Rulers of Kashmir: A Chronological set up (Part-2)
155. Shah Mir or Sultan Shams-ud-din I (1339-1342 A.D.)
After Kota Rani was murdered, firm establishment of Muslim authority in both its religious and secular aspects.
Calendar changed from Laukika. Era begins with Rinchana’s accession and is used in State documents. Practice ends with Akbar and Mughals.
Jagadhara Bhatta wrote Stuti-Kusumanjali, one of the last great stotra written in Kashmir.
156. Sultan Ala-ud-din or Alishah (1342-1354 A.D.)
Took the throne from brother Jamshed. Built Ala-ud-dinpoor. Budhagira (earlier known as Rinchinpora below Alikadal).
Lal Ded’s Vakh flow.
157. Sultan Shihab-ud-din or Shirashtaka (1354-1373 A.D.)
Absolute reorganization of military set-up. Conquered Tibet, Keshtwar and Jammu added to the Dominion of Kashmir. Defeated Jam of Sind (Jam Banahatti ? ).
Routed the Afghans at Peshawar. Subdued Kashgar, Badakhshan and Kabul. Lore say’s Shah Hamadan arrived from Persia in 1372 A.D. with 700 followers. Islamic faith received great impetus under his patronage.
Built Shihab-ud-dinpor (modern Shadipur).
Timur Gurkani (1336-1405),a Turco-Mongol conqueror, arises from Uzbekistan and captures Khursan in 1370. Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, nephew of Simnani, leaves Iran, visits Kuttalan in Badakhshan and from there heads to Kashmir in 1379.
The version of Sufi ideals differ between teacher Simnani and student Hamadani. Simnani roots more for Islamic orthodoxy and puritan ideas as central to Sufi movement, while Hamadani believes in Wahadat-al-Wajud (Unity of Being).
Amrtadatta is a court poet of Shihab-ud-din and writes in Sanskrit. Only parts of his verse survive in the anthology Subhāshitāvalī.
158. Sultan Qutub-ud-din or Himda (1373-1389 A.D.)
Qutub-ud-din divorces one of his wives on advice of Shah Hamadan as both women are sisters. Qutub-ud-din organizes yaganas at time of famine and visits temple regularly (at Ala-ud-dinpoor).
Shah Hamadan writes a letter to Qutub-ud-din, overall not impressed with the state of Islam in Kashmir.
Qutub-ud-din is not ready to change the ways of Hindus. King also known as Hinduka, one of the earliest mentions of the term “Hindu’ in Sanskrit work. Not impressed with condition of Islam in Kashmir leaves for Turkestan in 1382
He comes to Kashmir for the second time in around 1383 and leaves for Transoxiana, dies and is buried in Kuttalan in 1384.
Shruk of Shaikh Noor-ud-din flow (in primarily Sanskritised form. Persian form, as we now know evolves overtime).
Sultan Firuz Tughluk of Delhi dies in 1388.
On Qutbu’d-Din’s death in the year 1389, his eldest son Sikandar ascended the throne; but as he was a minor, his mother Queen Sura acted as Regent. She ruled with a firm hand, and put to death her own daughter and son-in-law for conspiring against Sikandar. [Srikant Kaul, critical edition of JRT: Or the woman was daughter of minister Udda/Rai Magray and killed on the order of Queen Sura. No reason given by Jonaraja. Sikandar’s younger brother was also poisoned by Udda. Sikandar later captures Udda and the minister commits suicide.]
Baha-ud-Din, founder of Naqshband Sufi order dies near Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
159. Sultan Sikandar Bhutshikan (1389-1413 A.D.)
Son of Shah Hamadan, Mir Muhammad Hamdani comes to Kashmir in 1393 (1402). Hindu monuments and libraries destroyed. Jeziya imposed.
Forcible conversions under Prime minister Malik Saif-ud-din (“Sword of faith”) mostly known by the name Suhabhatta, who was father-in-law of Mir Muhammad Hamadani.
Timur invades India and sacks Delhi in 1398. Abolition of Sati. Sikandar married Meeran Devi/Meraj, daughter of ruler Piruja (Firuz) of Udabhandapur or Ohin.
Kashmir got Khankahi Mualla, an important mosque near 3rd bridge, Srinagar, in wooden style. Also, Jamma Masjid, the biggest mosque in Kashmir having 378 Deodar pillars carying from 25′ to nearly 50′ in height.
Later Tarikh-i Firishta of Muhammad Kasim Hindu Shah, Firishta (b. 1570) first to give Sikandar the title “Bhutshikan”.
Near But Kadal in Zadibal, Srinagar, is a 15th century monument known as ‘Madin Sahib’ named after the tomb and mosque of Sayyid Muhammad Madani who came to India with Timur in 1398 and moved to Kashmir during the reign of Sultan Sikandar Butshikan. The monument comprises a Mosque and a Tomb, with the mosque dating back to around 1444 which first came up during the reign of Zain-ul-Abidin, incorporating elements, pillar and base, from an older Hindu monument.
