

Wow i knew this story im from India 🕊️💞

[@84manjit]

Wonderful and unique! Wondering why not heard or read about him so far. Only General Ventura is highlighted.

[@franksullivan1873]

Great story....very interesting fellow indeed.

[@ajaydeepsingh2374]

Waheguru ji 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@davideldridge733]

Im from America ky Appalachia I'm half native American and German very interesting history

[@murrywanna3056]

This was fascinating, and presented with excellence.