Medieval History of Himachal Pradesh | HPPSC HPAS Preparation - HPPSC HPAS (Himachal Pardesh) PDF Download

Turks and the Kangra Hills

• Mahmud Ghaznavi invaded India 17 times. Anandpal, a Shahi king from the Trans Himalayas, formed a confederacy of Himalayan rulers to oppose Ghaznavi. Unfortunately, Anandpal's elephant fled the battlefield, causing chaos and leading to his defeat. 
• In 1009 A.D., Ghaznavi attacked Kangra and looted its immense treasury. The Turks ruled Nagarkot until 1043 A.D., when Tomar Raja Mahipal of Delhi ended their rule there. 
• Despite this, Ghaznavi did not control many parts of Kangra, excluding Nagarkot, until 1023 A.D. After the deaths of Raja Trilochan Pal and his son Bhim Pal, Kangra fell under Turkish rule in 1026 A.D.

Tuglaqs and the Kangra Hills

• The hill states received little attention from Muhammad Ghori, the Slave Dynasty (1206-1290 A.D.), and the Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320). 
• In 1337 A.D., Muhammad Bin Tuglaq (1325-1351 A.D.) led an army to defeat Raja Prithvi Chand of Nagarkot. Raja Rup Chand of Kangra, engaged in raids against central authority, plundered the plains up to Delhi but was intercepted and lost his wealth to the Sultan of Kashmir, Shahabuddin. In 1365 A.D., Firoz Shah Tuglaq invaded Nagarkot to teach Raja Rup Chand a lesson, besieging the fort. 
• This invasion is referenced in ‘Tarikh-i-Firoz-Farishta’ and ‘Tarikh-i-Firoz-Shahi’. An agreement was reached where Raja Rup Chand accepted Firoz Shah's suzerainty. 
• After the agreement, Firoz Shah visited Jawalamukhi, took 1300 Sanskrit books, and had one translated into Persian by Ajjudin Khalid Khani, naming it ‘Dalai-i-Firozshahi,’ which dealt with philosophy, astrology, and divination. 
• ‘Nowshaba’ (Alexander's wife) was left in the Jawalamukhi temple by Alexander and was worshiped by the people. Raja Rup Chand died in 1375 A.D., and his son Sagar Chand succeeded him. According to Farishta, Nagarkot was renamed Mohammedabad in honor of a late king.

Timur and the Kangra Hills

• In 1398 A.D., the Mongols invaded Kangra under Taimur-lung. During this invasion, the Raja of Kangra was Megh Chand. 
• Taimur invaded the Shivalik region while retreating from Kangra in 1399 A.D. Alam Chand, the ruler of Hindur (present-day Nalagarh), assisted Taimur, which led Taimur to pass through Hindur without causing harm. 
• Taimur also invaded Nurpur and Sirmaur and faced opposition from Ratan Chand.

Sur, Mughals and the Kangra Hills

Babar

• Establishment of Outpost (1525 A.D.): In 1525 A.D., Babur set up an outpost, known as a Chowki, at Malaut near Kangra. This was part of his efforts to secure and control key regions during his expansion into the Indian subcontinent.

• Sher Shah Suri

• Capture of Kangra Hills: Sher Shah Suri dispatched his general, Khawas Khan, to capture the Kangra Hills. Following a successful conquest, Khawas Khan was placed in charge of the region.
• Historical Debate: It is commonly debated among historians that Jahangir, not Sher Shah Suri, was the first Mughal ruler to capture Kangra Fort, and this occurred in 1620 A.D.

