Jasrat Khokhar
Malik
Raja
Reignc. 1405 – 1442
PredecessorShaikha
Bornc. 1375
Sialkot, Punjab
(present-day Punjab, Pakistan)
Died1442
Sialkot, Punjab
FatherShaikha
ReligionIslam[1][2]

Jasrat[lower-alpha 1] (c. 1375– 1442; name also given as Jasrath) was a Punjabi chieftain[3] who reigned in north western Indian subcontinent between 1405 and 1442. He is mostly known for conquering Punjab and Jammu, as well as leading periodic raids and invasions against Delhi Sultanate during the 15th century.[4] His conquests, although short-lived, had a far reaching influence in the history of region.[5][6]

Early life

Little information is available regarding early life of Jasrat. He was probably born to a local Punjabi chieftain of Pothohar, Shaikha in c. 1375, during a time when Delhi Sultanate was in decline due to civil war among members of Tughlaq dynasty. Although some sources describe Jasrat as a Gakhar, most state him to be a Khokhar instead.[5] In historical accounts, Jasrat has also been called as Jasrat Shaikha, hence the events of both chieftains have been sometimes confused.[5][lower-alpha 2] The Khokhars, who had converted to Islam after coming under the influence of Sufi saint Baba Farid in the 13th century, grew powerful under Shaikha.[4] In 1394, Shaikha conquered Lahore from the Tughlaq sultans as well.[7]

Rise to Power

Battle at Sutlej (1398)

Jasrat first came to prominence during the invasion of Timur, the founder of the Timurid Empire, in 1398–99. The anarchy prevailing in the Delhi Sultanate had drawn the attentions of Timur, who invaded northern India with 90,000 warriors, crossing the Indus by 24 September, 1398.[8] At river Sutlej between Tulamba and Dipalpur, he clashed with a force of 2,000 under Jasrat.[8][9] Jasrat was defeated and made captive, later being taken to Samarkand.[5] Timur sent another expedition to Lahore. The city was captured and Shaikha was killed.[10] Timur then proceeded to sack Delhi, and brutally massacred its citizens.[11]

Return to Punjab

After Timur's return, Jasrat had been imprisoned at Samarkand. However, he escaped and returned to Punjab after Timur's death in 1405.[5][12] He resumed the leadership of his tribe, and established Sialkot as his capital.[5]

Reign

The power of Khokhars had been crushed by Timur, but under Jasrat, they rose once again and conquered northern Punjab.[13] Jasrat sacked the city of Jammu during the reign of its Raja, Pala Deo (Pala Dev),[14] and spent next few years quietly, consolidating his control over Bhimber and Pothohar.[5][13]

Battle of Thanna (1420)

Jasrat had much influence in the Kashmir Sultanate. During the reign of sultan Sikandar, he had made an alliance with him.[14] In 1420, a civil war erupted between Sultan Ali Shah and the claimant to throne, Shahi Khan. Ali Shah defeated Shahi Khan with the help of Bhim Dev, his father-in-law and Raja of Jammu, and expelled him from Kashmir. Shahi Khan went to Sialkot to ask Jasrat for help, who decided to support him. Hearing this, Ali Shah marched with his army to Sialkot. The two sides met at Thanna and in the ensuing battle, Ali Shah's army was routed and he was himself killed by Jasrat. With the help of Jasrat, Shahi Khan was enthroned as sultan Zain-ul-Abidin.[5][15] This battle greatly increased the prestige and wealth of Jasrat. According to the Kashmiri historian Srivara, Jasrat had decided to annex Kashmir into his own kingdom but the vizier of former sultan revealed his intents, and Jasrat returned to Sialkot.[16]

Campaigns against Delhi sultanate

The strongest opposition to Delhi sultanate in Punjab was offered by Jasrat.[4] In 1414, the Tughlaq dynasty was replaced by dynasty of Khizr Khan. However, he could not stop the decline of the sultanate. Jasrat had planned to conquer Delhi,[5] and after death of Khizr Khan in May 1421, crossed Ravi. He successively conquered Ludhiana and Jalandhar and proceeded to besiege Sirhind. In October 1421, Sultan Mubarak Shah marched against Jasrat, who after a skirmish at Rupar, retreated to his kingdom. Mubarak Shah was greatly aided by Raja of Jammu, Bhim Dev during his war against Jasrat. Bhim Dev, who was an old enemy of Jasrat, also destroyed Jasrat's stronghold of Tilhar at Rajouri in January 1422.[5] In May 1422, Jasrat again invaded the sultanate and this time besieged Lahore, but was unable to take it by storm. With the help of Raja Bhim Delhi army invaded his domains, and Jasrat again retreated in September 1422.[5]

Invasion of Jammu (1423)

The Raja of Jammu Bhim Dev had provided much support to the Delhi sultanate against Jasrat. This enraged Jasrat, who invaded Jammu in April 1423 and devastated the region. He killed Bhim Dev during war and captured a large amount of wealth and arms from him.[5] Jasrat also married one of Bhim Dev's daughters.[17] After conquering Jammu, Jasrat appointed Manik Dev as new Raja.[lower-alpha 3]

