Mughal Emperors and Contemporary Hill Rulers
Akbar
- Kangra: Dharam Chand, Jai Chand, Bidhi Chand
- Chamba: Pratap Singh Varman
- Nurpur: Raja Basu
Jahangir
- Kangra: Trilok Chand, Hari Chand II
- Nurpur: Raja Basu, Suraj Mal, Jagat Singh
- Kullu: Became tributary
- Bilaspur: Became tributary
Shah Jahan
- Nurpur: Jagat Singh
- Sirmaur: Karam Prakash
- Chamba: Prithvi Singh
Aurangzeb
- Chamba: Prithvi Singh
- Sirmaur: Subhag Prakash, Budh Prakash, Medini Prakash
- Bushahr: Kehri Singh
- Nurpur: Mandhata Prakash
- Bilaspur: Bhim Chand
🏔️ Hill Rulers and Contemporary Mughal Emperors
Kangra
- Dharam Chand, Jai Chand, Bidhi Chand: Contemporary of Akbar
- Trilok Chand, Hari Chand II: Contemporary of Jahangir
Chamba
- Pratap Singh Varman: Contemporary of Akbar
- Prithvi Singh: Contemporary of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb
Nurpur
- Raja Basu: Contemporary of Akbar and Jahangir
- Suraj Mal, Jagat Singh: Contemporary of Jahangir
- (Jagat Singh): Contemporary of Shah Jahan
- Mandhata Prakash: Contemporary of Aurangzeb
Sirmaur
- Karam Prakash: Contemporary of Shah Jahan
- Subhag Prakash, Budh Prakash, Medini Prakash: Contemporary of Aurangzeb
Bilaspur (Kahlur)
- Became tributary: During Jahangir’s reign
- Bhim Chand: Contemporary of Aurangzeb
Kullu
- Became tributary: During Jahangir’s reign
Bushahr
- Kehri Singh: Contemporary of Aurangzeb
mughal :
I. Early Mughal Era (Babur & Sher Shah Suri)
The Mughal connection to the Kangra hills began during Babur’s campaign, primarily through the pursuit of his rivals.
- 1525 (Babur’s Entry): Babur established outposts at Lahore and Sialkot.
- The Pursuit of Daulat Khan: Fearing Babur, Daulat Khan (Governor of Punjab) and his son Ghazi Khan took refuge in the forests near Kangra.
- Capture at Malout: Babur travelled via Kangra to Delhi through Malout (Kangra) and captured them. He did not encounter the Raja of Kangra directly
Sur Dynasty Era: Sher Shah Suri sent his general, Khawas Khan, to the Kangra Hills. He conquered certain regions, and Hamid Khan Kakar was placed in charge. There is no definitive mention that the Kangra Fort itself was captured during this time; likely only specific regions were seized
II. The Reign of Akbar (1556–1605)
Akbar’s era was marked by the gradual subjugation of the hill chiefs and the introduction of the “hostage system” to ensure loyalty.
The Conflict with Sikander Shah Sur (1556–1557)
- Subjugation of Punjab: The Punjab Governor, Sikander Shah Sur (nephew of Sher Shah), was defeated by the Mughals at Sirhind and fled to Nurpur (Dhameri) and Kangra…Source: Rizqullah – Waqiat-i-Mushtaqi
- Siege of Maukot (1557): Sikander Shah took refuge in the Maukot Fort (located between Pathankot and Nurpur), which had been built by Salim Shah Sur.
- Surrender: Akbar besieged the fort for months until food scarcity forced a surrender.
- Sikander Shah was retired to the Bengal province (given a Jagir in Bihar and Kharid) and died two years later.
- Bhakt Mal (Raja of Nurpur), a friend of Sikander Shah, was executed by Bairam Khan at Maukot.
- Dharam Chand (King of Kangra) likely helped the Mughals and was probably the first to tender allegiance to Akbar.
- source : tabaqat -i-nasiri
1556: Akbar was the first to plan the conquest of Kangra Fort, though he did not actually conquer it at this time.
Akbar initiated the practice of sending hostages (princes from hill states) to the Mughal court to ensure fidelity .proof was that 22 young princes from hill states were there when Jahangir became king .
so dharam chand was first contemporary of Akbar from KANGRA and he helped in fighting sikander shah sur .then next king manikya chand also had good relations .
jai chand became king in 1570 .akbar sent an order for his arrest .. akbar sent ram chand of guler to capture him .Jai Chand was captured and put in jail in Delhi.his son Bidhi Chand considered his father dead and revolted (1572). Bidhi chand BECMAE real king in 1585 after death of hi sfateher .
