Ranbir Singh's grandson
Hari Singh, who had ascended the throne of Kashmir in 1925, was the reigning
monarch in 1947 at the conclusion of British rule of the subcontinent and
the subsequent partition of the British Indian Empire into the newly
independent Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. As parties to the
partition process, both countries had agreed that the rulers of princely
states would be given the right to opt for either Pakistan or India or in
very special cases to remain independent. In 1947, Kashmir's population was
77% Muslim and it shared a boundary with Pakistan. Hence, it was anticipated
that the Maharaja would accede to Pakistan, when the British government was
to end on 14-15 August 1947. When Hari Singh hesitated to do this, Pakistan
launched a guerilla onslaught meant to frighten its ruler into submission.
Instead the Maharaja appealed to Lord Mountbatten for assistance, and the
Governor-General agreed on the condition that the ruler accede to India.
Once the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession, Indian soldiers
entered Kashmir and drove the Pakistani-sponsored irregulars from all but a
small section of the state. The United Nations was then invited to mediate
the quarrel. The UN mission insisted that the opinion of Kashmiris must be
ascertained, while India insisted that no referendum could occur until all
of the state had been cleared of irregulars. This is to date de-facto
boundary of the two countries. Aksai Chin was one of the main causes of the
Sino-Indian War of 1962, as India discovered a road, China had built through
Aksai Chin, shown as Chinese on official Chinese maps. Beginning in 1954,
India had shown on its official Survey of India maps a definite boundary
line awarding Aksai Chin to itself, despite no military or other occupation
of the area. Before 1954, Indian maps had shown undefined and indefinite
boundary lines in this area. The China National Highway 219, connecting
Tibet and Xinjiang, passes through no towns in Aksai Chin, only some
military posts and truck stops, such as the very small Tianshuihai (el.
4,850 m (15,900 ft)) post. The road adds to the strategic importance of the
area. Aksai Chin is now under Chinese administration since 1962.
The region is now divided
among three countries in a territorial dispute: Pakistan controls the
northwest portion (Gilgit-Baltistan and
Azad Kashmir), India controls the
central and southern portion (Jammu and Kashmir) and Ladakh, and China
controls the northeastern portion (Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram
Tract). India controls the majority of the Siachen Glacier area including
the Saltoro Ridge passes, whereas Pakistan controls the lower territory just
southwest of the Saltoro Ridge. India controls 141,338 km2 (54,571 sq mi) of
the disputed territory, Pakistan 85,846 km2 (33,145 sq mi) and China, the
remaining 37,555 km2 (14,500 sq mi). Jammu and Kashmir as an Indian state
has capital at Srinagar in summer and Jammu in winter.
...
Kingdom of Kashmir established in remote (legendary) antiquity.
Early Middle Ages State of Jammu established.
28 Jul 1589
Kashmir incorporated into (Mughal) Empire of Hind.
May 1752
Kashmir conquered by the newly founded Afghan kingdom.
1816
Jammu annexed to the Punjab.
05 Jul 1819
Kashmir annexed to the Punjab.
1820
Independence of Jammu restored.
15 Mar 1846
U.K. government cedes Kashmir to the ruler of Jammu, thus
creating the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
16 Mar 1846
Jammu and Kashmir a British protectorate till 15 Aug 1947.
27 Oct 1947
The ruler of Jammu and Kashmir declares the accession of the
state to India in the face of tribal invasion from Pakistan
(Azad Kashmir annexed to Pakistan).
26 Jan 1957
The incorporation of Jammu and Kashmir into India is
declared to be complete.
21 Nov 1962
China occupies Aksai Chin region of Ladakh.
Harappa...............................................c. 2500 - c. 1750
Aryan invasions from 1600/1400 BCE.
