Shah Mir

Shams-ud-Din Shah Mir (r. 1339–1342) was a ruler of the Kashmir region of the Indian subcontinent and founder of the Shah Mir dynasty, which is named after him. Shah Mir is believed to have come to Kashmir during the rule of Suhadeva (r. 1301–1320), where he rose to prominence. After the death of Suhadeva and his brother Udayanadeva, Shah Mir established his own kingship, founding the Shah Mir dynasty in 1339, which lasted till 1561.

Shah Mir
Sultan of Kashmir
1st Sultan of the ShahMir Sultanate
Reign1339-1342 CE
Coronation1339
PredecessorRinchan Shah
SuccessorSultan Jamshed
Born1300
Swat , Pakistan
Died1342
Kashmir
Full name
Shams-ud-Din Shah Mir
HouseShah Miri dynasty
ReligionSunni Islam

Origins
Sringar
Rajouri
Budhal
Swat, Pakistan
Gilgit
Leh
Kashmir

There are two theories regarding Shah Mir's origin. Some Persian chronicles of Kashmir describe Shah Mir as a descendant of the rulers of Swat.[lower-alpha 1] Historian A. Q. Rafiqi thinks it more likely that he was a descendant of Pesrian or Turkic immigrants to Swat.[2] It has also been suggested that he belonged to a Sufi or Qadiri family.[3]

Some scholars state that the Panjgabbar valley, the location described by Jonaraja, was actually peopled by Khasas and so ascribe a Khasa ethnicity to Shah Mir.[4][5][6] Most modern historians accept the Swati origins of Shah Mir.[3][7][8][9] Kashmiri scholar N. K. Zutshi, having critically examined the sources, reconciles the two versions by noting that the Persian chronicles mentions Swadgir rather than Swat, which he interprets as Swadgabar, meaning "suburbs of Gabar", which coincides with Jonaraja's description of Panchagahvara-Simani (on the borders of Panchagagvara).[10]

A. Q. Rafiqi states:

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.[11]

Career

Early Service

During the reign of Suhadeva, a Tatar chief by the name of Zulju invaded Kashmir and ravaged it. Suhadeva fled the country and his general Ramachandra occupied the throne. In the confusion Rinchan (r. 1320–1323),[12][13] sought the aid of various generals, including Shah Mir, and caused an internal uprising, seizing the throne. He married Kota Rani, the daughter of Ramachandra. Rinchan embraced Islam at the hands of the ascetic, Bulbul Shah, and took the Muslim name of Sultan Sadruddin. He was later attacked by rebels, and was badly wounded, dying in 1323 A.D.

Just before his death Sultan Sadruddin summoned his trusted minister, Shah Mir, who had since then risen to some prominence, and put his son, Haider, and wife, Kota Rani, in his care. After the death of Sadruddin, Kota Rani married Udayanadeva, the brother of Suhadeva. However he was a weak ruler, so nearly all duties associated with governance fell on Kota Rani.[14]

During and After the Later Turco-Mongol Invasion

During the reign of Udayanadeva, the Kashmir Valley was again invaded by Mongol-Turk forces, and Udayanadeva fled to Ladakh. Kota Rani, along with Shah Mir, called upon the many disorganized Chieftains, rallying them together. This now unified resistance defeated the invading armies, prompting their retreat from the valley.[14]

Revolt Against Kota Rani

In the aftermath of the conflict, Shah Mir won prestige for his role in unifying the people. Kota Rani took notice of his increasing popularity, and in an effort to check him, appointed Bhatta Bhiksana, a powerful man within the kingdom, as her Prime Minister. She also decided to move her capital to Andarkot, away from Srinagar, where Shah Mir had a major seat of power. This enraged Shah Mir, as he felt ignored in spite of his great labors for the kingdom. He succeeded in assassinating Bhiksana by means of a plot, and asked Kota Rani to marry him and share power, threatening to wage war on her if she was to refuse. She declined, and the two of them began organizing their armies.[15]

Shah Mir set out with his army from Srinagar towards Andarkot. Kota Rani sent out a force to check his advance, but it was promptly defeated. The fort at Andarkot was then laid siege to. While this was going on, many of Kota Rani's troops, seeing the futility of the situation deserted, and joined Shah Mir, to whom most important chiefs in the kingdom had already pledged allegiance.[15]

Kota Rani soon surrendered, and accepted Shah Mir's earlier proposal. However given the awkward situation in which Kota Rani accepted, and the possibility for a counter-uprising, made more probable when accounting for the small slivers of support Kota Ranis till had, Shah Mir could not take any risks. Kota Rani and her two sons were imprisoned, where they later died.[15][16]

Aftermath and Establishment of the Sultanate

With Kota Rani defeated, Shar Mir declared himself ruler, taking on the title Sultan Shams-ud-Din.

