mughals except kangra

kangra hill states interactions with mughals evolved from cautious cooperation to outright conquest , reflecting shifting imperial policies and frontier realities .: there were tribute system and not full annexation. there was stout fortification . hostage diplomacy : balancing coercion with recognition of KANGRA political diplomacy … strategic pragmatism and proxy warfare : utilizing hill allies like raja jagat Singh of nurpur + exploited local rivalries …. focused on territorial buffering

sirmaur relationship with mughals demonstrate how strategic accomodations , economic innovation and diplomatic skill could transform potential subjugation into mutually beneficial partnership

consistent loyalty and strategic pragmatism :unlike KANGRA multiple sieges and nurpur repeated rebellions , Sirmaur from Karam Prakash till Medini Prakash never openly rebelled. …. raja budh Prakash exported hill ice to begum jahanara .. so created luxury market deepening the economic ties . hence Sirmaur represented most sophisticated example of imperial integration due to their focus on collaborative governance over military resistance .

sirmaur relationship with mughals demonstrate how strategic accomodations , economic innovation and diplomatic skill could transform potential subjugation into mutually beneficial partnership

👑 Mughal-Chamba Relations: Key Events

1. Akbar’s Reign (Contemporary: Raja Pratap Singh Varman, c. 1559-1586)

Raja Pratap Singh Varman of Chamba was a contemporary of Emperor Akbar.
During this period, Chamba came under Mughal influence. Akbar asserted dominance by annexing fertile territories from Chamba, specifically the areas of Rihlu, Chari, and Giroh, which were attached to the Mughal province of Lahore.

2. Jahangir’s Reign (Contemporary: Raja Balabhadra & Janardan)

The Nurpur Refugees: Raja Suraj Mal of Nurpur, along with his brother Madho Singh, rebelled against Emperor Jahangir and took refuge in Chamba.
Jahangir ordered the Chamba rulers (Raja Balabhadra and his son Janardan) to capture the rebels. In the ensuing conflict, Suraj Mal was killed (c. 1619).
Rivalry with Jagat Singh: This incident created a bitter rivalry with Raja Jagat Singh (Suraj Mal’s brother), who was a powerful and loyal Mughal commander.
Battle of Dhalog (1623): Jagat Singh of Nurpur invaded Chamba, acting under Mughal authority. In the Battle of Dhalog, Chamba’s forces were defeated, and Raja Janardan (Balabhadra’s son) was killed.

3. Shah Jahan’s Reign (Contemporary: Raja Prithvi Singh)

Nurpur’s Occupation (1623-1641): Following the Battle of Dhalog, Chamba was effectively ruled by Jagat Singh of Nurpur as a Mughal vassal. The rightful heir of Chamba, Prithvi Singh (son of Janardan), was a child and was safely smuggled into exile (in Mandi).
Jagat Singh’s Revolt (1641): Raja Jagat Singh eventually rebelled against Emperor Shah Jahan.
Restoration of Prithvi Singh: Prithvi Singh saw his opportunity. He allied with the Mughal forces sent to crush Jagat Singh’s rebellion. After Jagat Singh was defeated, Shah Jahan, pleased with Prithvi Singh’s loyalty, restored him to the Chamba throne in 1641. Prithvi Singh then ruled as a loyal tributary to the Mughals.

4. Aurangzeb’s Reign (Contemporary: Raja Chattar Singh, c. 1664-1690)

Raja Chattar Singh was a contemporary of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Defiance of Mughal Order: When Aurangzeb issued an order for the demolition of Hindu temples across the empire, Raja Chattar Singh of Chamba refused to comply.
Alliance of Hill States: In response, Aurangzeb dispatched a force under Mirza Rezia Beg to enforce the order. Chattar Singh formed a powerful military alliance with the rajas of Guler, Basholi, and Jammu.
The allied forces of the hill states met and decisively defeated the Mughal army, forcing their retreat.

⛰️ Mughal-Sirmur Relations: A History of Loyalty

The relationship between Sirmur and the Mughals was largely one of consistent loyalty, with the Sirmur Rajas often acting as trusted allies in the hill region, which contrasted with the rebellious nature of other states like Nurpur or Kangra.

1. Jahangir’s Reign (c. 1605-1627)

Contemporary: Raja Karam Prakash (c. 1616-1630).
Key Event: The most significant event of this period was Raja Karam Prakash founding the new capital of Nahan in 1621, moving it from Kalsi. Sirmur was a firm tributary state under Jahangir.

2. Shah Jahan’s Reign (c. 1628-1658)

Contemporary: Raja Mandhata Prakash (c. 1630-1654).
Key Event: Mandhata Prakash was a powerful and loyal vassal of Shah Jahan.
Assistance against Garhwal: He actively assisted the Mughal forces in their campaigns against the Raja of Garhwal (Srinagar). For his military service, he was rewarded by Shah Jahan, who granted him territory and confirmed his authority.

3. Aurangzeb’s Reign (c. 1658-1707)

This long reign saw several Sirmur rulers, with the relationship evolving from loyal service to eventual strain.

