(36) The Rising Sons

Ghulam Qadir Rohilla returns to Delhi and blinds the Emperor Shah Alam, replacing him with his puppet. George Thomas becomes the commander of one of the four battalions of Sardhana, the kingdom of Begum Samru and also becomes her paramour. Ghulam Qadir is defeated and killed by the Marathas, who restore Shah Alam to the throne. Maha Singh lays siege to the fort of Sodhra, which is under the control of the Bhangis and falls ill during the expedition. Before passing away he formally anoints his son as his successor. Taimur Shah, the King of Afghanistan passes away and is succeeded by his son Shah Zaman. In late 1793, Shah Zaman, who wants to reassert Afghan control over the Punjab,  crosses the Indus and arrives at Hasan Abdal in early 1794, skirmishing with the Sikhs before returning to Peshawar. Madhaji Scindia passes away and is succeeded by his great nephew Daulat Rao Scindia, who is confirmed by the Emperor Shah Alam as the new regent.