GONANDIA
Legendary kings
Gonanda I
Damodara I
Yashovaty
(female)
Gonanda II
34 kings names unknown
Lava
Kusha
Khagenda
Surenda
Godkhara
Suvarna
Djanaka
Shashinara
The Mauryan Empire.....................................c. 315 - c. 200
Djaluka
Damodara II
Bactria (Menandrid)....................................c. 150 - c. 130
Sakae (local rule by Bactrian vassals).................c. 130 - c. 80
Suren, as a Parthian client.............................c. 80 - c. 60
Suren, as a Kushanid client.........................c. 60 BCE - c. 125 CE >
Abhimanyu I
Gonandia (capital in Srinagar)
Gonanda III........................................c. 56 - c. 64
Vibhushana I.......................................c. 64 – c. 76
Indradjid..........................................c. 76 – c. 83
Kota Rani
(female).................................1338 - 1339
Shah Mir attacked her and forced
her to marry him. He later threw her and her two sons in the
prison and declared himself Sultan Shamsuddin. Her death in
1339 paved the way for the establishment of Muslim rule in
Kashmir.
Sultanate of Kashmir
SWATI
Shams ad-Din I Shah Mirza Swati........................1339 - 1342
Shah Mirza was
an adventurer from Swat. He became a minister to the above
ruling Hindu ruler and eventually succeeded in usurping the
throne, adopting the title Shams al-Din Shah. His reign lasted
three years and he was followed in turn by each of his four sons
mentioned below.
Jamshid
S/o Shah Mirza.................................1342 - 1343
Ali Shah Aladdin
S/o Shah Mirza........................1343 - 1354
Shirashamak Shihab ad-Din S/o Shah Mirza...............1354 - 1373
Qutb ad-Din Hindal
S/o Shah Mirza......................1373 - 1389
Sikandar [Butshikan] the Iconoclast
S/o Hindal.........1389 - 1413
After Hindal's
death, his widow placed their young son Sikandar on the throne.
No coins are known for any of these early Swati Sultans.
Although there are no coins known struck in the name of this
Sikandar, there are various anonymous copper coins dated to his
reign. Therefore to his reign the first coins of the Kashmir
Sultanate are attributed. He is known as Iconoclast and is
reputed to have destroyed Hindu temples and images. Such bronze
images my well have been converted into coinage. Sikandar died
and was succeeded by his eldest son with the title Ali Shah.
Ali Shah I
S/o Sikandar................................1413 - 1420
Ali Shah was
defeated in battle by his brother Shahi Khan and disappears from
history. Shahi Khan ascended the throne under the title Zain al-Abidin
and proceeded to rule wisely and with justice for the next fifty
years. Unlike his predecessor, he was tolerant of the Hindu
religion and permitted its observance. He under toll various
public works, promoted learning and made Persian the language of
his court. He reformed the coinage striking coins in gold,
silver and bronze. With a couple of exceptions, his coins formed
the pattern for the sultanate Delhi's coinage until its ending
the Mughal emperor Akbar. Sasnu as silver square and Kaserah as
copper round coins were introduced of weight around six gram
each in his reign. Zain al-Abidin's health deteriorated and his
realm fell prey to the intrigues of his three sons and their
supporters. After his death his son, Haji Khan, ascended the
throne with the title Haidar Shah.
Haidar Shah
S/o Zain al-Abidin.........................1470 - 1472
Haidar turned
out to be worthless drunkard, who allowed the country to be
misgoverned by his ministers, thus undoing all the good work of
his father. His reign lasted but a couple of years and he was
succeeded by his son Hasan.
Hasan Shah
S/o Haidar Shah.............................1472 - 1484
He, too, though
a scholar and benevolent by nature, was also addicted to strong
drink. He appointed a Sayyid minister, which led Sayyids
becoming all-powerful in the sultanate. Hasan wanted to be
succeeded by his cousin, Fath Khan, rather than by his eldest
son Muhammad, but when he died, his minister, the Sayyid Mirak
Hasan Baihaqi, placed Muhammad Shah on the throne. The Sayyids
were not popular in Kashmir and Muhammad Shah's accession was
hotly contested. For the next fifty years, Muhammad Shah and
Fath Shah became pawns of the factional leaders, the Sayyids and
the Chaks.
