Chand Kaur
| Chand Kaur | |
|---|---|
| Rajmata of Sikh Empire Malika Muqaddasa Empress Immaculate | |
Maharani Chand Kaur writing, gouache on paper, Lahore Museum, c. 1850 | |
| Maharani consort of Punjab, Kashmir and Jammu | |
| Tenure | 1 September 1839 – 8 October 1839 |
| Predecessor | Datar Kaur |
| Successor | Nanaki Kaur Atariwala |
| Maharani regent of the Punjab, Kashmir and Jammu | |
| Regency | 5 November 1840 – 18 January 1841 |
| Coronation | 2 December 1840 Lahore Fort, Lahore |
| Predecessor | Nau Nihal Singh (as monarch) |
| Successor | Sher Singh (as monarch) |
| Born | 1802 Fatehgarh Churian, Punjab, Sikh Empire (present-day Gurdaspur district, Punjab, India) |
| Died | 11 June 1842 (aged 39–40) Haveli of Nau Nihal Singh, Lahore, Punjab, Sikh Empire (present-day Punjab, Pakistan) |
| Burial | Royal Garden, Lahore (Samadhi) (present day Islamia College Civil Lines) |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | Nau Nihal Singh |
| House | Kanhaiya (by birth) Sukerchakia (by marriage) |
| Father | Sardar Jaimal Singh |
| Mother | Rajkumari Sahib Kaur of Patiala (daughter of Maharaja Amar Singh) |
| Religion | Sikhism |
Chand Kaur (1802 – 11 June 1842) was the regent of the Sikh Empire, proclaimed as Malika Muqaddisa (lit. Queen Immaculate) on 2 December 1840. She was born to Sardar Jaimal Singh of the Kanhaiya Misl. In 1812, she was married to Crown Prince Kharak Singh, son and heir apparent of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Maharani Datar Kaur. In 1821 she gave birth to their only son Nau Nihal Singh, who became second in line of succession to the throne of Punjab.
During her husband's brief reign she served as the queen consort of the Sikh Empire and became the Rajmata when her son ascended the throne.
After the deaths of both her husband Kharak Singh and son Nau Nihal Singh, she declared herself regent for the unborn child of Nau Nihal Singh and his pregnant widow Sahib Kaur. She ruled very briefly for a period of a month and a half. Her short rule was opposed by many sections of the Sikh establishment, some for misogynistic reasons. She abandoned her claim when Sahib Kaur delivered a stillborn son and rival Sher Singh led a successful assault of Lahore. She was later murdered by her servants on 11 June 1842.