Kashmir

Quick Facts: Who was Kashmir?

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Kashmir

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Northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent, with complex historical and political divisions.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Kashmir ( KASH-meer or kash-MEER) is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. The term has since also come to encompass a larger area that formerly comprised the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, and includes the Indian-administered territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the Pakistani-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Chinese-administered territories of Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract. In the first millennium, the Kashmir region became an important centre of Buddhism. In the second half of the first millennium, the Karakotas ruled Kashmir, most notably Lalitaditya Muktapida; they were followed by the Loharas.

Career & Major Achievements

Later still, in the ninth century, Kashmir Shaivism arose. In 1339, Shah Mir became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the Shah Miri dynasty dynasty, which ruled until 1568; most notable was Zain Ul Abedin. Sufism flowered, especially through Nund Rishi. Mughal rule began with Akbar, who conquered Kashmir in 1586, and lasted until 1751, followed by the Afghan Durrani Empire, which ruled from 1751 until 1820. That year, the Sikhs, under Ranjit Singh, annexed Kashmir.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1846, after the Sikh defeat in the First Anglo-Sikh War, and upon the purchase of the region from the British under the Treaty of Amritsar, the Raja of Jammu, Gulab Singh, became the new ruler of Jammu and Kashmir. The rule of his descendants, under the paramountcy (or tutelage) of the British Crown, lasted until the Partition of India in 1947, when the former princely state of the British Indian Empire became a disputed territory, now administered by three countries: China, India, and Pakistan. The word Kashmir is thought to have been derived from Sanskrit and was referred to as káśmīra. A popular local etymology of Kashmir is that it is land desiccated from water. An alternative etymology attributes the name to the Vedic sage Kashyapa, who is believed to have settled people in this land.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1339: 1339 Milestone — In 1339, Shah Mir became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the Shah Miri dynasty dynasty, which ruled until 1568; most notable was Zain Ul Abedin.
2. 1586: 1586 Milestone — Mughal rule began with Akbar, who conquered Kashmir in 1586, and lasted until 1751, followed by the Afghan Durrani Empire, which ruled from 1751 until 1820.
3. 1846: 1846 Milestone — In 1846, after the Sikh defeat in the First Anglo-Sikh War, and upon the purchase of the region from the British under the Treaty of Amritsar, the Raja of Jammu, Gulab Singh, became the new ruler of Jammu and Kashmir.
4. 1947: 1947 Milestone — The rule of his descendants, under the paramountcy (or tutelage) of the British Crown, lasted until the Partition of India in 1947, when the former princely state of the British Indian Empire became a disputed territory, now administered by three countries: China, India, and Pakistan.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kashmir

True or False: “The earliest textual mention of Kashmir's name is found in the Mahabharata.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The earliest text to mention the name Kashmir is actually the Ashtadhyayi by Pāṇini in the 5th century BCE.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Emperor Go-Daigo — Historical peer (Died in 1339) (1339): 96th Emperor of Japan; founder of the Southern Court and restorer of imperial power.
• Abd al-Rahman al-Majdoub — Historical peer (Died in 1568) (1568): Influential Moroccan poet, Sufi mystic, and source of wisdom literature.
• Albert, Duke of Prussia — Historical peer (Died in 1568) (1568): First secular ruler of the Duchy of Prussia and key figure in early Lutheranism.
• Araki Murashige — Historical peer (Died in 1586) (1586): Feudal lord and tea master who served Oda Nobunaga before defecting to the Mori clan.
• Barbara Flaminia — Historical peer (Died in 1586) (1586): Pioneering Italian stage actress, famed for her rivalry and international tours.
• Emanuel Schikaneder — Historical peer (Born in 1751) (1751): Pioneering German impresario, dramatist, and librettist, famed for Die Zauberflöte.
• Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies — Historical peer (Born in 1751) (1751): King of the Two Sicilies, founder of the Bourbon-Two Sicilies dynasty.
• Afanasy Fet — Historical peer (Born in 1820) (1820): Master of Russian lyric verse, Afanasy Fet's poetry captured the ephemeral beauty of life.
• Alexander Cartwright — Historical peer (Born in 1820) (1820): Founding member of the Knickerbockers and developer of early baseball rules.
• Adam Johann von Krusenstern — Historical peer (Died in 1846) (1846): Russian admiral and explorer, famed for leading the first Russian circumnavigation.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kashmir