The death of Ranjit Singh in 1839 marked a period of instability within the Sikh Empire. To counter the threat to British territories along the border, the East India Company increased its military strength near the border with a new cantonment in Firozpur. However this act, viewed together with the recent conquest of Sindh in 1843, was viewed with great distrust by the Sikhs. This led to a breakdown in diplomatic relations and the outbreak of the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1845.