Further invasions

After the invasion of Jammu, Jasrat sacked Dipalpur and plundered suburbs of Lahore, and returned with bounty to his domains as usual.[5] In August 1428, Jasrat raised a contingent of Mongol mercenaries and again marched against Delhi sultanate. He besieged Kalanor, and completely sacked Jalandhar. However, he faced defeat at the bank of river Beas near Kangra after a fierce battle, and retreated to Tilhar, leaving the war spoils back.[5][19] This failure disappointed Jasrat, who realised that he lacked sufficient power to conquer Delhi. Thus, he started negotiations with Shaikh Ali, the Timurid governor of Kabul. However, when Shaikh Ali ultimately invaded Punjab in 1430, Jasrat did not aid him, although many other Khokhar leaders had joined Shaikh Ali.[5]

After Shaikh Ali was defeated by Delhi armies, Jasrat launched his largest and one of the last invasions of the sultanate in 1431. He conquered Jalandhar and defeated the governor of Lahore, Sikander Tohfa, taking him away as captive. Sikander, who had earlier defeated Jasrat at Kangra, was released after paying heavy ransom. Jasrat next besieged Lahore for several months during 1431–32.[5][20] By this time, the influence of Delhi Sultanate had diminished in Punjab, and the region was in the hands of rebels.[21] By February 1432, Mubarak Shah moved with a large army against Jasrat and other rebels. Jasrat raised the siege of Lahore in July and left for Tilhar, although Jalandhar became part of his domains.[5][16] Afterwards, Jasrat, who was now more than 55 years old, gave up his ambition to conquer Delhi.[5] Later, when the governor of Lahore Allahdad Kaka invaded Jasrat's territories in 1432 to re-gain charge of Jalandhar he was defeated at Bajwara and fled.[21]

Battles with Afghans

In 1431, Sikander Tohfa had allied with Jasrat against the Afghans who had firmly based themselves at Sirhind. Jasrat and Sikander easily captured Sirhind, but Afghans had already left and moved to the hills. There many of them, including Bahlol Khan Lodi's relatives, were massacred by both and others were made captives.[22] After 1436, Jasrat fought battles against the Lodi chief Bahlol Khan, who had re-established himself at Sirhind by bringing all Afghans under his banner.[23] He achieved some success,[5] as Bahlol Lodi was forced to retreat towards the Siwalik foothills.[24] But when Muhammad Shah left Delhi to invade Jasrat's domains in 1441, he made peace with Bahlol and advised him to capture the throne of Delhi for himself.[5] Unlike Jasrat, who was viewed as an outsider by Delhi nobles, Bahlol was a part of the nobility and had better prospect of gaining the throne of Delhi. In return of his support, Bahlol ceded the region between Chenab and Jhelum (Chaj Doab) to Jasrat,[25] and agreed to not interfere in his territories.[24] Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin acted as witness to the peace treaty between both.[26]

Death

Jasrat died in 1442.[27] A 15th century Dogri poem mentions his death at the bank of a river.[28] It is suggested that he was murdered by his wife, who was daughter of former Raja of Jammu Bhim Dev, to avenge her father's death.[17] On the other hand, a later Persian chronicle Rajdarshani states that he was assassinated by his personal attendant Bhan and his courtesan Mina Kanizak, who was from Jammu, after a conspiracy by the Raja of Jammu, Biram Dev.[29]

Relations with other states

The historians of Delhi Sultanate described invasions of Jasrat as rebellions. However, he was called as Raja of Khokhars by the Kashmiri historian Jonaraja, and himself used the title of Malik, both of which signified Jasrat's claim to complete autonomy.[30] At the beginning of his reign, Jasrat had hostile relations with the Dogra Dev dynasty of Jammu and Delhi Sultans. However, his relations with the rulers of Jammu seem to have improved after the death of Bhim Dev. He married the daughter of Bhim Dev's successor, Manakdeo (Manik Dev) as well.[2] Raja Manik Dev's two other daughters were married to Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin of Kashmir,[31][2] and became mothers of his sons Haider Shah and Hasan Shah.[31] In this way, he had matrimonial ties with the rulers of Jammu and Kashmir. His relation with Shah Miri dynasty of Kashmir remained friendly. He was a vital ally for sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, and took shelter in the Kashmir valley several times during his campaigns in Punjab.[32] Jasrat also maintained good relations with the custodians of the Shrine of Baba Farid, with whom Khokhars had a close political alliance. One of his daughters was married to the then custodian and a descendant of Baba Farid, Shiekh Faizullah.[30] After 1432, he undertook only two further campaigns against Delhi sultans, and became neutral in the power struggle within the sultanate.[24]

Jasrat had succeeded in conquering most of Punjab and Jammu,[32][33] and ruled over Duggar, including region from Sirmur in Himachal Pradesh to Shivalik (Murree Hills) in Potohar, and north-central Punjab at the time of his death.[34] He also constructed or re-fortified numerous forts in the region under his rule, including Ramkot, Pharwala, Rawat, Baghsar and Throchi.[6][25] His descendants, however, could not keep control over his conquered regions and lost them to the Lodi dynasty by 1470. By the time of invasion of Babur in 1526, they had lost Potohar as well to the Gakhars.[35]