Akbar

• Conflict with Sikander Shah (1557): Akbar, in response to Sikander Shah's invasion of Punjab, sent his army to confront him. Sikander Shah had previously formed an alliance with Bhakth Mal, the ruler of Nurpur. Both Sikander Shah and Bhakth Mal were captured by the Mughal forces.
  • Sikander Shah: After his capture, Sikander Shah was permitted to retire to Bengal.
  • Bhakth Mal: He was taken prisoner to Lahore and executed by Bairam Khan, Akbar’s general, after surrendering his fort, Mankot.
• Suspicion of Jai Chand: Akbar, wary of the Kangra ruler Jai Chand, instructed Raja Ram Chand of Guler to capture him. When Jai Chand's son, Bidhi Chand, assumed the throne, he rebelled against Akbar, supported by Raja Gopi Chand of Jaswan.
  • Suppression of Rebellion: Akbar dispatched Birbal along with Khan Jahan Hussain Kuli Khan, the viceroy of Punjab, to quell the rebellion. They succeeded in suppressing the revolt, and Birbal was granted the territory as a Jagir (fief).
• Capture of Nagarkot Fort: Akbar ordered the capture of Nagarkot Fort through a campaign that included advancing through Pathankot and Nurpur.
  • Kotla Fort: Located 20 miles from Nurpur, Kotla Fort was originally under Raja Ram Chand of Guler. It was taken by the Raja of Kangra and later captured by the Mughal army, which handed it over to Raja Ram Chand of Guler.
  • Military Distraction: Just as the Mughals seemed poised to capture Kangra Fort, news arrived of invasions by Akbar’s relatives, Ibrahim Hussain Mirza and Musud Mirza, in Punjab. The Mughal forces diverted to counter the Mirzas.
• Rebellion and Alliances:
  • Bidhi Chand’s Rebellion (1585 A.D.): After the death of Jai Chand in 1585 A.D., Bidhi Chand became Raja and formed an alliance with neighboring states between Jammu and Kangra. This alliance eventually broke into rebellion in 1588-89.
  • Zain Khan Koka’s Intervention: To suppress this rebellion, Akbar sent Zain Khan Koka, who successfully quelled the unrest. Bidhi Chand was forced to keep his son, Trilok Chand, as a hostage at Akbar's court.
  • Another Rebellion (1594-95): A subsequent rebellion led by the Raja of Jasrota did not involve Raja Bidhi Chand of Kangra or Raja Basu of Nurpur. This rebellion was suppressed by Mirza Rustam Qandhari and Sheikh Farid.
• Contemporaries:
  • Raja Pratap Singh Varman of Chamba: A contemporary of Akbar.
  • Dharm Prakash of Sirmaur (1578-70 A.D.): Another contemporary ruler during Akbar's reign.

Jahangir

Ascension and Early Attempts (1605 A.D.)

• Jahangir ascended the throne in 1605 A.D.
• Trilok Chand succeeded his father, Raja Bidhi Chand, as the Raja of Kangra in 1605 A.D.
• In 1615 A.D., Jahangir tasked Raja Suraj Mal of Nurpur and Sheikh Farid (also known as Murtaza Khan) with capturing Kangra. However, internal disputes between the allies and the death of Farid Murtaza Khan delayed this campaign.
• Raja Suraj Mal was recalled and sent to the Deccan to assist Prince Shah Jahan in 1616 A.D.

Further Attempts and Rebellions

• Jahangir made another attempt to capture Kangra by sending Raja Man Singh of Jaipur. Man Singh was killed by a local Zamindar named Sangram from the hilly region.
• In 1617 A.D., Jahangir dispatched Raja Suraj Mal and Shah Quli Khan Muhammad Taqi to capture Kangra. Once again, disagreements between Suraj Mal and Shah Quli Khan led to Shah Quli Khan being ordered to withdraw.
• Raja Suraj Mal, dissatisfied, began to rebel against Mughal authority, sending imperial troops away from his Jagir.

Rebellion Suppression

• Jahangir appointed Raja Raiyan Sunder Dass to suppress Raja Suraj Mal's rebellion.
• Raja Suraj Mal fled through various forts, including Mankot, Nurpur, and finally Taragarh in Chamba, where he died in 1619 A.D.
• Kangra Fort was captured by the Mughals in 1620 A.D. with assistance from Raja Jagat Singh, Suraj Mal’s younger brother.