Contemporary 1: Raja Subhag Prakash (c. 1654-1664)
- Role in War of Succession: He proved his loyalty to Aurangzeb during the critical Mughal War of Succession.
- Intercepting Letters: When Dara Shikoh’s son, Sulaiman Shikoh, took refuge in Garhwal, Subhag Prakash intercepted the correspondence between Sulaiman and his father. He forwarded these letters to Aurangzeb, confirming Garhwal’s actions and cementing his own position.
- Mughal Recognition: For this loyalty, Aurangzeb issued a firman (royal decree) around 1659, recognizing Subhag Prakash and rewarding him with territories like Kotaha. (Your note incorrectly attributed this recognition to “Budhi Prakash”).
Contemporary 2: Raja Budh Prakash (c. 1664-1684)
- He continued the policy of loyalty and maintained good relations with the Mughal court.
Contemporary 3: Raja Medini Prakash (c. 1684-1704)
- Invitation to Guru Gobind Singh: The most significant event of his reign was his invitation to Guru Gobind Singh in 1685. The Guru, facing hostility from other hill rajas (like Bhim Chand of Kahlur), relocated to Sirmur and established Paonta Sahib on the banks of the Yamuna.
- Battle of Bhangani (1686): Medini Prakash supported the Guru by not joining the coalition of other hill rajas who attacked the Guru at Bhangani.
- Conflict with Mughals: This alliance with Guru Gobind Singh, who was viewed with increasing suspicion by Aurangzeb, caused a major strain in Sirmur’s relationship with the Mughal Empire. It marked a departure from Sirmur’s unconditional loyalty.

Here is a corrected and formatted version of your notes on the tumultuous relationship between the Mughal Empire and the Nurpur state.

This relationship was one of the most rebellious and volatile of all the Kangra hill states.

⚔️ Mughal-Nurpur Relations: A History of Rebellion

1. Akbar’s Reign (1556-1605)

Raja Bhakta Mal (c. 1550s):
- He was an ally of the Sur dynasty (Sikandar Sur), the primary enemy of the early Mughals.
- Bhakta Mal fought alongside Sikandar Sur when he was besieged by Akbar’s forces at the Fort of Mankot. After their defeat (c. 1557), Bhakta Mal was arrested, taken to Lahore, and later executed, establishing an early foundation of hostility.
Raja Basu (c. 1580-1613):
- As a contemporary of Akbar, Raja Basu (Bhakta Mal’s successor) was a famously unreliable vassal.
- He accepted Mughal suzerainty but was known for his “turbulent” nature, joining several “dubious” revolts.
- He openly rebelled against Akbar on multiple occasions (at least three times). Each time, Akbar sent imperial forces to subdue him, and each time, Basu would retreat to the hills, later apologize, and be reinstated, only to rebel again.

2. Jahangir’s Reign (1605-1627)

Raja Suraj Mal (1613-1618):
- He was the son of Raja Basu. Initially, Jahangir favored him and tasked him with the important Mughal campaign to capture Kangra Fort.
- However, Suraj Mal mismanaged the campaign, quarreled with other Mughal generals, and then openly revolted against Jahangir (c. 1618).
Raja Jagat Singh (1618-1646):
- He was Suraj Mal’s brother. Jagat Singh remained loyal to Jahangir and actively helped the Mughals hunt down his rebellious brother.
- For this loyalty, Jahangir appointed Jagat Singh as the Raja of Nurpur after Suraj Mal was defeated and fled (dying in exile in Chamba).
- Battle of Dhalog (1623): As a loyal Mughal commander, Jagat Singh (with Mughal support) invaded Chamba to punish its rulers for having given refuge to his brother, Suraj Mal.

3. Shah Jahan’s Reign (1628-1658)

Raja Jagat Singh (continued):
- For the first 13 years of Shah Jahan’s reign, Jagat Singh was one of the most trusted and celebrated generals in the Mughal Empire. He served in many difficult campaigns, including in Bangash (Afghanistan).

The Great Revolt of Jagat Singh (1641-1642):
- At the height of his power, Jagat Singh, along with his son Rajrup Singh, turned against his master and revolted against Shah Jahan.
- This was a massive rebellion. Shah Jahan sent a huge imperial army (led by his son Prince Murad Bakhsh) to crush him.
- Jagat Singh fought fiercely from his strongholds of Maukot, Nurpur, and Taragarh, but was ultimately defeated after a long siege.
- Clemency: After his defeat, Jagat Singh asked Shah Jahan for clemency. Given his decades of loyal service before the revolt, Shah Jahan pardoned him in 1642. He was restored to his rank and died a few years later (1646) while back in Mughal service.

Here is a corrected and formatted version of your notes on the relationship between the Mughal Empire and the Guler state.

The Guler state, an offshoot of Kangra, generally maintained a pragmatic and often loyal relationship with the Mughals, which contrasts sharply with the rebellious stance of states like Nurpur.

🤝 Mughal-Guler Relations: A Pragmatic Alliance