Oms

OMS (d. 1828), a Spaniard, also known as Amise, Musa Sahib, Urns and Hommus, served in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army. As a young man, he had enlisted in Napoleon's artillery. After France's defeat in 1815, he set out on his travels and reached Persia where he obtained employment declaring himself to be a Frenchman. He left Persia in 1824, reaching Lahore in 1826. He took up service under Maharaja Ranjit Sihgh on a salary of Rs 1,200 per month and was given command of two battalions of infantry and a regiment of cavalry. His force was stationed in the quadrangles ofJaharigir's tomb in Shahdara, near Lahore. In 1828, his troops took part in the Karigra expedition. He returned to Lahore in August the same year. In September, he died of cholera and was buried with full military honours within the precincts of Jahangir's tomb.