Who founded the Sikh Empire and the first independent Sikh State in the Indian subcontinent?

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Who founded the Sikh Empire and the first independent Sikh State in the Indian subcontinent? Answer: Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Maharaja Ranjit Singh founded the Sikh Empire in the early 19th century, with Lahore as its capital. He unified various Sikh misls (confederacies) into a single powerful state in 1799, and was crowned Maharaja in 1801. His rule was marked by secular policies, military strength, and administrative reforms.