Shah Mir

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|Kashmir

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{{location map~ |Kashmir |lat_deg=35 |lat_min=23 |lat_dirN |lon_deg=72 |lon_min=11 |lon_E |label=Swat, Pakistan |position=right |link=Swat, Pakistan |marksize=3| outside = 1 }}

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Modern scholarship differ on the origin of Shah Mir. However, most modern historians generally accept that Shah Mir was from Swat in Dardistan.{{Cite book |last1=Wani |first1=Muhammad Ashraf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DgymEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT255 |title=The Making of Early Kashmir: Intercultural Networks and Identity Formation |last2=Wani |first2=Aman Ashraf |date=2023-02-22 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-83655-4 |pages=225 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Malik |first=Jamal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAT1DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA157 |title=Islam in South Asia: Revised, Enlarged and Updated Second Edition |date=2020-04-06 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-42271-1 |pages=157 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Holt |first1=Peter Malcolm |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y99jTbxNbSAC&pg=PA25 |title=The Cambridge History of Islam |last2=Lambton |first2=Ann K. S. |last3=Lewis |first3=Bernard |date=1970 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-29137-8 |pages=25 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Markovits |first=Claude |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r2OKvG5wbaAC&pg=PA40 |title=A History of Modern India, 1480-1950 |date=2004-09-24 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-1-84331-152-2 |pages=40 |language=en}} Some accounts trace his descent from the rulers of Swāt.{{efn|The chronicles include those of Tahir, Haidar Malik, Rafiu'd Din Ahmad and Muhammad A'azam.{{citation |last=Gull |first=Surayia |title=Mir Saiyid Ali Hamadani And Kubraviya Sufi Order In Kashmir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ldvXAAAAMAAJ |date=2003 |publisher=Kanikshka Publishers, Distributors |isbn=978-81-7391-581-9 |page=3}}}}{{Cite book |last=Bhatt |first=Saligram |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=It1LePnN2LsC&pg=PA108 |title=Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge and World Peace: Proceedings of National Seminar by Kashmir Education Culture & Science Society (K.E.C.S.S.), New Delhi |date=2008 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-81-313-0402-0 |pages=108 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Hasan |first=Mohibbul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EUlwmXjE9DQC&pg=PA42 |title=Kashmir Under the Sultans |date=2005 |publisher=Aakar Books |isbn=978-81-87879-49-7 |pages=42 |language=en}}

Andre Wink puts forward the opinion that Shah Mir was possibly of Afghan, Turk, or even Tibetan origin.{{citation |last=Wink |first=André |title=Indo-Islamic society: 14th - 15th centuries |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyYslywJUE8C |date=2004 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=90-04-13561-8|page=140|quote=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 ...}} Encyclopaedia of Islam (second edition) suggests a possible Turkish origins.{{Cite book|editor=Lewis |editor2=Pellat |editor3=E.J. van Donzel |title=Encyclopaedia of Islam |chapter=Encyclopaedia of Islam, Volume IV (Iran-Kha): [Fasc. 61-78a] |volume=IV (Iran-Kha) |date=1998-05-28 |url=https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/1483 |access-date=2023-12-14 |publisher=Brill |language=en |isbn=978-90-04-05745-6|page=708|quote=But her authority was challenged by Shah Mir, a soldier of fortune, who was most probably of Turkish origin.}} However, A.Q. Rafiqi believes that Shah Mir was a descendant of Turkish or Persian immigrants to Swat.{{cite book |last1=Baloch |first1=N. A. |last2=Rafiq |first2=A. Q. |date=1998 |chapter=The regions of Sind, Baluchistan, Multan and Kashmir: the historical, social and economic setting |pages=293–318 |title=History of Civilizations of Central Asia |volume=IV |publisher=Unesco |isbn=923103467-7|url=https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/sites/silkroad/files/knowledge-bank-article/vol_IVa%20silk%20road_the%20regions%20of%20sind,%20baluchistan,%20multan%20and%20kashmir.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028131445/https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/sites/silkroad/files/knowledge-bank-article/vol_IVa%20silk%20road_the%20regions%20of%20sind,%20baluchistan,%20multan%20and%20kashmir.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2016}}{{rp|311–312}} Some scholars state that Shah Mir arrived from the Panjgabbar valley (Panchagahvara),{{citation |last=Sharma |first=R. S. |author-link=Ram Sharan Sharma |title=A Comprehensive History of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ucQKAQAAIAAJ |year=1992 |publisher=Orient Longmans |isbn=978-81-7007-121-1 |page=628 |quote="Jonaraja records two events of Suhadeva's reign (1301-20), which were of far-reaching importance and virtually changed the course of the history of Kashmir. The first was the arrival of Shah Mir in 1313. He was a Muslim condottiere from the border of Panchagahvara, an area situated to the south of the Divasar pargana in the valley of river Ans, a tributary of the Chenab."}} which was populated by Khasa people, and so ascribe a Khāsa ethnicity to Shah Mir.{{citation |last=Wani |first=Nizam-ud-Din |title=Muslim rule in Kashmir, 1554 A.D. to 1586 A.D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ikpuAAAAMAAJ |year=1987 |publisher=Jay Kay Book House |page=29 |quote="Shamir was a Khasa by birth and descended from the chiefs of Panchagahvara."}}{{citation |last=Zutshi |first=N. K. |title=Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin of Kashmir: an age of enlightenment |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AzluAAAAMAAJ |year=1976 |publisher=Nupur Prakashan |page=7 |quote="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.}}