In 1572, Emperor Akbar granted Kangra as a Jagir to Birbal. This action sparked a revolt by Bidhi Chand, who received assistance from Gopi Chand of Jaswan. In response to the rebellion, Akbar dispatched the Viceroy of Punjab, Khan Jahan Hussain Quli Khan, while Birbal traveled to the region and stationed himself at Lahore. Khan Jahan advanced his forces via Paithan (Pathankot) and Nurpur (Dhameri), a route chosen because Nurpur’s King, Takht Mal, was considered an ally following an earlier incident involving Sikander Shah. During this campaign, the Mughals successfully captured the Kotla Fort. Because the fort had originally belonged to Guler before being seized by Dharam Chand and Jai Chand, the Mughals officially restored it to Guler after its capture. However, the siege of Kangra was abruptly halted when news arrived that Akbar’s relatives, Ibrahim Hussain Mirza and Musud Mirza, had invaded Punjab. Forced to redirect his attention to this new threat, Khan Jahan accepted a payment of 5 man of gold and departed to fight the Mirzas without officially capturing the Kangra fort. He was joined in this new fight by Gopi Chand (also known as Gobind Chand), an account detailed in the Tabaqat-i-Akbari. Additionally, historical records from the Maasir-ul-Umara and Akbar-namah note that the Nagarkot Temple was plundered during these events.
Todar Mal made Report on Revenue of:. ↳ 66 Villages including Rihlu (Chamba).
1582: Akbar came to Dasuha (near Hoshiarpur). ↳ Decided To visit Nagarkot Temple but abandoned
HPAS Notes: Jahangir’s First Attempt on Kangra (1615 A.D.)
1. The Context & Succession (1605 A.D.)
- Kangra: Raja Bidhi Chand died in 1605 A.D. and was succeeded by his son Trilok Chand.
- Mughal Empire: Jahangir also succeeded to the throne in 1605 A.D..
- The Delay: It was not until 1615 A.D. that Jahangir finally sent a force against Kangra.
Primary Source Evidence
Jahangir has made detailed descriptions of these events in his own autobiography, the “Tazuk-i-Jahangiri”.
2. The Imperial Expedition Force
The Commanders & Allies
The Mughal force was a coalition of imperial troops and regional Rajput kings:
- The Main Commander: Sheikh Farid Murtaza Khan, who was the governor of Punjab (and the same commander from the 1594-95 expeditions).
- Hill Ally (Nurpur): Raja Suraj Mal of Nurpur assisted the imperial forces. As a reward, his mansab was increased by 500 personnel and horses.
- Raja Man: By order of the Emperor, Raja Man was released from confinement in the fort of Gwalior on the security of Murtaza Khan, and sent to assist in the expedition to Nagarkot.
3. The Failure of the First Attempt
Ego Clash and Untimely Death
Despite a strong force, the siege never truly materialized due to internal issues:
- The Dispute: Just when the Kangra fort was about to be besieged, differences developed between the Mughal commander (Sheikh Murtaza Khan) and the hill ally (Raja Suraj Mal).
- The Recall: Due to this, the reduction of the fort was held in abeyance. Jahangir requested Raja Suraj Mal to come back.
- Suraj Mal’s Reassignment: On his return, he was attached to Prince Shahjahan to the Dakhan (Deccan) in October 1616 A.D..
- The Final Blow: Soon after Suraj Mal’s recall, commander Murtaza Khan was taken ill and died at Pathankot.
- Result: Thus, the first attempt to capture Kangra fort failed completely.
HPAS Notes: Jahangir’s Second Attempt (1616-1617 A.D.)
1. The New Command
- The Successor: After the death of Sheikh Farid Murtaza Khan, Raja Man was made the leader of the attack on the Kangra fort.
- Dual Role: He was probably also made the governor of Punjab in succession to Murtaza Khan.
- Background: Raja Man was the ruling chief of Ambar (Jaipur).
2. The Assassination (Failure of the Second Attempt)
The Death of Raja Man
The second attempt failed before it could even properly begin:
- The Incident: Raja Man was killed before he could take over his charge.
- The Assassin: He was killed by one of the Zamindars (chiefs) of the hill country of Punjab named Sangram.
- Identity of the Assassin: Raja Sangram was probably the ruler of Jammu.
3. The Aftermath
Siege Deferred
- Consequence: Following the assassination of the Mughal commander, the siege of Kangra Fort was deferred for a time.
- Timeline: These events unfolded at the end of A.D. 1616 or in January A.D. 1617.
HPAS Notes: Jahangir’s Third Attempt (1617 A.D.)
1. The Planning and Command
- The Approval: Not baffled by previous failures, Jahangir discussed the feasibility of a new venture with Shah Jahan (Khurram), who sanctioned the enterprise.
- The Joint Command: Shah Jahan selected two leaders for the expedition:
- Suraj Mal (the same Hill Chief from the first attempt).
- Shah Quli Khan Mohammed Taqi (Shah Jahan’s own Bakshi).
- Timeline: The Royal army started its expedition to Nagarkot in September 1617 A.D..
2. Royal Honours Bestowed
Gifts to the Commanders
Before leaving for the campaign, the commanders were highly honored:
- Suraj Mal: Presented with a standard and drums, a Khilat (dress of honour), an elephant, and a jewelled Khapwa (dagger).
- Mohammed Taqi: Presented with a Khilat.