Syed Hilal Naqshbandi (d.1457), disciple of Baha-ud-Din introduces Naqshbandi order in Kashmir but it spreads later only under Mughals. His disciple Sayid Amin dies in 1484 and buried at Alikadal.
160. Sultan Ali Shah or Miran Khan (1413-1420 A.D.)
Little Tibet lost to Kashmir. Death of Kabir in India in 1420 A.D. Malik Saif-ud-din dies of Tuberculosis, Jonaraja mocks his death using double entendre of “Great Brahmin”.
Shahi Khan assassinates Hamsabhatta, brother of Malik Saif-ud-din, at Idgah on the day of Id-ul-Zuha to neutralize the challenge to the throne of Ali Shah. Ali Shah wishes to leave for Mecca, entrusts the throne to Shahi Khan. Ali Shah arrives in Srinagar with forces from Jammu.
Shahi Khan leaves the throne and goes to Sialkot where he seeks help from Khokar tribemen to claim the throne. Khokars defeated the forces of Ali Shah and Shahi Khan placed on the throne. Civil war between brothers continues but Jonaraja is silent.
Ali Shah again arrives with forces from Jammu. Again defeated, this time at Uri. According to Haider Malik, he died in Prison at Pakhli fort (now part of Hazara), but according to Srivara, Jasrat Khokar killed Ali Shah.
161. Sultan Badshah or Zain-ul-abidin or Shahi Khan (1420-1470 A.D.)
Glorious reign in the history of Kashmir. First exponent of secularism as understood in modern terminology as employed in India. Even though a devout Muslim, the king himself attended Hindu shrines, performed sacrifices, built monasteries, and not only acquired a thorough knowledge of Sanskrit, but employed all his available time in the study of its sacred books.
Altogether his reign was the Augustan era of Kashmiri-Sanskrit literature. Put Kashmir on the international map by giving strong impetus to the manufacture of paper, shawls, embroidered tapestry and woodcarving.
Fire arms first introduced during his reign. Promoted silk industry by inviting weavers from Kurasan.
162. Sultan Haider Shah or Haji Khan (1470-1472 A.D.)
Internal fights for the throne. Adham Khan, a challenger for Haji Khan. However, Adham Khan dies in Jammu fighting the Turks. His son Fateh Shah born in Jammu on Shivratri night, raised by his mother’s family.
Rise of Purna the Barbar, a favourite of the King. Liberal policies continue. But, Hindus who attacked Shah Hamadan shrine have their arms and legs cut and thrown in Jhelum to drown.
163. Sultan Hassan Shah (1472-1484 A.D.)
Great lover of music. There were 1200 musicians in his court. According to Srivara at the birth-ceremony of Muhammad (AD 1478), the son of King Hassan Shah, “foreign” music was played using instruments like rabab.
Great fire in Srinagar in 1480. Inquisition established in Spain.
164. Sultan Muhammad Shah (1484-1486 A.D.)
Zain-ul-abidin had invited the Sayyid family of Bayhaq from Delhi and given his daughter to the chief of the family Sayyid Nasir as bride, triggering a power struggle between the Sayyids and Kashmiri chiefs after the death of Hasan Shah as the king was still a boy. Sayyid Hasan Baihaqi becomes regent to his grandchild boy king Muhammad Shah who is only 7.
Sayyid Hasan was assassinated on 23 May 1484 along with 13 others of his family by Kashmiri Nobles with the help of Jammu (Madra) noble Parasurama, who had found refuge in Srinagar after the threat of Tatar Khan Lodhi, who at the time was Governor of Lahore.
Jonaraja provides a graphic description of the killing with a touch of sadness at the violence. This killing eventually leads to a great battle in old Srinagar (city fighting described in great detail) in which about 2000 warriors – Brahmins, Rajputs, Syeds, Kashmirians (Margey, Damaras, Raina/Rajanakas), Dogras (Madras), from both sides die and there is general loot, plunder, desecrations and rapine (the Kashmirians win and Syeds lose). As Syed’s had earlier burnt Rudra Vihara, the winning side now burns Alauddinpura, and the shrine of Shah Hamadan burns.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu born at Navadvipa in Bengal in 1485 A.D.
165. Sultan Fateh Shah (1486-1493 A.D.)
Adham Khan’s son Fateh Shah born in Jammu on Shivratri night, raised by his mother’s family, living in Jalandhar, was invited to claim Kashmir throne by Jahangir Margey even as Margey’s support boy king Muhammad Shah. When Fateh Shah arrives into Kashmir, Jahangir Margey has second thoughts. Violent struggle for power between Muhammad Shah and Fateh Shah starts that goes on for decades.
