Damara (feudal landlord)

Last updated

A damara was a feudal landlord of ancient Kashmir.

Buddhism came to have from the time of the reign of Asoka around the third century BC. It was occupation that formed the primary differentiator and of the occupations it was that of agriculture which was most important. [1] [2]

As landholders and agriculturalists, the damaras were the most important of the occupational classes and their power could be considerable. [2] It was in part as a consequence of their many disputes with the kings of the Lohara dynasty, during a prolonged period of corruption, internecine fighting and misrule, that the region eventually passed into control by Muslim rulers. [3] Mohibul Hassan described that

The Dãmaras or feudal chiefs grew powerful, defied royal authority, and by their constant revolts plunged the country into confusion. Life and property were not safe, agriculture declined, and there were periods when trade came to a standstill. Socially and morally too the court and the country had sunk to the depths of degradations. [4]

Present day Kashmiri Lone tribe is said to be the descendant of the surviving Damaras. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Kashmir</span>

The history of Kashmir is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent in South Asia with influences from the surrounding regions of Central, and East Asia. Historically, Kashmir referred to only the Kashmir Valley of the western Himalayas. Today, it denotes a larger area that includes the Indian-administered union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the Pakistan-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Chinese-administered regions of Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kashmiri Pandits</span> Hindu community native to the Kashmir Valley

The Kashmiri Pandits are a group of Kashmiri Hindus and a part of the larger Saraswat Brahmin community of India. They belong to the Pancha Gauda Brahmin group from the Kashmir Valley, a mountainous region located within the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmiri Pandits are Hindu Kashmiris native to the Kashmir Valley, and the only remaining Hindu Kashmiris after the large-scale of conversion of the Valley's population to Islam during the medieval times. Prompted by the growth of Islamic militancy in the valley, large numbers left in the exodus of the 1990s. Even so, small numbers remain.

<i>Rajatarangini</i> Book by Kalhana

Rājataraṅgiṇī is a metrical legendary and historical chronicle of the north-western part of India, particularly the kings of Kashmir. It was written in Sanskrit by Kashmiri historian Kalhana in the 12th century CE. The work consists of 7826 verses, which are divided between eight books called tarangas ("waves").

Kota Rani was the last ruler of the Hindu Lohara dynasty in Kashmir. She was also the last female ruler of Kashmir. She was regent for her new husband because of the minority of her son in 1323−1338, and ruled as monarch in 1338−1339. She was deposed by Shah Mir, who became the second Muslim ruler of Kashmir after Rinchan who converted to Islam and ruled as Sultan Sadr-ud-din.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shah Mir dynasty</span> Muslim dynasty of Kashmir (1354-1561)

The Shah Mir dynasty was a dynasty that ruled the region of Kashmir in the Indian subcontinent. The dynasty is named after its founder, Shah Mir.

The Sultanate of Swāt or Swat Sultanate was a Dārdic kingdom centred around the city of Manglawar between the 12th and 16th centuries. It was strongest of the several Dardic-speaking states in the region, encompassing whole of Malakand, Buner, Swat and Dir valleys, as well as upper Hazara region. During most of 15th century, the sultanate bordered Kashmir Sultanate to the east, Delhi Sultanate to the south, Timurid Empire to the west and the state of Chitral to the north. Swatis were the dominant group in the kingdom. Sultan Pakhal was the first known ruler. Their last notable ruler was Sultan Awes Jahangiri, during whose reign the Sultanate was ultimately conquered in a series of battles by Yousafza'i Pashtuns with the assistance of Mughal emperor Babur between 1510 and 1518. Some accounts trace the origin of Shahmiri dynasty of Kashmir from these rulers of Swāt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zain-ul-Abidin</span> Sultan of the Kashmir Sultanate

Shah Rukh Shahi Khan, popularly known as Ghiyas-ud-Din Zainu'l-Abidin or simply Zainu'l-Abidin, was the ninth and eleventh Sultan of Kashmir, who reigned first from 1418 to 1419 and then from 1420 to 1470. He was famously called Budshah by his subjects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Didda</span> Ruler of Kashmir from 980–1003

Didda, also known as The Catherine of Kashmir, was the ruler of Kashmir from 980 CE to 1003 CE. She first acted as regent for her son and various grandsons from 958 CE to 980 CE, and from 980 CE as sole ruler and monarch. Most knowledge relating to her is obtained from the Rajatarangini, a work written by Kalhana in the twelfth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shah Mir</span> Sultan of Kashmir (r. 1339–1342)

Sultan Shamsu'd-Din Shah Mir or simply Shamsu'd-Din Shah or Shah Mir was the second Sultan of Kashmir and founder of the Shah Mir dynasty. Shah Mir is believed to have come to Kashmir during the rule of Suhadeva, where he rose to prominence. After the death of Suhadeva and his brother, Udayanadeva, Shah Mir proposed marriage to the reigning queen, Kota Rani. She refused and continued her rule for five months till 1339, appointing Bhutta Bhikshana as prime minister. After the death of Kota Rani, Shah Mir established his own kingship, founding the Shah Mir dynasty in 1339, which lasted till 1561.

