Monarch Mystique recounts the meleoric rise of Ranjit Singh, from a chieftain of Punjab to the Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. The rise of the Sikh Empire in the first half of the nineteenth century paralleted gthe downfall of the Afghan Empie. Numerous invasions by Ahmed Shah Abdali in the eighteenth century had demoralised Punjab. Ranjit Singh's exceptionalism reversed this sentiment by registering victories against the Afghans. His army the Khalsaji, became a symbol of fearlessness. By the mid-1820s, there were only two powers in the subcontinent, the East India Company and Ranjit Singh. The rapidly changing alignments in Europe and ambition of the Company, made it imperative for it to adopt the dual policy of exploiting its strength and thwarting the growth of the Sikh Empire. Despite the machinations of the Company the Sikh Empire continued to expand and retain its sovereignity until after Ranjit Singh's death. The Maharaja earned the respect of both the Afghans and the East India Company.