Swat (princely state) should not be confused with Sultanate of Swat.
| Conventional Long Name: | State of Swat |
| Native Name: | Pushto; Pashto: حکومت خدايداد پرګنه سوات |
| Common Name: | Swat |
| Image Map Caption: | Swat (higlighted) within the western part of the Dominion of Pakistan |
| Status: |
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| Capital: | Saidu Sharif |
| Government Type: |
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| Title Leader: | Wāli |
| Leader1: | Akbar Shah |
| Year Leader1: | 1849–1857 |
| Leader2: | Saidu Baba |
| Year Leader2: | 1857–1878 |
| Leader3: | Abdul Jabbar Shah |
| Year Leader3: | 1916–1918 |
| Leader4: | Miangul Abdul Wadud |
| Year Leader4: | 1918–1949 |
| Leader5: | Miangul Jahan Zeb |
| Year Leader5: | 1949–1969 |
| Era: | Late modern Cold War |
| Event Start: | Established |
| Year Start: | 1849 |
| Event End: | Dissolved |
| Date End: | 28 July |
| Year End: | 1969 |
| Event1: | Termination of subsidiary alliance |
| Date Event1: | 15 August 1947 |
| Event2: | Accession to Pakistan |
| Date Event2: | 3 November 1947 |
| P1: | Sikh Empire |
| Flag P1: | Sikh Empire flag.svg |
| S1: | Pakistan |
| Flag S1: | Flag_of_Pakistan.svg |
| Today: | Pakistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Currency: |
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| Time Zone: |
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State of Swat (Urdu: رياست سوات), (Pushto; Pashto: حکومت خداداد یوسفزئی و متعلقات) was a state established in 1849 by the Muslim saint Saidu Baba, also known as Akhund of Swat,[1] [2] and was ruled by Walis of Swat. It was recognized as a princely state in alliance with the British Raj between 1918 and 1947, after which the Akhwand acceded to the newly independent state of Pakistan. Swat continued to exist as an autonomous region until it was dissolved in 1969,[3] and incorporated into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (formerly North-West Frontier Province). The area it covered is now divided among the present-day districts of Swat, Buner and Shangla.
The Swat state was established by a religious leader, Saidu Baba, who was born in Swat Valley in 1794. He began his life as a shepherd and then left the village at the age of 18 to settled in the village of Mian Brangola, where he got his early education and learnt the fundamentals of Islam.[4]
Saidu Baba ultimately settled in 1849 at Saidu Sharif, gradually turning Swat into an independent state.[5] However, after his death in 1877, Swat fell into abeyance till 1915, when Abdul Jabbar, a descendant of Pir Baba was elected as leader. In 1918, the grandson of Saidu Baba, Miangul Abdul Wadud became the Wali of Swat. Soon Swat was recognized by the British government as a princely state. In 1947, Miangul Abdul Wadud acceded his state to Pakistan.
See main article: Wali of Swat. The rulers of Swat held the title Amir-e Shariyat and from 1918 were known as Badshah; the title changed to Wali in 1926 when it became a Princely State of the British Raj. Since 1969 the former princely state has been under a civil administration as part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[3]
| Tenure | Rulers of Swat |
|---|---|
| 1849–1857 | Akbar Shah |
| 1857–1878 | Saidu Baba |
| 1878–1916 | state in abeyance |
| 1916–1918 | Abdul Jabbar Shah |
| 1918–1949 | |
| 1949–1969 | Miangul Jahan Zeb |
| 1969–2014 | Miangul Aurangzeb |
. Sack, John . John Sack . 2000 . Report from Practically Nowhere . 0-595-08918-6. Report from Practically Nowhere . iUniverse .