It has also been suggested that he belonged to a family from Swat which accompanied the sage Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani and were associated to the Kubrawiya, a Sufi group in Kashmir.{{cite book|last=Schimmel|first=Annemarie|title=Islam in the Indian Subcontinent|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TYImm1TnemwC|access-date=2014-11-10|year=1980|publisher=BRILL|isbn=90-04-06117-7 |page=44}}

Older sources and historians such as Jonaraja state that Shah Mir was the descendant of Partha (Arjuna) of Mahabharata fame. Abu ’l-Fadl Allami, Nizam al-Din and Firishta also state that Shah Mir traced his descent to Arjuna, the basis of their account being Jonaraja’s Rajatarangini, which Mulla Abd al-Qadir Bada’uni translated into Persian at Akbar’s

orders. This seems to be official genealogy of the Sultanate.

File:Kashmir under sultans.png

{{more footnotes needed|section|date=July 2011}}

A. Q. Rafiqi states:

{{blockquote|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.}}

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 ({{reign|1320|1323}}),Majumdar, R.C. (2006). The Delhi Sultanate, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, pp.372–80Kashmīr Under the Sultānsby Mohibbul Hasan, Aakar Books, 2005 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.{{Cite book|last=Hasan|first=Mohibbul|title=Kashmir Under the Sultans|publisher=Aakar Books|year=2005|isbn=9788187879497|location=Calcutta|pages=42}}

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 Damara (warlords of Kashmir), rallying them together. This now unified resistance defeated the invading armies, prompting their retreat from the valley.

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 great influence. This enraged Shah Mir, as he felt ignored in spite of his great labors for the kingdom. He had Bhiksana assassinated , 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.{{Cite book|last=Hasan|first=Mohibbul|title=Kashmir Under the Sultans|publisher=Aakar Books|year=2005|isbn=9788187879497|location=Calcutta|pages=44}}

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.

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 Rani still had, Shah Mir could not take any risks. Kota Rani and her two sons were imprisoned, where they later died.{{Cite book|last=Hasan|first=Mohibbul|title=Kashmir Under the Sultans|publisher=Aakar Books|year=2005|isbn=9788187879497|location=Calcutta|pages=45}}

With Kota Rani defeated and having already secured the allegiance of the powerful damara warlords, Shah Mir declared himself the ruler of Kashmir, taking on the title of Sultan Shams-ud-Din.

Shams-ud-Din worked to firmly 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.{{Cite book|last=Hasan|first=Mohibbul|title=Kashmir Under the Sultans|publisher=Aakar Books|year=2005|isbn=9788187879497|location=Calcutta|pages=46}} 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 1320 CE (720 AH). This Era remained in use until the Mughal conquest of Kashmir in 1586. Shams-ud-Din had two sons, Jamshed and Ali Sher.

File:Shah Mir Tomb.png

File:Sultan Shahmir.jpg]]

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

Sultan Shah Mir died in 1342. He was succeeded by Sultan Jamshid Shah Miri as the second sultan of Shah Mir Dynasty.

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

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{{reflist|30em}}

• {{citation |last1=Baloch |first1=N. A. |last2=Rafiq |first2=A. Q. |chapter=The Regions of Sind, Baluchistan, Multan and Kashmir |editor1=M. S. Asimov |editor2=C. E. Bosworth |title=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 |chapter-url=https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/sites/silkroad/files/knowledge-bank-article/vol_IVa%20silk%20road_the%20regions%20of%20sind,%20baluchistan,%20multan%20and%20kashmir.pdf |date=1998 |publisher=UNESCO |isbn=978-92-3-103467-1 |pages=297–322}}
• {{citation |last=Schimmel |first=Annemarie |title=Islam in the Indian Subcontinent |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TYImm1TnemwC&pg=PA44 |year=1980 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=90-04-06117-7 |pages=44–}}
• {{citation |last=Wink |first=André |title=Indo-Islamic society: 14th - 15th centuries |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyYslywJUE8C |date=2004 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=90-04-13561-8}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120811170123/http://www.kashmir-information.com/Baharistan/index.html Baharistan-i-Shahi: A Chronicle of Mediaeval Kashmir] (archived 11 August 2012)

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Category:Sultans of Kashmir

Category:14th-century Indian Muslims

Category:14th-century Indian people

Category:Shah Mir dynasty