Zayn al-Abidin the Great: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Eighth sultan of the Shah Mir dynasty in Kashmir}} |
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{{Infobox royalty |
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| type = Monarch |
| type = Monarch |
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| name = Zain- |
| name = Zain-ullah |
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| title ={{plainlist| |
| title ={{plainlist| |
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* [[Sultan|Sultan of]] [[Kashmir]] |
* [[Sultan|Sultan of]] [[Kashmir]] |
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Revision as of 14:24, 10 April 2022
| type = Monarch | name = Zain-ullah
| title =
| image = Silver coin of Kashmir Sultanate.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = Silver coins minted in Kashmir under Abadin's rule | succession =8th Sultan of the Shah Mir Sultanate
| reign =
- 1418–1419
- 1420–1470
| coronation =
- 20 February 1418
- 7 July 1420
| predecessor = Ali Shah | successor = Haider Shah
| full name =
- Ghiyas-ud-Din Zain-ul-Abidin
- غیاث الدین زین العابدین
| spouse = | issue = Haider Shah[citation needed] | issue-link = | issue-pipe = | house = Shah Mir dynasty | father = Sikandar Shah Miri | mother = | birth_date = 25 November 1395 | birth_place = Jammu and Kashmir, Shah Mir Sultanate | death_date = 5 April 1470 | death_place = Srinagar (present-day Jammu and Kashmir, India) | burial_date = 12 April 1470 | burial_place = Srinagar | religion = Sunni Islam |}} Ghiyas-ud-Din Zain-ul-Abidin (Persian: غیاث الدین زین العابدین; 25 November 1395 – 5 April 1470[1]) was the eighth sultan of Kashmir. He was known by his subjects as Bod Shah (lit. 'Great King').[2]
The first 35 years of his reign are described by Jonaraja in the Rajatarangini Dvitiya,[3] while the subsequent years are described by his pupil, Srivara, in the Rajatarangini Tritiya.[4]
Rise to power
Shahi Khan, a son of Sultan Sikander the ruler of Kashmir, was charged with the rule of the kingdom of Kashmir when his elder brother, Ali Shah, left the kingdom on a pilgrimage to Mecca. It was at this time that Ali Shah gave Shahi Khan the title of Zain-ul-Abidin. Although a religious man, Ali Shah was weak-willed and his desire to attain Mecca buckled under descriptions of the arduous journey ahead. He abandoned his pilgrimage when he arrived at the court of his father-in-law, the king of Jammu, and raised an army consisting of soldiers from Jammu and Rajauri in order to regain his throne. The ancient texts vary regarding why it was that Zain-ul-Abidin relinquished his recently acquired status without a fight but there is no disagreement that this is in fact what happened.[5]
Retiring to Sialkot, Zain-ul-Abidin sought the support of its chief, Jasrat Khokhar. Ali Shah became angered when this support was forthcoming and he rashly set out with his army to challenge Khokhar. The forces met at Thanna and Khokhar defeated the challenger, who had ignored the advice of his father-in-law to hold back until the Jammu army could join him. Zain-ul-Abidin was then able to return to the capital city of Srinagar, where he was welcomed by his subjects. The fate of Ali Shah is uncertain: he may have died in captivity or have been put to death by Khokhar.[5]
Reign
Although fundamentally a peaceful man, Zain-ul-Abidin was protective of his territory. He raised and led an army to stabilise the fractious areas of Ladakh and Baltistan which had originally been conquered by his grandfather, Shihabu'd-Din, and then had become independent on his death until Sikander reasserted control. With the arrival of Ali Shah on the throne, the territories had once again begun to assert their independence and Zain-ul-Abidin recognised that they had an economic and strategic significance which entailed that they could not be allowed to secede. Similarly, he regained control of Ohind, the chief of which had been overcome by Sikander but had then announced independence during the period of rule by Ali Shah.[6]
He was on friendly terms with regard to the rulers of territories over which he inherited no historic control. The ancient records indicate that he gave and received presents to, and also exchanged embassies with, those who governed over Egypt, Gwalior, Mecca, Bengal, Sindh, Gujarat and elsewhere. Many of the gifts demonstrated the cultured nature of Zain-ul-Abidin; they included works about music, manuscripts and people who were scholars, the latter being sent to him when he commented that an original gift of precious stones was of less interest to him than a gift of a learned nature would have been.[7]
During the last days of his reign, his three sons, Adam Khan, Haji Khan and Bahram Khan rebelled against him but he took energetic measures to crush them. He was succeeded by his son Haji Khan, who took the title of Haidar Khan.[8]
Administrative policies
Zain-ul-Abidin enforced the system of responsibility of the village communities for local crimes. He regulated the price of the commodities. He stabilized the currency which had been debased during the reign of his predecessors. He was responsible for a large number of public works.[9] He founded several new cities, built many bridges and dug many irrigation canals. He also prevented the local governors from exacting illegal taxes and gave the peasants much needed tax relief.[10]
Religious policies
He extended patronage to Sanskrit language and literature.[11] He called back the Hindus who fled Kashmir during his father's reign in order to peacefully convert them.[9][12] He introduced the grant of stipends to the learned Brahmans who had converted to Islam.[10]
Notes
- ^ Walter Slaje, Three Bhaṭṭas, Two Sulṭāns, and the Kashmirian Atharvaveda. In: The Atharvaveda and its Paippalādaśākhā. Historical and Philological Papers on a Vedic Tradition. Ed. by ARLO GRIFFITHS and ANNETTE SCHMIEDCHEN. [Geisteskultur Indiens. Texte und Studien.11. = Studia Indologica Univer-sitatis Halensis.] Aachen 2007: 329–353.
- ^ Hasan, Mohibbul (2005) [1959]. Kashmir Under the Sultans (Reprinted ed.). Delhi: Aakar Books. p. 78. ISBN 978-81-87879-49-7. Retrieved 2011-08-03.
- ^ Sharma, Tej Ram (2005). Historiography: A History of Historical Writing. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-8069-155-3.
- ^ Sharma, Tej Ram (2005). Historiography: A History of Historical Writing. Concept Publishing Company. p. 37. ISBN 978-81-8069-155-3.
- ^ a b Hasan, Mohibbul (2005) [1959]. Kashmir Under the Sultans (Reprinted ed.). Delhi: Aakar Books. p. 70. ISBN 978-81-87879-49-7. Retrieved 2011-08-03.
- ^ Hasan, Mohibbul (2005) [1959]. Kashmir Under the Sultans (Reprinted ed.). Delhi: Aakar Books. pp. 78–79. ISBN 978-81-87879-49-7. Retrieved 2011-08-03.
- ^ Hasan, Mohibbul (2005) [1959]. Kashmir Under the Sultans (Reprinted ed.). Delhi: Aakar Books. p. 80. ISBN 978-81-87879-49-7. Retrieved 2011-08-03.
- ^ Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2006). The Delhi Sultanate, Mumbai:Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, p.383
- ^ a b Mahajan, V.D. (1991, reprint 2007). History of Medieval India, Part I, New Delhi: S. Chand, ISBN 81-219-0364-5, p.277
- ^ a b Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2006). The Delhi Sultanate, Mumbai:Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, p.382
- ^ Mehta, Jl. Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India. ISBN 9788120710153.
- ^ Hasan, Mohibbul (2005) [1959]. Kashmir Under the Sultans (Reprinted ed.). Delhi: Aakar Books. pp. 87, 91–92. ISBN 978-81-87879-49-7. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
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