Medieval History Of Kashmir

After the end of the Karkota dynasty (around 855-856 AD) in early period, many new dynasties emerged in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. These are discussed below

Utpala Dynasty (855-939 AD)

🔴 This dynasty was founded by Avantivarman (855-883 AD) in 855 AD.

🟠He was one of the most important ruler of this dynasty who restored peace back in Kashmir from utter political and economic disorder.

🟤According to Rajtarangini, Avantivarman built many towns and temples alongwith providing a strong administration in Kashmir.

🔵 Avantivarman founded the town of Avantipura. The town had an efficient drainage system which was designed by Suyya.

🟡Suyya was a sage and an engineer as well  architect of that era. He also designed the town of Suyyapur, nowcalled Sopore. 

⚫ Avantivarman died in 883 AD and was succeeded by his son Shankaravarman. He led many conquests in South and North of his Empire. But he was cruel and extorted taxes from his people.

⚫ He organised special offices for the collection of taxes known as Grahkrtya.

⚫ Shankaravarman was killed during his conquest of Hazara near Uri in 904 AD. ⚫ Shankaravarman's queen Sugandha, ascended the throne after him but she was soon removed by Suravarman. The last ruler of this dynasty was Suravarman

who ruled till 939 AD. . The Council of Brahmans become very influential during this period.

⚪ Suravarman fled the Kingdom with his mother, bringing the Utpala Dynasty to an end. The Council under the leadership of Kamalvardhana placed a Brahmin named Yashaskardeva on the throne.

Brahminic Rule (939-948 AD) . 

🔴Yashaskardeva was appointed to the throne of Kashmir in 939 AD. This started the Brahminic rule in Kashmir. • Yashaskardeva restored peace in Kashmir and ended the long term Civil War that started during the Utpala dynasty.

🟤 After Yashaskardeva, his son Sangramadeva, (948 AD) became the king but he was murdered by his Minister Parvagupta, which then abruptly ended the Brahminic rule.

Gupta Rule (948-1003 AD)

🟡The Gupta rule in Kashmir started with the Reign of Parvagupta in 948 A.D. He ruled only for 2 years and died in 950 AD. He was a cruel ruler and extorded money from people He built the Shrine of Shiva called Paraguptedvara He was succeeded by his son who ruled from 950-958 AD.

🟣Kshemagupta married the Lohara Princess Didda, daughter of King Samharaja. Didda dominated the historical scene of Kashmir for the next 50 years. After her husband's death, she placed her son Abhimanyu (958-972 AD) on the throne. 

🔵After Abhimanyu's death, she placed her

grandsons on the throne and finally took the reign in her hand in 980 AD. . She built many temples, monasteries and gave an able administration. .She handed over the Throne of Kashmir to he brother's son Sangramraja.

Lohara Dynasty (1003-1171 AD)

🟩 This dynasty was centred at Lohran and was founded by Sangramraja after the death of Didda (1003-28 AD).

🟪 During this period, Mohammad Ghazni made his second attempt to capture Kashmir but failed due to harsh winters.

🟦 Another ruler of this dynasty was Harsha (1089-1101 AD) who was a patron of art and literature.

🟥He and his successor, Bhoja were strong rulers but were killed by their Generals Uchchala and Ssussala and the throne was passed into their hands.

🟧Jaisimha (1128-55 AD) was a great ruler of this dynasty and during his period Kalhana completed his historical text known as Rajatarangini. Jaisimha firmly ruled for 27 years and established peace in Kashmir.

🟨The last ruler of this dynasty was Vanitadeva. who died in 1171 AD. After his death, there was political unrest and chaos.

Deva Dynasty (1171-1339 AD)

🟫This dynasty ruled over Kashmir from 1171 to

1371 AD. Sangramdev and Suhadeva were notable kings of this dynasty. During the reign of Suhadeva (1301-1320 AD), Kashmir was invaded by a Tratar Chief (Mongol) called Zalachu or Duluchu from Central Asia. .

🔳He committed many types of atrocities in Kashmir. Due to this, Suhadeva fled to

Kishtwar . Suhadeva's Commander-in-Chief Ramchandra took help of Shah Mir ruling over Swar valley and from Rinchin who was a Ladakhi prince to resist the attack of Duluchu. . Rinchin eventually killed Ramchandra, married his daugther Kota Rani and occupied the throne of Kashmir. Shah Mir became his Minister.

