Rai Dynasty
| Rai Empire | ||||
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| Capital | Aror | |||
| Religion | Hinduism Buddhism |
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| Government | Absolute Monarchy | |||
| Emperor | Rai Diwa | |||
| Rai Sahiras | ||||
| Rai Sahasi I | ||||
| Rai Sahasi II | ||||
| Historical era | Middle Kingdoms of India | |||
| - Established | CE 489 | |||
| - Disestablished | CE 690 | |||
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Stone age (7000–3000 BCE)
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Bronze age (3000–1300 BCE)
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Iron age (1200–26 BCE)
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Classical period (1–1279 CE)
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Late medieval age (1206–1596 CE)
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Early modern period (1526–1858 CE)
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Other states (1102–1947 CE)
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Colonial period (1505–1961 CE)
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Kingdoms of Sri Lanka (543 BCE–1948 CE)
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Nation histories
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Regional histories
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The Rai Dynasty was a Hindu Brahman[1] dynasty of Sindh, from c. 489–690 AD. The influence of the Rai empire extended from Kashmir in the east, Makran and Debal (Karachi) port in the west, Surat port in south, Kandahar, Sistan, Suleyman, Ferdan and Kikanan hills in the north, ruling an area of over 600,000 square miles.
The Emperors of this dynasty were great patrons of Hinduism and Buddhism. They established a formidable temple of Shiva in present-day Sukkur, Pakistan, derived from original Shankar, close to their capital in Al-ror.[2] This is consistent with the historical accounts from the times of Emperor Ashoka and Harsha because Indian monarchs never sponsored a state religion and usually patronized more than one faith.
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[edit] Sources of Information
B. D. Mirchandani writes, "Our knowledge of the Rai dynasty, which is not a great deal, is derived entirely from three Muslim chronicles of Sind."[3] For the history of the Rai and Brahman dynasties we are, therefore, almost entirely dependent on the Muslim chronicles, especially the Chachanama and Shahnama.[4]
The history of the Rai dynasty are entirely based upon Muslim chronicles such as the Chach Nama and the Shahnameh, thereby dating them to about the 5th century.[5]
They rise to power in the time period of shifting political scene with the wane of the Sassanid influence in the wake of the Hepthalite (White Hun/Huna) invasions, and with the rulers issuing silver coins bearing their likeness by the 7th century.[5]
[edit] Background
The Rai dynasty is recorded as ruling Sindh, from their capital Aror upon the banks of the Indus River, north to Kashmir for a period spanning 202 years.[5][6]
The Chachnama provides a detail of the extant of Rai Sahiras domain.
| “ | The limits of his dominions extended on the east to the boundary of Kashmir, on the west to Makran, on the south to the coast of the sea and Debal, and on the north to the mountains of Kurdan and Kíkánán. He had appointed four Governors (Maliks) in his kingdom: one at Brahminabad; and the fort of Nerun and Debal, Luhánah, Lákhah, Sammah and the river were left under his management |
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[edit] Chronology of Rai rulers of Sindh
Wink reports on the possibility of the corruption of the Sanskrit names and renders them as related in parenthesis in the following chronology of the Rai rulers of Sindh:[5]
- Rai Diwa ji (Devaditya)
- He was a powerful chief who forged alliances and extended his rule east of Makran and west of Kashmir, south to the port of Karachi and north to Kandahar.[8]
- Rai Sahiras (Shri Harsha)
- Rai Sahasi (Sinhasena)
- Rai Sahiras II
- Rai Sahasi II
[edit] The rule of Rai Sahasi II
Rai Meharsan second had a war with Nimruz of Fars in which he was killed due to injury of an arrow in his throat. After him Rai Sahasi second became the king. He ordered the appointed four Governors (Maliks) in his kingdom to protect the interests of the country and the people, to look after the repairs of the (State) buildings, and to keep the feudal assignees and estate-holders happy. In his whole dominion, there was not a single refractory or rebellious head who perversely opposed the measures passed by him or (transgressed) the boundaries fixed by him. Owing to his excellent policy and majestic dignity, Rai Sáhasi brought the kingdom under his firm control. The subjects and original residents of the country enjoyed much respect, and lived a happy life.
