Shah Mir
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2011) |
Shams-ud-Din Shah Mir (reigned 1339-42) was a ruler of Kashmir and the founder of the Shah Miri dynasty named after him. Jonaraja, in his Dvitīyā Rājataraṅginī mentioned him as Sahamera. He came from Swat (Tribal) territory on the borders of Afghanistan. However, Jonaraja a credible historian informs us that Shahmira was not from Swat. It is confirmed that he was not from Swat but was a Kshatriya descended from Arjuna whose ancestors had taken up Islam.
Shah Mir arrived in Kashmir in 1313 along with his family, during the reign of Suhadeva (1301-1320), whose service he entered. In subsequent years, through his tact and ability Shah Mir rose to prominence and became one of the most important personalities of his time. Later after the death in 1338 of Udayanadeva, the brother of Suhedeva he was able to assume the kingship himself, Rinchan (d. 1323), a commander from Ladakh region who had entered Kashmir as a fugitive seized the throne of Kashmir, started his personal quest for religion, was not accepted into Hinduism by the Brahmins due to his race, happened to watch Sayyid Bilal (d.1327) at prayer, was enchanted by the simplicity of the Sayyid's faith and embraced it with fervour.[1]
Rinchana from Ladakh, and Lankar Chak from Dard territory near Gilgit came to Kashmir, and played a notable role in the subsequent political history of the valley. All the three men were granted Jagirs by the King Rinchan for three years became the ruler of Kashmir, Shah Mir was the first rular of Swati dynasty, which had established in 1339.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
During the reign of Sehadeva (1301-?), a Tatar chief Dulucha invaded Kashmir and ravaged it. King Sehadeva fled the country and his general Ramachandra occupied the throne. In the confusion Rinchana (reigned 1320-23)[2][3], the Ladhaki prince,organised an internal rising and seized the throne. He married Kota Rani, the daughter of Ramachandra. The Hindu religious leaders of the time refused to admit into their fold. Finally, he embraced Islam before he was killed. He had a son, Haidar by his queen Kota Rani. After the death of Rinchana, who was assassinated, Kota Rani married Udayana Deva, the brother of Sehadava.
The last Hindu ruler of Kashmir was Udyana Deva. It was his chief Queen Kota Rani, who practically governed the state. She was a very brave lady, shrewd and an able ruler. Though she tried her best to save her Kingdom, odds were too heavy for her. The valley was again invaded by a Mongol and Turk invader Achalla, and Udayana Deva fled to Tibet. But the Queen defeated (killed) Achalla and drove away all the foreign troops.
Finally another rising was led by Shah Mir, who defeated the queen at Jayapur (modern Sumbal). The defeat upset her and seeing the indifference of the Hindu grandees and general public, she stabbed herself to death, because Shah Mir wanted to marry her. Her death in 1339 paved the way for the establishment of Shah miri dynasty rule in Kashmir.
[edit] Reign and succession
Shah Mir was succeeded by his eldest son Jamshid, but was deposed by his brother Ali Sher probably within few months. Ali Sher assumed the name of Alauddin.[2]The Shah Mir dynasty consisted of 20 kings and came to an end in 1561.
| Precedence | Name | AD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shamsu'd-Din (i) | 1339 |
| 2 | Jamshed | 1342 |
| 3 | Ala'u'din | 1343 |
| 4 | Shihu'd-Din | 1354 |
| 5 | Qutub'd-Din | 1373 |
| 6 | Sikander | 1389 |
| 7 | Ali Shah | 1413 |
| 8 | Zainu'l'Abadin | 1420 |
| 9 | Hasan Shah | 1472 |
| 10 | Mohmuddad Shah (i) | 1484 |
| 11 | Fateh Shah (i) | 1486 |
| 12 | Mohmuddad Shah (ii) | 1493 |
| 13 | Fateh Shah (ii) | 1505 |
| 14 | Mohmuddad Shah (iii) | 1514 |
| 15 | Fateh Shah (ii1) | 1515 |
| 16 | Mohmuddad Shah (iv) | 1517 |
| 17 | Ibrahim Shah (i) | 1528 |
| 18 | Nazuk Shah (i) | 1529 |
| 19 | Mohmuddad Shah (v) | 1530 |
| 20 | Shamsu'd-Din (ii) | 1537 |
| 21 | Ismail Shah (i) | 1540 |
| 17 | Nazuk Shah (ii) (i) | 1540 |
| 18 | Ibrahim Shah (i) | 1552 |
| 19 | Ismail Shah (ii) (v) | 1555 |
| 20 | Habib Shah | 1557-1561 |
The descent of Shahmiri dynasty is well documented from Hindu (Jonaraja) Kshatriyas. After the fall of their empire the descendants disseminated to various areas in the valley like the saffron town in Pampore (Numlabal) while others settled in Srinagar. Shahmiris are still looked at as royal elites and generally live in palatial houses in Srinagar that were built in Victorian style architecture back in the 19th century.
The first sufi saint who reached Kashmir, during the time of King Sehdev, was Sayed Sharafuddin Bulbul Shah from Turkey. That very time a rebel prince from Tibet, Rinchan, and a Persian Muslim religious preacher, Shahmir, arrived in Kashmir.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
- Sikandar Butshikan
- Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani:1314-1384
[edit] Notes
- ^ History of Civilizations of Central Asia Volume IV By M.S. Asimov C E Bosworth Page 307
- ^ a b Majumdar, R.C. (2006). The Delhi Sultanate, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, pp.372-80
- ^ Kashmīr Under the Sultāns by Mohibbul Hasan, Aakar Books, 2005
- ^ Kashmir Under the Sultans By Mohibbul Hasan Page325 , Published by Aakar Books