Muhammad Shah
S/o Hasan Shah (1st
time).......................1484 d. 1537
Sayyid
Mirak Hasan Baihaqi.............................1484 - 1485
Fath Shah
(1st
time)...................................1486 - 1493 d. 1516
Muhammad Shah
S/o Hasan Shah (2nd
time)................1493 - 1505 d. 1537
Fath Shah (2nd
time)...................................1505 - 1514 d. 1516
Mohammad Shah
S/o Hasan Shah (3rd
time)................1514 - 1515 d. 1537
Fath Shah (3rd
time)...................................1515 - 1516
Muhammed Shah
S/o Hasan Shah (4th
time)................1516 - 1528 d. 1537
Coins in all
three metal exists in the name of Sikandar Shah. In the past
these coins have been attributed to earlier Sikandar Shah. Die
studies reveal, however that these coins must have been struck
some time around 1516-1521 CE, either in the name of Fath Shah's
son Sikandar Khan, who was proclaimed king in about 1521 by his
father's erstwhile supporters, or in the name of Sikandar Lodhi
of Delhi. Muhammad Shah had gone into exile to Delhi in 1516 and
had appealed to the Lodhi ruler for assistance to regain his
throne. Assistance was granted and Muhammad managed to oust his
competitor. In return of this assistance Muhammad may have
agreed to acknowledge the suzerainty of Delhi and to strike
coins in the name of the Delhi ruler. In 1528, Kaji Chak became
Prime Minister, removed Muhammad Shah from the throne and placed
his own son Ibrahim on the throne.
Ibrahim Shah I
S/o Kaji Chak...........................1528 - 1529
Nazuk
(Nadir) Shah
S/o Fath Shah (1st
time)............1529 - 1530 d. 1552
Within a year
of Ibrahim Shah's rule, Nazuk Shah got control and ruled for
about a year as well.
Muhammad Shah
S/o Hasan Shah (5th
time)................1530 - 1537
Muhammad Shah
was released from prison and enthroned for the fifth time, with
Nazuk Shah being relegated to heir apparent. At around this
time, Kashmir was invaded by a Mughal army on the orders of
Kamran. After a short occupation, the Mughals were ousted but in
1553, the country was again invaded, this time by a Kashghari
army under Mirza Haidar Dughlat. The Kashgharis were successful
but did not stay long. They negotiated a treaty and withdrew,
having first had the name of their Khan, Mir Said Khan of
Kashghar, read out in the khutba and struck on the coins of
Kashmir around AH 939/940 (1553 CE). Muhammad Shah eventually
died and was succeeded by his son.
Shams Al-Din II
S/o Muhammad Shah......................1537 - 1538
He ruled as a
puppet of his maternal grandfather, Kaji Chak. He did not enjoy
his position for very long as he died the following year to be
followed on the throne by his brother.
Ismail Shah I
S/o Muhammad Shah........................1538 - 1539
After a short
reign Ismail Shah was replaced by his son.
Ibrahim Shah II
S/o Ismail Shah I......................1539 - 1540
No silver coins
have been found of Ibrahim II but copper coins have been struck
in his name with fixed date, making it impossible to distinguish
between his coins and those of Ibrahim I. Ibrahim Shah I was
replaced by Nazuk Shah. The opponents of Kaji Chak has invited
Mirza Haidar, who had led the Kashghari invasion of 1553, and
who was serving the Mughal emperor, Humayun, in the Punjab, to
take control of the country. This objected was achieved, Kaji
Chak was defeated and Nazuk put on the throne. Strangely, on his
coins he is called Nadir Shah and not Nazuk Shah.
Nazuk
(Nadir) Shah S/o Fath Shah (2nd
time)............1540
- 1546 opposed
by...
Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat..........................1546 - 1550
Coins struck
during Mirza Haidar's reign bear the name of the Mughal emperor Muhammad
Humayun and Islam Shah Suri.
Nazuk
(Nadir) Shah S/o Fath Shah (3rd
time)............1550
- 1551
Nazuk Shah was
again removed and replaced this time by Ibrahim II, for his
second reign.
Ibrahim Shah II
S/o Ismail Shah I......................1552 - 1555
There was
dissent among the Chaks and Ghazi Chak managed to regain power,
installing firstly Ismail Shah II and then his nephew, Habib
Shah as ruler.