He had a wazir, by name chamberlain Rám. Rám was well acquainted with the various departments of knowledge. Once, when the chamberlain Ram, the Brahman wazir, had come to his office, a Brahman named Chach, son of Selaij, came to visit him to pay respects to the chamberlain Ram. The wazir was impressed by the talents of Chach and appointed him assistant. In a short time, he became prominent in the correspondence department of the council.
Once Sahasi Rai second fell ill. Some letters from the district of Siwistan having arrived, the secretary Rám was called. But he had not yet come to the council office. The minister sent his munshi (book-keeper) Chach for this purpose. The wisdom of Chach of Alor influenced the king and he appointed Chach to look after the palace as Assistant Secretary. This way he got free entry into the palace. After the death of Ram, Rai Sáhasi called Chach to himself and conferred on him the office of Chamberlain and Secretary.
In 644, after Conquering Persian Empire, Rashidun army entered Makran and defeated the army of Raja Rasil in a decisive Battle of Rasil, and annexed Makran and eastern Balochistan. Caliph Umar (634-644) however for the time being, disapproved of any incursion beyond the Indus river and ordered his commander to consolidate their position west of Indus.[10] During the reign of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan (644-656) Muslims captured Qanzabil, a main military garrison of Rai dynasty in northern Sindh and until 662, when during Ummayad Caliphate it was retaken by Rai kingdom, it served as eastern most garrison town of Rashidun army.
[edit] End of the Rai Dynasty
After the Arabs defeated the Sassanid allies of Persia (641 AD), the Arabs prepared for the Islamic conquest of the Indian Subcontinent, an area where Buddhism and Hinduism flourished.
The Rai Emperors fought many battles with the invading Muslims, resisting invasion of the Northwest region of the Indian Subcontinent. The numerous wars left a drain on the economy and the empire disappeared. Dr. R.S Sharma suggests in Shahnameh, the dynasty retreated to the Himalayan mountains with Hepthalite allies during the Islamic conquest where the rest of their history in Indian literature remains a mystery.
| Preceded by Ror Dynasty |
Rai Dynasty 489–690 AD |
Succeeded by Islamic Invasion / Chach of Alor |
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://ismaili.net/mirrors/sumras/sumras.html
- ^ Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992
- ^ Glimpses of Ancient Sind By B. D. Mirchandani
- ^ P. 152 Al-Hind, the Making of the Indo-Islamic World By André Wink
- ^ a b c d Wink pg.152
- ^ The Indus has moved its banks since.
- ^ THE CHACHNAMAH, AN ANCIENT HISTORY OF SIND, Giving the Hindu period down to the Arab Conquest. TRANSLATED FROM THE PERSIAN BY MIRZA KALICHBEG FREDUNBEG, Deputy Collector, Naushahro, Hyderabad District. Barachi: PRINTED AT THE COMMISSIONERíS PRESS. 1900
- ^ Elliot. pg. 405
- ^ Khusru Naushirwan and Khusru Parvis have both been postulated however it more likely that it was a governor of Fars. Elliot. pg. 405
- ^ http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V06_281.gif
[edit] References
- Thakur Deshraj: 'Jat Itihas, Delhi, 1934
- The Chach-nama. English translation by Mirza Kalichbeg Fredunbeg. Delhi Reprint, 1979.
- Wink, Andre, Al Hind the Making of the Indo Islamic World, Brill Academic Publishers, Jan 1, 1996, ISBN 90-04-09249-8 pg.
- Elliot, Henry Miers, The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians. The Muhammadan Period. Volume 1, Adamant Media Corporation, ISBN 0-543-94726-2
[edit] External links
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