Chaks a virulent people from Gilgit come to the forefront.
166. Sultan Muhammad Shah (1493-1505 A.D.)
In this era, Great grandson of Ahmed Raina, Shaikh Hamza Makhduman, an important mystic of Kashmir was born in 1494 A.D.
Prajnabhatta wrote Rajavalipataka (continuation of Rajatarangini 1486-1512 A.D.)
167. Sultan Fateh Shah (1505-1516 A.D.)
Deposed by Muhammad Shah for one year in 1514 A.D. The third bridge in Srinagar known as “Fath Kadal ” was built during this time.
Sultan Muhammad Shah (1516-1537 A.D.) deposed by Sultan Ibrahim Shah and Sultan Nazuk Shah during the years 1528 to 1530.
Babar’s army attacks Kashmir. Kamran with Humayun’s consent attacks Kashmir. King of Kashgar sends his son Sultan Zada Sikander Khan accompanied by Mirza Haider Dughlat from Tibet through Lar to attack Kashmir.
Desecration of sites and plunder on a vast scale. Babar’s death in 1530 A.D. Ibrahim Lodi ascended the throne in 1517.
The battles for secession between the royals last for about 50 years and end with the death of Muhammad Shah. Nurbakshia (at the time Shia order) missionary Mir Sams al-din Araqi (d. 1526) arrived in Shahmir Court in 1493 as the embassy of Sultan Husayn Mirza (1469-1506).
More Hindu temples and practices were destroyed by him.
Anti-Nurbakshia movement starts among Sunnis majority Kashmir nobles. From the end of the 15th century to the first half of the 16th century, there were 3 layers of antagonism: Muhammand Shah and Fateh Shah, between Sayyids and local chiefs, and between Nurbakshiya and the anti-Nurbakshia faction. Real power with Margays, Chaks and Rainas.
168. Sultan Shamsuddin II (1537-38 A.D.)
Baba Nanak dies at Kartarpur in 1539, now known as Dera Baba Nanak. First memoirs of Guru Nanak composed by Guru Angad. Gurmukhī alphabet arrives out of Sharda alphabet.
169. Sultan Ismail Shah I (1538-39 A.D.)
Flight of Humayun in 1540. Cromwell beheaded
170. Sultan Ibrahim Shah II (1539-1540 A.D.)
Son of Muhammad Shah
171. Sultan Nazuk Shah (1540-1551 A.D.)
Son of Fateh Shah.
The country was actually run for 10 years by Mirza Haider Dughlat who was ruling in the name of Humayun. Persecution of Shias.
Akbar born at Amarkot in 1542. Tulsidas commenced his Ramayan in 1547.
172. Sultan Ismail Shah II (1551-1554 A.D.)
Michael Servitus burnt for “the crime of honest thought” in 1553.
173. Sultan Habib Shah (1554-1555 A.D.)
Last of the Shah Mirs who had established the Sultanate in 1339 A.D., after murdering Kota Rani.
Crown taken off Habib Shah’s in an open court and rulership passed on to Chaks, a tribe from Gilgit who were converts to Shia faith.
174. Ghazi Shah Chak (1555-1563 A.D.)
Reconquered Skardu, Gilgit, Kistawar, Pakhli and Mougli which had fallen off from the kingdom.
175. Husain Shah Chak (1563-1570 A.D.)
Akbar sends personal emissaries to Kashmir led by Mirza Muhammad Muqim.
176. Ali Shah Chak (1570-1579 A.D.)
Strikes coin in the name of Akbar thus accepting his suzerainty. Terrible famine in 1576 which lasted for 3 years.
177. Yusuf Shah Chak (1579-1586 A.D.)
Lost his throne during this period. He was first overthrown by Abdal Chak and then reinstated by Akbar.
Chaks extern Hamza Makhdoom to Sialkot. His disciple Baba Daud Khaki and followers goto Multan, while Shaikh Yakub Sarfi and other chiefs go to Akbar’s court and ask him to put an end to Chak rule.
In 1585, Akbar’s half-sibling and arch enemy Mirza Muhammad Hakim died in Kabul. Akbar sees an opportunity for expanding his empire to the North of Hindustan. Yusuf Shah concluded a treaty with the Mughal army in 1586.
Akbar invades Kashmir and takes possession of the kingdom . Yusuf Shah was taken to Bihar contrary to the promise given to him (worked for Mughals, died in 1592).
Syed Nimatullah Shah Qadri (d.1582.A.D) arrived from Western Central Asia and introduced the Qadri Sufi order to Kashmir.
Syed Mubarak Khan (1580 A.D. -(six months and two days))
Lohar Shah (1580-1581 A.D. )
Yusuf Shah (1581-1585 A.D.)
Yakub Shah (1585- 1586 A.D.)
Source: Search Kashmir
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