Ismail Shah II.........................................1555 - 1557
He used the
name Mahmud Shah on his coins for unknown reason. Ghazi Chak
decided to ascend the throne himself under the title of Muhammad
Ghazi Shah.
SG#K104 Sasnu.
Year: AH 953 (1546 CE).
Weight: 6.16g.
Metal: Silver. Size:
1.45 x 1.5 cm.
Edge:
Plain. Alignment:
Medal, retrograde reverse.
Mint: Kashmir.
Mintage: N/A.
Ruler: Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat
citing: Mughal Emperor: al-sultan al-azam Muhammad Humayun ghazi
1546-1550.
Minted Years: One year,
scarce type.
This coin has
ghazi on the left side below Muhammad Humayun. SG#K105 also
exists with the same year having ghazi written on right side
below Muhammad Humayun.
SG#K116 Sasnu.
Year: AH
962 (1555 CE) on obverse and AH 959 on reverse.
Weight: 6.26g.
Metal:
Silver. Size:
1.45 x 1.5 cm. Edge:
Plain. Alignment:
Medal, retrograde reverse.
Mint: Kashmir.
Mintage: N/A.
Ruler: Habib (Mahmud)
Shah [al-sultan al-azam mahmud shah].
Minted Years: One
year, very rare type.
Further reading on Kashmir coins
recommended is Nicholas Rhodes: The Coinage of the
Sultans of Kashmir, published in Numismatic Digest, vol.
17, 1993, Indian Institute of Research in Numismatic
Studies, Nasik. This survey includes a bibliography of
numismatic and historical references.
CHAK
Muhammad Ghazi Shah....................................1561 - 1563
By this time,
the Mughal has started to re-establish their powers in India,
and the new ruler in Kashmir, perhaps wishing to keep on good
terms with his powerful neighbour, issued coins not in his own
name but also in the name of Akbar, who had succeeded Humayun in
AH 963 (1556 CE). Muhammad Ghazi Shah was removed by his brother
Husain Chak, who ascended the throne with the name of Husain
Shah.
Husain Shah I..........................................1563 - 1570
Mughal emperor
Akbar send an envoy to Kashmir in 1568, who was well received.
When the envoy returned to Lahore, Husain sent his own daughter,
with fine gifts, to be married to Akbar. Various coin during his
reign were also struck in the name of Akbar attest to these
events. Husain Shah abdicated in favour of his brother, Ali Chak
in AH 948 (1570 CE).
Zahir
al-Din Muhammad Ali Shah II......................1570 - 1579
He first
attempted to assert his independence but it was not long before
Akbar sent two powerful ambassadors to Kashmir to require him to
acknowledge Mughal overlordship. Coins are known to be struck in
Akbar's name during his reign, though not from the time of the
ambassador's arrival. Muhammad Ali suddenly died from an
accident in AH 987 (1579 CE) and this led to a period of
confusion. He was succeeded initially by his son Muhammad Yusuf
Shah. He was soon ousted as a result of a rebellion by the
Sayyid faction that saw Mubarak Khan ascend the throne as
Mubarak Shah.
Muhammad Yusuf Shah
S/o Muhammad Ali Shah II (1st
time).......1579 d. 1586
He is known to
issue coins in this brief period as well as during his second
reign from 1580 to 1586. He was soon
ousted as a result of a rebellion by the Sayyid faction that saw
Mubarak Khan ascend the throne as Mubarak Shah.
Sayyid Mubarrak Khan Baihaqi..................................1579
He is known to
produce coins in his short reign in AH 987 (1579 CE). He, in turn,
was displaced by a counter-rebellion, that saw not Yusuf but his
cousin Lohar Chak seize the throne.
He is known to
produce coins in his short reign in AH 987 (1580 CE). Yusuf left
Kashmir and sought Akbar's aid to regain his throne. A promise
of aid was given but was not needed as Yusuf managed to defeat
and capture Lohar Shah in a battle.