3. Suraj Mal’s Rebellion & Sabotage
Dismantling the Siege from Within
Suraj Mal had ulterior motives and used the expedition merely as a pretext to return to his hills:
- The Feud: On the way to Nagarkot, Suraj Mal deliberately started quarrelling with Mohammed Taqi to get rid of him and assume supreme command.
- The Recall: By declaring Taqi incompetent, Suraj Mal successfully had him recalled.
- The Hidden Agenda: The “blood of rebellion” was surging in Suraj Mal’s veins; his real object was to reach the hills under the pretext of the invasion.
- The Sabotage: Once Mohammed Taqi departed, Suraj Mal started sending the imperial troops away to their respective Jagirs for “re-equipment”, falsely claiming a shortage of supplies.
HPAS Notes: Jahangir’s Fourth & Final Attempt (1619-1620 A.D.)
1. The Suppression of Suraj Mal’s Rebellion
The Fall of the Rebel
After Suraj Mal successfully dispersed the Mughal troops and openly revolted (ravaging the parganas), Jahangir took decisive action:
- The New Commander: Jahangir sent Rai Raiyan Sunder Dass for his suppression.
- The Flight: Suraj Mal fled from one fort to another. He abandoned the Mankot and Nurpur forts.
- The End: He finally took shelter in the Taragarh fort (which belonged to the Raja of Chamba) and died there in A.D. 1619.
- The Brother’s Entry: Following the outbreak of the rebellion, Suraj Mal’s younger brother, Jagat Singh, was summoned from Bengal “in greatest haste” to join the Mughal army.
2. The Final Siege and Surrender (1620 A.D.)
- The Command: Jagat Singh joined Rai Raiyan in the siege of the Kangra fort.
- Duration: According to the Maasir-ul-Umara, the siege lasted for one year, two months and some days.
- The Surrender: The garrison put up a stout resistance but ultimately surrendered.
- The Handover: Hari Chand, the chief of the garrison (who was only twelve years of age), along with his uncle Sikandar, handed over the fortress to Rai Raiyan Bikramjit (Sunder Dass).
Date of Capture
Jahangir received the news of the capture of Kangra fort on 20th November A.D. 1620.
3. Mughal Administration (High Yield)
The End of Katoch Independence
With this victory, the fort passed away from the possession of the Katoch princes, and for 160 years, probably not one of them was ever inside its walls. The whole state was annexed by the Mughals.
- The First Governor: It was the first time the fort was garrisoned by the Mughal army. The first Mughal Quiladar (Governor) was Nawab Ali Khan.
- Mughal Tenure: The fort continued to be held by Mughal Quiladars till A.D. 1783.
- The Royal Jagir: The district of Rajgir was assigned as a Jagir for the maintenance of the royal family of Kangra.
HPAS Notes: Jahangir’s Visit to Kangra (1622 A.D.)
1. The Royal Tour: Itinerary & Geography
The Royal Route (Jan 1622 A.D.)
| Phase of Journey | Route Taken |
|---|---|
| Arrival (Way In) | He came by way of Siba and Guler. |
| Departure (Way Out) | He returned by Nurpur and Pathankot. |
2. Architectural Ambitions & Legacy
The Unfinished Palace
- The Fascination: Jahangir was so fascinated with the beauty of the valley that he ordered a palace to be built for himself.
- The Location: The foundations were laid, and the site still exists in Mauza Gargari.
- The Abandonment: The work could not proceed further, probably because Kashmir had greater attractions for him.
Jahangiri Darwaza
- The Monument: As a memory of this visit, one of the gates in the fort was erected by his order and called ‘Jahangiri Darwaza’.
- The Inscription Slab: On the gate, the date of conquest was inscribed on a marble slab.
- The Destruction: Presumably, this slab was broken into pieces when the fort was captured much later by Sansar Chand in A.D. 1786.
3. High Yield: The Chamba Submission
A Historic Diplomatic Event
During Jahangir’s visit, several Hill Chiefs waited upon him, but the most significant was the Raja of Chamba:
- The Significance: This was a great event because the ruler of Chamba “had not obeyed any king nor sent offerings” prior to this.
- His Stature: He was considered the greatest Zamindar in the Kangra hills.
- The Personalities: The Raja of Chamba at that time was probably Janardhan. He waited on Jahangir along with his brother, Bishambar.
The Tragic Aftermath
The submission to the Mughal Emperor did not guarantee long-term peace for the Chamba royals:
- Both Raja Janardhan and his brother Bishambar were killed in the following year in a war with Jagat Singh of Nurpur. mughals supported jagat Singh .
🏰 Mughal Kiledars (Governors) of Kangra Fort
Under Jahangir
- Nawab Ali Khan (Appointed as the first Mughal Kiledar)
- Humrat Khan
Under Shah Jahan
- Nawab Asadullah Khan
- Koch Quli Khan
Under Aurangzeb
- Sayyid Hussain Khan
- Hasan Abdullah Khan Pathan
- Nawab Sayyid Khalil Ullah Khan
Later Mughals
- Nawab Saif Ali Khan (The last Mughal Kiledar, served 1740–1783)