Shihabu'd-Din Shah Explained

Shihabu'd-Din Shah
Sultan of Kashmir
The Lion's Claw
Badshah
Succession:5th Sultan of Kashmir
Reign:1354 – 1373
Predecessor:Alau'd-Din Shah
Successor:Qutbu'd-Din Shah
Death Date:1373
Death Place:Srinagar, Kashmir Sultanate
Full Name:Shihabu'd-Din Shah Miri
Dynasty:Shah Mir dynasty
Father:Alau'd-Din Shah
Religion:Sunni Islam

Sherashamak (Kashmiri: شِیراشَامَک The Lion's Claw) commonly known as Shihabu'd-Din Shah Miri (Kashmiri: شہاب الدین شاہ میری, Persian: شِہابُ الدِین شَاہ مِیری), (r. 1354 – 1373), or simply Shihabu'd-Din Shah,[1] was a ruler from the Shah Mir dynasty based in Kashmir.[2] He was the fifth Sultan of Kashmir who ruled from 1354 to 1373.[3] Shihab is considered to be one of the most powerful kings of Kashmir[4] as his empire extended from Kashgar Ladakh to West Punjab and from Kabul to Chamba.[5]

Introduction

Sultan Shihabu’d-din Shah, the fifth Sultan of Kashmir, reigned from 1354 to 1373. Born as (Kashmiri: شِیراشَامَک) meaning "The Lion's Claw". Shihabu’d-din is considered to be one of the most powerful kings of Kashmiri rulers. His rule marked a period of significant expansion, consolidating an empire that stretched from Kashgar, Ladakh to West Punjab and from Kabul to Chamba Under his reign Kashmiri Sultanate reached its greatest territorial extent.[5]

Military Triumphs

Conquests

As a broad minded intellectual, Shihab'ud-Din, in the first half of his tenure, took care of the Sultanate and brought stability to the social and integral structure of Kashmir.[6] Full of animation and efficiency, Shihab'ud-Din set out to conquer its neighbour polities to expand and glorify his state. Marching through Baramulla, he first occupied Pakhli and went on to add Swat to his realm.[7] Next, he invaded the Khokhar dominated Pothohar, which extended from Attock to Sialkot. His commander-in-chief (Mir Bakhshi), Malik Candra, on the other hand, subdued Jammu, Kishtwar, Chamba, and other hill states.[8] Occupying all the bordering states in the south, Shihab'ud-Din went on to defeat the Dardic forces of Gilgit and the hill states of the north. Baltistan under the Maqpons and Ladakh under the Maryuls were, at that time, tributary states of Moghulistan and Tibet, respectively. Shihab'ud-Din, along with Malik Candra, faced the Baltis and Kashgaris, defeating them easily and soundly. He then moved towards Ladakh, beating the joint forces of Ladakhis and Tibetis. After all these conquests, Shihab'ud-Din returned to Srinagar around 1370 and rather ought to live the rest of his life peacefully but just after some years, in 1373, he died due to a viral illness.[9] One of Sultan Shihabu’d-din's remarkable feats was his victory against the ruler of Kashgar, who invaded Kashmir with a formidable army. Despite numerical inferiority, Shihabu’d-din's strategic prowess led to the defeat of the Kashgar forces. This triumph resulted in the annexation of Ladakh and Baltistan into the Kashmiri rule[10]

March towards Delhi

Sultan Shihabu’d-din's ambitions extended beyond Kashmir, prompting a march towards Delhi. The confrontation occurred at the banks of the River Satluj against Feroz Shah Tughlaq's army. A peace agreement was reached, stipulating that territories from Sirhind to Kashmir now belonged to the Kashmiri Empire.[10]

Administration

Hindu Courtiers in a Muslim Court

An intriguing aspect of Shihabu’d-din's reign was his embrace of diversity. He notably retained Hindu courtiers in his administration, with Kota Bhat and Udyashri being prominent figures. This unusual practice set him apart from his predecessors.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Dutt, J. C. . Kings Of Kashmira . 1879 . 26.
  2. Retzlaff . Ralph H. . Hasan . Mohibbul . Kashmir under the Sultans . Journal of the American Oriental Society . 4 . 46 . 10.2307/595144 . 0003-0279.
  3. Book: BAHARISTAN E SHAHI . 20b-21b.
  4. Book: Chādūrah, Ḥaydar Malik . History of Kashmir . 1991 . Delhi: Bhavna Prakashan . 107a . English.
  5. Retzlaff . Ralph H. . Hasan . Mohibbul . October 1959 . Kashmir under the Sultans . Journal of the American Oriental Society . 49 . 10.2307/595144 . 0003-0279.
  6. Book: Hasan, Mohibbul . Kashmir Under the Sultans . 2023-09-26 . Routledge . 978-1-032-66670-9 . London . 49.
  7. Book: Hasan, Mohibbul . Kashmir Under the Sultans . 2023-09-26 . Routledge . 978-1-032-66670-9 . London . 50.
  8. Book: Hasan, Mohibbul . Kashmir Under the Sultans . 2023-09-26 . Routledge . 978-1-032-66670-9 . London . 51.
  9. Book: Dutt, Jogesh Chunder . Rajatarangini of Jonaraja . 2012-01-01 . Gyan Publishing House . 978-81-212-0037-0 . New Delhi . 47–48 . English.
  10. Book: Nath, R. . Oxford Art Online . http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t070476 . Qutb Shahi . 2003 . Oxford University Press . 10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t070476 . 9781884446054.