Shah Mir

Shams-ud-Din Shah Mir (Urdu; شَمسُ الدین شاہ میر) (reigned 1339–42) was a ruler of Kashmir and the founder of the Shah Miri dynasty named after him. Shah Mir is believed to have come to Kashmir from Swat during the rule of Suhadeva (1301–1320). 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.

Early life

Historian A. Q. Rafiq thinks it more likely that Shah Mir, the founder of the dynasty was a descendant of Turkic or Persian immigrants to Swat.^[1] Other belief is that he was originally from Swat Valley in historical Afghanistan. Jonaraja, in his Dvitīyā Rājataraṅginī mentioned him as Sahamera. Some Persian chronicles of Kashmir describe Shah Mir as a descendant of the rulers of Swat.

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.^[2]

Shah Mir from Swat, Rinchan 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 Suhadeva.

Career

During the reign of Suhadeva, a Tatar chief Dulucha invaded Kashmir and ravaged it. King Suhadeva fled the country and his general Ramachandra occupied the throne. In the confusion Rinchan (reigned 1320–23),^[3][4] 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. Rinchan embraced Islam and took Muslim name of Sultan Sadruddin. He was attacked by rebels and was badly wounded and died in 1323 A.D. Just before his death Sultan Sadruddin (Rinchan) summoned his trusted minister, Shah Mir, and entrusted his son, Hyder, and wife, Kotarani, to his care. He had a son, Haidar by his queen Kota Rani. After the death of Rinchan, who was assassinated, Kotarani married Udayanadeva, the brother of Suhadeva.

The last Hindu ruler of Kashmir was Udyanadeva. It was his chief Queen Kota Rani, who practically governed the state. She was a very brave, shrewd and an able ruler. Though she tried her best to save her kingdom, odds were too heavy for her. The Kashmir Valley was again invaded by a Mongol-Turk invader Achalla, and Udayanadeva fled to Tibet. But the Queen defeated (killed) Achalla and drove away all the foreign troops.

Finally in this age of chaos Shah Mir organized an uprising against Queen Kota Rani and defeated her 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 Mir dynasty rule in Kashmir.

Descendants

As listed in the Rajataranginis he was succeeded by Jamshed 1342–1344, Alau-ud-Din 1344–1355, Shahab-ud-Din 1355–1373, Qutub-ud-Din 1373–1389, Sikandar Butshikan the book-burner 1389–1413, Alishah 1413–1419, Zain-ul-Abdin 1420–1470, Haidershah 1470–1472, Hassanshah 1472–1484, Mohammadshah 1484–1486, Fatehshah 1486–1495 Mohammadshah 1495–1496, Fatehshah 1496–1497, Mohammadshah 1497–1509, Ibrahimshah (s/o Mohammadshah) 1509 Nazukshah (s/o Fatehshah) 1529 (one year), Mohammadshah 1530–1535.^[5]

See also

• Shah Miri dynasty
• Sikandar Butshikan
• Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani

Notes

Bibliography

• Baloch, N. A.; Rafiq, A. Q. (1998), "The Regions of Sind, Baluchistan, Multan and Kashmir" (PDF), in M. S. Asimov; C. E. Bosworth, History of Civilizations of Central Asia, Vol. IV, Part 1 — The age of achievement: A.D. 750 to the end of the fifteenth century — The historical, social and economic setting, UNESCO, pp. 297–322, ISBN 978-92-3-103467-1 

External links

• Baharistan-i-Shahi: A Chronicle of Mediaeval Kashmir