Soomra dynasty
The Soomra dynasty سومرن جو سلسله | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1024–1351 | |||||||||
| Capital | Thari (in present-day Badin District in Sindh) | ||||||||
| Common languages | Sindhi (native language) Arabic (liturgical language) | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
• 1024–1030 | Sardar Soomar (first) | ||||||||
• 1333–1351 1351–1355 in exile | Hamir | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Soomra dynasty begins | 1024 | ||||||||
• Soomra dynasty ends | 1351 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
The Soomra dynasty (Sindhi: سومرن جو سلسله) were rulers from the Indian subcontinent.[1] They ruled in the Sindh region of present-day Pakistan from 1024 to 1351.
There are different theories about the origin of the Soomras[2] . Some historians hold that the Soomros were of Arab descent, other say that they were Hindu Rajputs converted to Islam. Finally a third group hold that the Soomro are an indigenous Sindhi Clan.[1]
The dynasty was finally replaced by the Samma dynasty in the XIV century.[3]
History
The first Soomro ruler was Khafif,a member of the Ismailite Shia sect orgaized by the Fatimid Caliphs [2] . He took over Sindh from the last [[Habbari dynasty]|Habbbari] ruler Ali bin Umar in 1011 A.D, ending the arab rule in Sindh. The Soomro shifted their capital to Thar. However,in the las 95 years of Soomro rule, Thatta was made the capital of Sindh until 1351 AD. The first Soomra rulers were Fatimid ismailites adn owed allegiance to the Fatimid caliphate of Cairo.When the islmailite movemte was divided between the Nizzaries of Alamut and other group in Yemen, the Soomras moved away of this dispute [2]
During the Soomra period, Kutch was ruled by the Samma Dynasty, an both clans enjoyed good relations between their countries.[4]
The system of government established by the Umayyad Caliphate and next by the Habbari dynasty, was left intact by the Soomra. Tolerance and coexistence with the Hindus, Buddhists and other local religions persisted. Even some local customs and names were adopted by the new rulers.
In the XI century,The Soomro were defeated by Mahmud of Ghazni, but they revolted against his successor, Masud.
After the Ghaznavid invasion, The Soomro sultan Sultan Dodo I ruled Sindh for 20 years(1068-1089). During his reign, he had a son named Shahabuddin Sanghar. Because Sanghar was still a minor, Dodo I abdicated the throne in favour of his elder daughter Zainab Tari, to live a retired life. The Council of Ministers and Sardars unanimously followed the wishes of their Monarch and crowned Sanghar’s sister Princess Zainab Tari as the sovereign Queen of Sindh.
The Soomro queen Zainab Tari ruled for ten years until her younger brother Sanghar came of age. She was known throughout Sindh to be a brave and wise queen. No foreign armies invaded Sindh during her reign. The capital city Tharri expanded in her reign, and trade with foreign countries increased.
After the tenth year of her rule, under the rules of succession, the queen declared Sanghar as the king of Sindh. Consequently, Sanghar was crowned as the Sovereign King of Sindh and Queen Tari retired to lead a family life.
Sanghar ruled 15 years and attacked Kutch. After his death, his widow Hamum occupied the Sindh throne for a time, with the help of her brother Phatoo.[5] However, The sindhi nobles rebelled against her, and installed Khatif II, son of Dodo II to be ruler. Khatif II(1107 – 1142) annexed parts of Kutch to the Sindh kingdom, but only under the reign of his successor Umar I(1142 – 1181) Kutch finally was xonquered by the Soomros.
Inn the second half of the XII century, The sultan Dodo Bin Khafef Soomro III fought against the Ghurids, who occupied the port city of Debal.Years later, in 1221, the Khwarezmian Sultan Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu of Khwarezm, also occupied Debal for a year, causing much destruction in Sindh. After his short campaign, he returned to Persia to reconstruct his kingdom.
In the period of 1298-1300, there was a civil war between the brothers Dodo and Chanesar for the rule of Sindh. A legend say that the daughter of the Sultan Dodo, the Princess Bilqees Bhagh, was coveted by the Delhi general Zafar Khan for his master, the Sultan of Delhi Alauddin Khilji. Zafar Khan tried to play both brothers and gain Sindh for the Sultanate of Delhi, but the Sultan Asad-al-Millat Dodo Soomro decided to fight the attacker near the Soomra Capital in Tur. The Delhi forces won the battle by his superior numbers and Sultan Asad-al-Millat Dodo was killed. The sultan Chanesar started helping the invaders, but after the death of his brother and the flight of the princess Bilqees Bhagh to Kutch, he also tried to fight against the Delhi forces. The legend in Sindh says that Zafar Khan killed Chanesar and pursued the princess Bilqees in Kutch, where she killed herself. The city of Tur was destroyed later by the Sultan of Delhi Alauddin Khilji.
Finally, the Soomro were defeated by another local dynasty , the Samma dynasty.
Notable people
See also
References
- ^ a b Siddiqui, Habibullah. "The Soomras of Sindh: their origin, main characteristics and rule – an overview (general survey) (1025 – 1351 AD)" (PDF). Literary Conference on Soomro Period in Sindh.
- ^ a b c M.H, Panhwar (2003). An illustrated History Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of Sindh. Samgam publications. p. 114. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4. https://panhwar.com/Adobe/SKS.pdf
- ^ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p. 114. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
- ^ {https://thesoomras.wordpress.com/category/soomra-dynasty-2/
- ^ http://www.uok.edu.pk/faculties/sindhi/docs/soomroEng.pdf
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