 

⭕Rinchin released Ramchandra's son from prison and made him his Commander-in-Chief. . He was an able ruler and to secure his position in Kashmir, he wanted to embrace Hinduism. irrigation. But spiritual Heads of Hindus refused him to admit him to Hindu religion.

🔺️After that, Rinchin came in contact with a Sufi Saint Bulbul Shah and impressed by his teachings embraced Islam. He became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir and changed his name as Sultan Sadruddin.

🔻 After his death, his Queen Kota Rani married the Deva ruler Udayanadeva (brother of Suhadeva). Udayanadeva was the last Hindu Ruler of Kashmir.

⚫ After Udayanadeva's death, his queen Kota Rani ruled the dynasty bravely but due to an uprising against her by Shah Mir (Minister of Rinchan), the dynasty came to an end in 1339 AD. After a long drawn battle, Kota Rani was unable to face the situation and committed suicide This paved the way for the establishment of Muslim rule in Kashmir 

Shah Mir Dynasty (1339-1561 AD)

🟩After Kota Rani, the next ruler of Kashmir was

Sultan Shamas-ud-Din who founded the Shah Mir dynasty in 1339 AD.

🟢He was the first independent Muslim ruler of Kashmir. He ruled till 1342 AD and was succeeded by Jamshed (1342-1343). After Jamshed next rulers of Kashmir were Alal-ud-Din (1343-1354), Shihab-ud-Din (1354-1373), Qurub-ud-Din (1373-1389), Sikander (1389-1413), Ali Shah (1413-1420). Zain-ul-Abidin (1420-1470), Haider Shah (1470-1472), etc.

🟩Zain-ul-Abidin was the most able ruler of this dynasty. He ruled for 50 years (1420-70) and gave a strong administration. He adopted the policy of religious tolerance. Mahabharata and Kalhana's Rajatarangini were translated into Persian by his order. He founded several new cities, build bridges and dug canals for irrigation 

🟩 He opened a royal kitchen for Hindu Pilgrims at Rainawari, which is now known as Jogi Lanker (Srinagar). He also founded the towns of Zainapur, Zainaput and Zainagir. He built the first wooden bridge at Srinagar, 'Zainakadal'.

🟢 Some of the architectures constructed during this period include Jamia Masjid, Khanqah-e-Maulah and Aali Masjid in Srinagar and Amburiq Masjid in Gilgit-Baltistan.

🟩The rule of Shah Mir Dynasty continued till 1561. Habib Shah (1557-1561) was the last ruler of this dynasty.

🟢During Habib Shah's reign, Kashmir was attacked by Mughal emperor Akbar, under the Military Chief Qara Bahadur.

🟩However, Habib Shah's able Minister Gazichak defeated the Mughal army at Rajouri. Gazichak became powerful and soon dismissed Habib Shah to establish himself on the throne of Kashmir.

Chak Dynasty (1555-1586 AD)

🟫This dynasty was founded by Nasir-ud-Din Mohammad Ghazi Shah Chak (Gazichak) between 1555-1561.

🟤He came to Kashmir during the Reign of Suhadeva. Chaks originally belonged to Dard territory of Gilgit Huza area and successfully prevented the attempts of Mughal rulers like Babur and Humayun to annex Kashmir.

🟫Yusuf Shah Chak became the ruler after his father Ali Shah Chak from 1579 to 1586 AD. He made the beautiful places of Gulmarg and Sonmarg as holiday resorts.

🟤Yusuf Shah tried to hold on to the throne of Kashmir. He was strategically defeated when he was called to Delhi for talks by Akbar but instead of Delhi, he was imprisoned in Bihar where he died.

🟫 After his death, his son Yaqub Shah Chak became the ruler of Kashmir. . He tried to resist the Mughal army but was Haripura. After this, the Mughal rule was

established in Kashmir in 1586 AD.

Mughal Rule (1586-1753 AD)

🟥The Mughal Emperor Akbar conquered Kashmir in 1586 AD. The Mughals remained in power in Kashmir from 1586 to 1751 AD.

⚫ The Mughal rule in Kashmir was a period of peace, general public welfare and prosperity. Magnificent gardens, buildings were made, visitors started visiting Kashmir in large number.

