The independent princely states of Punjab were small, partially independent regions that existed from the 1700s to the 1900s. They were spread across both Indian and Pakistani Punjab. These states emerged following the decline of the Mughal Empire, when local powers established their own rule to fill the political vacuum. Ruled by various chieftains, clans, or royal families, these states maintained their own governance, military, and economic systems. Despite their relatively small size, they played a vital role in shaping the political and cultural landscape of Punjab on both sides of the present-day India-Pakistan border.

In addition to the princely states, the Sikh Confederacy, formed by various Sikh Misls, also played a dominant role during this period. The confederacy coexisted with many princely states, though the relationship was often tense - particularly as the Sikh Misls sought to expand their territories and conquer the princely states.

Notable princely states included Patiala, Nabha, Kapurthala, Faridkot, and Jind in the now Indian Punjab, while in the now Pakistani Punjab, the most significant state was Bahawalpur, but other smaller groups also held some power. While Sikh rulers like Maharaja Ranjit Singh unified the confederacy into a powerful empire in the early 1800s, smaller princely states continued to exist. The dynamic between the princely states and the Sikh Confederacy was complex, involving both cooperation and conflict as these entities competed for control of key regions in Punjab.

Note: There were more princely states in the now Indian (or eastern) side of Punjab for a number of reasons. During Mughal rule, the northern regions of Punjab were directly administered by Mughal governors, which gave local chiefs little autonomy to establish independent states. Additionally, the Sikh Confederacy controlled many areas in central Punjab, especially in the present-day Pakistani (or western) side, which further limited the emergence of independent princely states there. The geography of the river systems flowing through Punjab also influenced trade routes and settlement patterns, making much of the area rural and agrarian, which was less conducive to the formation of princely states.

Collectively, the princely states and the Sikh Confederacy played significant roles in preserving the distinct cultural, religious, and linguistic identities of Punjab, both in the eastern and western parts. The princely states acted as cultural and political strongholds, while the Sikh Confederacy, and later the Sikh Empire, united much of the region under a single rule. However, the fragmentation of smaller states and internal rivalries left the region vulnerable to British colonial expansion. Eventually, these states were absorbed into British India and, post-Partition, into India and Pakistan. The legacies of both the princely states and the Sikh Confederacy continue to shape the history and identity of Punjab today.