Shihabu'd-Din Shah

Shihabu'd-Din Shah Miri (Kashmiri and Persian: شهاب الدین شاه میری; commonly known as Sherashamak Kashmiri: شِیراشَامَک The Lion's Claw; 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]

Shihabu'd-Din Shah
Sultan of Kashmir The Lion's Claw Badshah
5th Sultan of Kashmir
Reign	1354 – 1373
Predecessor	Alau'd-Din Shah
Successor	Qutbu'd-Din Shah
Died	1373 Srinagar, Kashmir Sultanate (present-day Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India)
Names Shihabu'd-Din Shah Miri
Dynasty	Shah Mir dynasty
Father	Alau'd-Din Shah
Religion	Sunni Islam

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.^[8] Shihab'ud-Din, along with Malik Candra, faced the Baltis and Kashgaris, defeating them easily and soundly.^[8] He then moved towards Ladakh, beating the joint forces of Ladakhis and Tibetis.^[8] 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.

References

1. Dutt, J. C. (1879). Kings Of Kashmira. p. 26.
2. Retzlaff, Ralph H.; Hasan, Mohibbul. "Kashmir under the Sultans". Journal of the American Oriental Society (4): 46. doi:10.2307/595144. ISSN 0003-0279. JSTOR 595144.
3. BAHARISTAN E SHAHI. pp. 20b–21b.
4. Chādūrah, Ḥaydar Malik (1991). History of Kashmir. Delhi: Bhavna Prakashan. pp. 107a.
5. Retzlaff, Ralph H.; Hasan, Mohibbul (October 1959). "Kashmir under the Sultans". Journal of the American Oriental Society: 49. doi:10.2307/595144. ISSN 0003-0279. JSTOR 595144.
6. Hasan, Mohibbul (26 September 2023). Kashmir Under the Sultans. London: Routledge. p. 49. doi:10.4324/9781032666709. ISBN 978-1-032-66670-9.
7. Hasan, Mohibbul (26 September 2023). Kashmir Under the Sultans. London: Routledge. p. 50. doi:10.4324/9781032666709. ISBN 978-1-032-66670-9.
8. Hasan, Mohibbul (26 September 2023). Kashmir Under the Sultans. London: Routledge. p. 51. doi:10.4324/9781032666709. ISBN 978-1-032-66670-9.
9. Dutt, Jogesh Chunder (1 January 2012). Rajatarangini of Jonaraja. New Delhi: Gyan Publishing House. pp. 47–48. ISBN 978-81-212-0037-0.
10. Nath, R. (2003). "Qutb Shahi". Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t070476. ISBN 9781884446054.