Governance and Changes

• Nawab Ali Khan was appointed as the first Mughal governor of Kangra Fort, and Mughal control over the fort lasted until 1783 A.D.
• On November 20, 1620, Jahangir was informed of Kangra Fort's capture.
• Jahangir visited Dhameri (now Nurpur) in 1622 A.D., renaming it Nurpur after his wife, Nur-Jahan.
• Jahangir also constructed a mosque within Kangra Fort and named one of its gates ‘Jahangiri Darwaza.’

Contemporaries

• Raja Jagat Singh ruled Chamba for two decades, from 1623 to 1643 A.D.
• Raja Budhi Prakash of Sirmaur was a contemporary of Jahangir.
• Jahangir conferred the title of Mian upon Hill Princes who were held as hostages at the Mughal court, totaling 22 Mians.

Shah Jahan

Governors of Kangra Fort:

• During Shah Jahan’s reign, Nawab Asadullah Khan and Coach Quli Khan were prominent Mughal governors of Kangra Fort.
• Coach Quli Khan served for 17 years as the governor.

Contemporaries:

• Raja Mandhanta Prakash of Sirmaur, who was Shah Jahan’s contemporary, provided significant support to the Mughals in their campaigns in Garhwal.

Aurangzeb

Governors of Kangra Fort:

• During Aurangzeb’s reign, key Mughal governors of Kangra Fort included Sayeed Husain Khan, Hasan Abdullah Khan, and Nawab Sayeed Khalilullah Khan.

Battle of Nadaun (1690-91):

• Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur, refusing to pay tribute to the Mughals, was supported by Guru Gobind Singh against the Mughal army led by Alif Khan, which received assistance from Kangra forces.
• Raja Bhim Chand achieved victory in this battle.

Fall of Mughals and Raja Ghamand Chand

Decline of Mughal Power:

• The decline of Mughal power began after Aurangzeb's death.
• Ahmad Shah Durrani attacked Punjab multiple times between 1748 A.D. and 1788 A.D.

Raja Ghamand Chand’s Conquests:

• Capitalizing on the instability caused by Durrani’s attacks, Raja Ghamand Chand captured parts of Kangra and Doab.
• In 1759 A.D., Ahmad Shah Durrani transferred Jalandhar Doab to Raja Ghamand Chand, extending his rule to areas between the Satluj and Ravi Rivers.
• Kangra Fort was still under Mughal control, with Nawab Saif Ali Khan as the last Mughal governor.

Mughals and Chamba

Royal Estates and Conflicts:

• In 1572 A.D., Akbar sent his revenue minister Todar Mal to establish a royal estate in the hill states, including 66 villages in Kangra and surrounding areas.
• During Jahangir’s reign, the Battle of Dhalog in 1623 between Raja Janardhan of Chamba and Raja Jagat Singh resulted in Jagat Singh’s victory.
• In 1641, Raja Jagat Singh revolted against the Mughals, prompting Shah Jahan to send Murad Baksh to quell the rebellion.

Resistance to Mughal Orders:

• Raja Chattar Singh of Chamba defied Aurangzeb’s 1669 order to demolish Hindu temples in Chamba. He allied with rulers of Guler, Basholi, and Jammu, defeating Mirza Obed Begh, a Mughal governor, and reclaiming his territory.

Mughals and Sirmaur

• Raja Dharam Prakash of Sirmaur was a contemporary of Akbar.
• Raja Budhi Prakash of Sirmaur was a contemporary of Jahangir.
• Raja Subhag Prakash of Sirmaur was a contemporary of Aurangzeb.
• Raja Mandhanta Prakash of Sirmaur supported the Mughals during their campaigns in Garhwal and was a contemporary of Shah Jahan.