Assessment of his career

According to the Tareekh-i-Mubarak Shahi of 15th century historian Yahya bin Ahmad Sirhindi, Jasrat aspired to capture the throne of Delhi. Sirhindi further adds that inspite of repeated failure, his spirit remained high, and he continued to be a thorn in the flesh of Delhi Sultans for many years.[36]

Jasrat had aimed high for Delhi itself, and spent two decades fighting against Delhi sultans whilst keeping most of Punjab independent from their rule.[5][37] His invasions had proved disastrous for the Sayyid dynasty, and his neutrality and subsequent death in 1442 facilitated the establishment of Lodi dynasty in 1451 to some extent.[24] The historian K. S. Lal, after analysing his career, calls Jasrat a brave warrior and a reckless adventurer, who led more than a dozen campaigns against Delhi sultanate but lacked sufficient resources and political support within the sultanate to conquer it.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Punjabi : جسرت; Punjabi pronunciation: [dʒəsɾət]
  2. ↑ The name Shaikha itself may have been a generic title of tribal chieftains of Punjab during medieval period.
  3. ↑ The sources provide different names for Manik Dev: Mal Dev (Jonaraja), Manak Dev (Srivara), Malak Dev (Firishta), and Ajeo Dev (Rajdarshani).[18]
  1. ↑ Singh 2023, p. 304.
  2. 1 2 3 Madani 1993, p. 88.
  3. ↑ Slaje 2019, p. 342.
  4. 1 2 3 Singh 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Lal 1958.
  6. 1 2 Panikkar 1997, p. 72.
  7. ↑ Jackson 2003, p. 309.
  8. 1 2 Grousset 1970, p. 444.
  9. ↑ Singh 2023, p. 374, 390.
  10. ↑ Mahajan 2007, p. 228.
  11. ↑ Grousset 1970, p. 445.
  12. ↑ Hasan 2005, p. 75.
  13. 1 2 Charak 1985, p. 72.
  14. 1 2 Hasan 2005, p. 63.
  15. ↑ Hasan 2005, p. 70.
  16. 1 2 Charak 1985, p. 74.
  17. 1 2 Charak 1978, p. 28.
  18. ↑ Parmu 1969, p. 166.
  19. ↑ Singh 2023, p. 394.
  20. ↑ Singh 2023, p. 398–399.
  21. 1 2 Singh 2023, p. 399.
  22. ↑ Singh 2023, p. 403.
  23. ↑ Singh 2023, p. 405.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Singh 2023, p. 402.
  25. 1 2 Charak 1985, p. 77.
  26. ↑ Parmu 1969, p. 164.
  27. ↑ Singh 2023, p. 601.
  28. ↑ Panikkar 1997, p. 851.
  29. ↑ Charak 1985, p. 78.
  30. 1 2 Singh 2023, p. 305.
  31. 1 2 Hasan 2005, p. 88.
  32. 1 2 Hasan 2005, p. 80.
  33. ↑ Panikkar 1997, p. 73.
  34. ↑ Panikkar 1997, p. 72; Charak 1985, p. 77; S. L. Sadhu 1993, p. 152. See also Schwartzberg 1978, p. 39, 147
  35. ↑ Charak 1985, p. 77–78.
  36. ↑ Charak 1978, p. 76.
  37. ↑ Singh 2023, p. 605.

Bibliography

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  2. Panikkar, Ayyappa (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
  3. Singh, Surinder (2023). The Making of Medieval Panjab: Politics, Society and Culture, c.1000–c.1500. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-032-65440-9.
  4. Charak, Sukh Dev Singh (1978). Indian conquest of the Himalayan Territories. Ajaya Prakashan, Jammu – via Internet Archive.
  5. Grousset, René (1970). The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-0-8135-1304-1.
  6. Charak, Sukh Dev Singh (1985). A Short History of Jammu Raj: From Earliest Times to 1846 A.D. Ajaya Prakashan.
  7. Hamadani, Agha Hussain (1992). The Frontier Policy of the Delhi Sultans. Atlantic Publishers & Distri.
  8. Jackson, Peter (2003). The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-54329-3.
  9. Mahajan, V. D. (2007). History of Medieval India. S. Chand Publishing. ISBN 978-81-219-0364-6.
  10. S. L. Sadhu, ed. (1993). Medieval Kashmir. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors.
  11. Hasan, Mohibbul (2005). Kashmir Under the Sultans. Aakar Books. ISBN 978-81-87879-49-7.
  12. Slaje, Walter (2019). Small Writings on Kashmiri Cultural and Intellectual History: Volume 2 (in German). Indica et Tibetica Verlag. ISBN 978-3-923776-65-8.
  13. Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 39, 147. ISBN 0226742210.
  14. Madani, Mohsen Saeidi (1993). Impact of Hindu Culture on Muslims. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-85880-15-0.

Further reading

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