Important Mughal Rulers

Akbar In 1579, Akbar visited Kashmir. He appointed Raja Todar Mal (his Finance Minister) to introduce revenue settlement in Kashmir to make it uniform with the rest of his kingdom. . Even the Parbat Revenue Settlement system of the valley is based on this early revenue settlement. In 1590 AD, Akbar built the Hari Parbat Fort in Srinagar and built a new town near it, called Nagar-Magar.

🔴Kashmir was very famous among Mughals due to its beauty and craftsmanship of its people. After Akbar, his son Jahangir ascended the throne of Kashmir. 

🟥 Kashmir came under the rule of Jahangir in 1605 AD. As he was an art lover, he built many famous gardens in Kashmir, e.g. Nishat Bagh. Shalimar Bagh on the banks of Dal lake, etc. He also built gardens at Achabal and Verinag

🔴Kashmir came under the rule of Shah Jahan (son of Jahangir) in 1628 AD. He was also an art lover who built Chashme Shahi Garden defeated by the army, under Qasim Khan at through his Governor Ali Mardan Khan in 1632 AD

🟥A portion of Shalimar Bagh was also built by Shah Jahan. He also added some features in the Verinag Garden like fountains and cascades, etc.

🔴Kashmir came under the rule of Aurangzeb (son of Shah Jahan) in 1658 AD. His reign was a period of revolts, anarchy and disorder in the country. He followed a policy of religious intolerance and fanaticism.

🟥According to Francis Bernier, a French traveller, who accompanied the Emperor The Mughals ruled in Kashmir through their during his journey, Aurangzeb visited Kashmir only once in 1665 AD.

🔻The Mughal rulers after Aurangzeb were incapable and weak. In 1748, Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali sent his Commander Azmatullah Khan to conquer Kashmir but he was defeated.

🔴The Mughal Governors in Kashmir were corrupt. They started looting people. There was a steep rise in crime and violence.

🟥Due to this misrule, two Kashmiri noblemen, Miri Muquim Kant and Khwaja Zahir Didmari invited Ahmad Shah Abdali Durrani of Kabul (Commander of Nadir Shah), who was at Lahore in 1752 to capture Kashmir.

🟥In 1753, Ahmad Shah Abdali again sent his army under Commander Abdullah Khan Ishaq Aqasi to conquer Kashmir. A battle was fought ar Shepian where Mughal Army was defeated and Kashmir was conquered by the Afghans.

⚫ Kashmir was then ruled by Afghan Governor Abdullah Khan Ishaq Aqasi. But he was a very cruel person, harassed merchants, peasants and let loose a reign of terror.

🔴Kashmiris wanted Mughal rule back as it was better than Afghan rule. Alamgir-II was the Mughal ruler in 1753. A Kashmiri noble Abdul Hassan Khan Bauday together with Alamgir's Governor in Kashmit, Sukh Jiwan Ram got Afghan Governor Abdullah Khan killed.

🟥This brought end to the five months rule of Afghans in 1753 and restored Mughal rule once again in the valley. From 1753 to 1762, Mughals ruled in Kashmir through their Governor Sukh Jiwan Ram.

Afghan/Pathan Rule (1762-1819) 

 ⚫ In 1762, Shah Abdali re-conquered Kashmir. This time Nur-ud-Din was made the Governor. 

🟪Afghan rule was established in the state in 1762 and continued till 1819. The 67 years of Afghan rule is known as the Darkest period in the history of Kashmir.

🟣The subedars (Governors) showed cruelty towards their people. People began to be looted by Afghan soldiers, they were not even safe in their houses.

🟪After the death of Abdali (1772), Amirs (subedars) were changed rapidly. In 67 years of Afghan rule, 28 subedars were changed.

🟣This uncertain dismissal made the situation even worse as the subedars became ruthless and looted people mercilessly.

🟪Thus, the Pathan rule in Kashmir is remembered only for its cruel rulers. The last Afghan ruler of Kashmir was Jabbar Khan.

🟣Due to terror of Afghan rule, two Kashmiris, Pandit Birbal Dhar and his son Pandit Rajakak Dhar went to Lahore and requested Maharaja Ranjit Singh to conquer Kashmir.