Muhammad Yusuf Shah
S/o Muhammad Ali Shah II (2nd
time)1580 - 1586
His reign
lasted for some six years but he was always mindful of pressure
from the Mughals. In 1584 he sent his eldest son Yaqub to Akbar
with fine gifts as proof of his loyalty, but the mission was not
well received as Akbar expected Yusuf to come in person.
Yaqub Shah
S/o Muhammad Yusuf Shah (1st
time).................1586
Oddly enough,
coins are known in the name of Yaqub two years before he
formally claimed the throne, i.e. in AH 992 (1584). Latter coins
were struck on his name in AH 994 (1586). In 1586 (AH
994), Yusuf was forced to submit to Akbar. He was imprisoned for
his pains. Yaqub was again declared king and continued to fight
a rearguard action for two years before realising that further
resistance was futile.
Husain Shah II................................................1586
Yaqub Shah
S/o Muhammad Yusuf Shah (2nd
time)..........1586 - 1588
He later
submitted to Akbar and exiled to Bihar, where he died in 1592.
From 1588 onwards, Kashmir became part of the Mughal Empire.
Afghan rulers
Ahmad Shah Durrani (1747-1772),
Taimur Shah (1772-1793),
Zaman Shah (1793-1801), Mahmud Shah (1801-1803 and 1809-1819) and Shoja al-Mulk
Muhammad Shah (1803-1809) are known to mint coins in Kashmir
during their rule.
Hari Singh
S/o Amar Singh..................07
Sep 1925 - 1948
Partitioned between India and Pakistan in 1948 - most of the Vale of
Kashmir was occupied by India. Hari Singh continued to rule Jammu
and Kashmir till 17 Nov 1952. He died in 26 Apr 1961. His son Karan Singh was regent under his father rule from 20 Jun 1948 to
17 Nov 1952. Later Karan Singh was elected as Sadr-e Riyasat
(roughly, "head of state") from 17 Nov 1952 to 30 Mar 1965 and
then Governor from 30 Mar 1965 to 15 May 1967.
Series: Fourth Silver (Chilki). Persian date in second line of obverse side and Davanagari date in
second line of reverse side.
Ladakh
Capital: Leh. At the extreme northern terminus of India, adjacent to the
Karakoram Range in the Himalayas. To the north is Xinjiang, to the
east is Tibet; west and south is Kashmir. To this day, the area is a
hinterland whose frontiers are in dispute between China, India, and
Pakistan. Politically, the place has been a sizable Tibetan
principality, almost to modern times.
c.900
Mnga'-ris-skor-gsum (Ladakh) established by a
West-Tibetan branch of the Yar-lung dynasty.
1200's - 1300's
Under Mongol suzerainty.
1644 - 1685
Tributary of the (Mughal) Empire of Hind.
1690's - 1700's
Vassal state of Kashmir.
1783 - 17 Sep 1842 Tributary of Tibet
(which itself is under suzerainty of China).
17 Sep 1842
Ladakh incorporated into the Jammu state, succeeded
by Jammu and Kashmir (with some nominal autonomy).
21 Nov 1962
China occupies Aksai Chin region.
28 Aug 1995
Ladakh Hill Area Development Council created.
29 Dec 2002
Autonomy increased.
Tibet until c. 900
First Dynasty
Skyidlde Nimamgon.............................................fl. c. 900
DpalGyimgon
Gromgon
Grags-palde
Byanchubsemsdpa
Lhachenrgyalpo
Utpala
Nag-lug
Dgebhe
Joldor
Bkrasismgon
Lhargyal
Under Mongol suzreinty mid 1200s-mid 1300s
Dnos-grub................................................fl. c. 1215
Rgyalbu Rinchen
??
Shes-rab
Khri-gtsuglde
Grags-bumlde..................................................fl. c. 1430
Blo-grosmchogldan.........................................? - c. 1460
Second Dynasty
- (titl:e
Chos-rgyal-chen-po; from 1683 every ruler also used the name
Aqibat Mahmud Khan).
Bhagan..............................................c. 1460 - c. 1485
name
unknown........................................c.
1485 - c. 1510
Lata Jughdan........................................c. 1510 - c. 1535
Kundga'-rnamrgyal I.................................c. 1535 - c. 1555