The Lohara dynasty were a Kashmiri Hindu dynasty which ruled over Kashmir and surrounding regions in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, for more than 3 centuries between 1003 CE and approximately 1320 CE. The early history of the dynasty was described in the Rajatarangini, a work written by Kalhana in the mid-12th century and upon which many and perhaps all studies of the first 150 years of the dynasty depend. Subsequent accounts, which provide information up to and beyond the end of the dynasty come from Jonarāja and Śrīvara. The later rulers of the dynasty were weak: internecine fighting and corruption was endemic during this period, with only brief years of respite, making the dynasty vulnerable to the growth of Islamic conquests in the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tosa Maidan</span> Meadow in Jammu & Kashmir, India

Tosa Maidan is a tourist destination and a hill station in the khag area of the Budgam district in the Kashmir Valley of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The name also marks the historic Tosa Maidan route into the Kashmir Valley from the Poonch Valley. In fact, the original name of Tosa Maidan appears to have been "Tosa Marg". Mahmud of Ghazni and the Sikh monarch Ranjit Singh attempted to invade the Kashmir Valley via this route.

Yousuf, born Yoūsuf (Yūsuf) Shāh Chak was the fourth and sixth Chak Sultan of Kashmir, who reigned from 1578 to 1586. Yousuf succeeded his father, Ali Shah Chak, who crowned Yousuf before he died. Yousuf defeated all the contenders for the throne, including his uncle Abdal Chak and ascended the throne in 1578.

The Kashmir Sultanate or historically latinized as Sultanate of Cashmere, was a medieval Indo-Islamic kingdom established in the early 14th century in Northern India, primarily in the Kashmir Valley. The sultanate was founded by Rinchan Shah, a Ladakhi noble who converted from Buddhism to Islam. The sultanate was briefly interrupted by the Loharas until Shah Mir, a councillor of Rinchan, overthrew the Loharas and started his own dynasty. The Shah Mirs ruled from 1339 until they were deposed by the Chak warlords and nobles in 1561. The Chaks continued to rule the sultanate until the Mughal conquest in 1586 and their surrender in 1589.

Baharistan-i-shahi is a chronicle of medieval Kashmir. The Persian manuscript was written by an anonymous author, presumably in 1614.

Ali Shah born Alī Shāh Chak was the third Chak Sultan succeeding his brother Husain Shah Chak who abdicated the throne in 1570. He was crowned as the 31st Sultan of Kashmir and ruled the Sultanate till 1578. Ali Shah appointed his long time faithful friend Sayyid Mubarak as his Wazīr. He died in December 1578 and was buried in Srinagar, Kashmir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pir Panjal Pass</span> Mountain pass in Jammu & Kashmir, India

The Pir Panjal Pass, also called Peer Ki Gali, is a mountain pass and a tourist destination located in the Pir Panjal Range in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It connects the Kashmir Valley to the Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu via the Mughal Road. It is the highest point on the Mughal road at 3,490 m (11,450 ft) and lies to the southwest of the Kashmir valley.

Ali Shah Miri also known as Ali Shah was eighth and tenth Sultan of Kashmir from 1413 to 1418 and then again from 1419 to 1420. Ali Shah belonged to the Shah Mir dynasty and was succeeded by his younger brother Zain-ul-Abidin.

SherAshmak commonly known as Shihabu'd-Din Shah Miri, , or simply Shihabu'd-Din Shah, was a ruler from the Shah Mir dynasty based in Kashmir. He was the fifth Sultan of Kashmir who ruled from 1354 to 1373. Shihab is considered to be one of the most powerful kings of Kashmir as his empire extended from Kashgar Ladakh to West Punjab and from Kabul to Chamba.

The Battle of Savanur occurred between the Kingdom of Mysore and Maratha Empire. The Mysore forces led by Tipu Sultan defeated the Maratha at Savanur in October 1786. The Maratha Army led by Hari Pant retreated, and the Mysore army entered Savanur.

References

  1. Bamzai, Prithivi Nath Kaul (1994). Culture and political history of Kashmir, Volume 1. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. pp. 191–192. ISBN   978-81-85880-31-0.
  2. 1 2 Kaw, M. K. (2004). Kashmir and its people: studies in the evolution of Kashmiri society. Volume 4 of KECSS research series: Culture and heritage of Kashmir. APH Publishing. pp. 90–91. ISBN   978-81-7648-537-1.
  3. Hasan, Mohibbul (2005) [1959]. Kashmir Under the Sultans (Reprinted ed.). Delhi: Aakar Books. pp. 32–35. ISBN   978-81-87879-49-7 . Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  4. Hasan, Mohibbul (2005) [1959]. Kashmir Under the Sultans (Reprinted ed.). Delhi: Aakar Books. p. 32. ISBN   978-81-87879-49-7 . Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  5. Kalhana (1989). Kalhana's Rajatarangini: A Chronicle of the Kings of Kashmir: Vol 1 & 2. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN   978-81-208-0370-1.