| Native Name: | ps|رياست سوات |
| Conventional Long Name: | State of Swat |
| Common Name: | Swat |
| Religion: | Islam |
| Government Type: | Princely state in alliance with British India (1918–1947) Princely state of Pakistan (1947–1969) |
| Year Start: | 1849 |
| Event End: | Merged into North-West Frontier Province |
| Date End: | 28 July |
| Year End: | 1969 |
| Capital: | Saidu Sharif |
| Currency: | Rupee, Pakistan Rupee (after 1947) |
| Area Sq Mi: | 2,934 |
| Title Leader: | Wāli of Swat |
| Today: | Pakistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
State of Swat (ur|{{nq|رياست سوات) 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 a Muslim Khatana Gujjar[4] family of the upper Swat Valley in 1794.[5] 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.
Saidu Baba ultimately settled in 1849 at Saidu Sharif, gradually turning Swat into an independent state.[6] 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 |
|---|---|
| 1849–11 May 1857 | Akbar Shah |
| 11 May 1857–1878 | Saidu Baba |
| 1878–1916 | state in abeyance |
| 1916–September 1918 | Abdul Jabbar Shah |
| September 1918–12 December 1949 | |
| 12 December 1949–28 July 1969 | Miangul Jahan Zeb |
. Sack, John . John Sack . 2000 . Report from Practically Nowhere . 0-595-08918-6. Report from Practically Nowhere .