Shams-ud-Din worked to establish Islam in Kashmir and was aided by his descendants. In an effort to keep the local feudal chiefs in check, he raised to power two indigenous families, the Magres and the Chaks.[17] He also introduced a new era to the people of Kashmir, called the Kashmiri Era. This replaced the Laukika Era that had existed prior to this. The Kashmiri Era began with Rinchan's accession and conversion to Islam in 720 A.H. (~1320 CE) This Era remained in use until the Mughal Conquest of Kashmir in 1586.[17] Shams-ud-Din had two sons, Jamshed and Ali Sher.

The Tomb of Sultan Shams-ud-Din Shah Mir.

He reigned for three years and five months from 1339–42. He is currently buried in Andarkot, near Sambal.

Successor

He was succeeded by Sultan Jamshed in 1342.

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See also

Notes
  1. The chronicles include those of Tahir, Haidar Malik, Rafiu'd Din Ahmad and Muhammad A'azam.[1]

References
  1. Gull, Surayia (2003), Mir Saiyid Ali Hamadani And Kubraviya Sufi Order In Kashmir, Kanikshka Publishers, Distributors, p. 3, ISBN 978-81-7391-581-9
  2. Baloch & Rafiq 1998, pp. 311-312.
  3. Schimmel 1980, p. 44.
  4. Wani, Nizam-ud-Din (1987), Muslim rule in Kashmir, 1554 A.D. to 1586 A.D., Jay Kay Book House, p. 29, Shamir was a Khasa by birth and descended from the chiefs of Panchagahvara.
  5. Saxena, Savitri (1995), Geographical Survey of the Purāṇas: The Purāṇas, a Geographical Survey, Nag Publishers, pp. 360–361, ISBN 978-81-7081-333-0, In the Rajatarangini, the rulers of Rajapuri (modern Rajauri) are called the lord of Khasas and their troops as Khasas. They occupied the valleys of Ans river, now called Panjagabhar (Pancagahvara of Srivara IV 213).
  6. Zutshi, N. K. (1976), Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin of Kashmir: an age of enlightenment, Nupur Prakashan, p. 7, "This area in which Panchagahvara was situated is mentioned as having been the place of habitation of the Khasa tribe. Shah Mir was, therefore, a Khasa by birth. This conclusion is further strengthened by references to the part of the Khasas increasingly played in the politics of Kashmir with which their connections became intimate after the occupation of Kashmir.
  7. Wink 2004, p. 140"The first Muslim dynasty of Kashmir was founded in 1324 by Shah Mìrzà, who was probably an Afghan warrior from Swat or a Qarauna Turk, possibly even a Tibetan..."
  8. Gupta, Jyoti Bhusan Das (6 December 2012), Jammu and Kashmir, Springer, pp. 19–, ISBN 978-94-011-9231-6
  9. Snedden, Christopher (2015), Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris, Oxford University Press, pp. 28–, ISBN 978-1-84904-342-7
  10. Zutshi, N. K. (1976), Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin of Kashmir: an age of enlightenment, Nupur Prakashan, p. 7
  11. Baloch & Rafiq 1998, p. 312.
  12. Majumdar, R.C. (2006). The Delhi Sultanate, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, pp.372–80
  13. Kashmīr Under the Sultānsby Mohibbul Hasan, Aakar Books, 2005
  14. Hasan, Mohibbul (2005). Kashmir Under the Sultans. Calcutta: Aakar Books. p. 42. ISBN 9788187879497.
  15. Hasan, Mohibbul (2005). Kashmir Under the Sultans. Calcutta: Aakar Books. p. 44. ISBN 9788187879497.
  16. Hasan, Mohibbul (2005). Kashmir Under the Sultans. Calcutta: Aakar Books. p. 45. ISBN 9788187879497.
  17. Hasan, Mohibbul (2005). Kashmir Under the Sultans. Calcutta: Aakar Books. p. 46. ISBN 9788187879497.

Bibliography
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