turkish invasion of hp

Turkish Invasion of HP & India – HPAS Notes

Turkish Invasion of HP & India

From Alaptgin to the Fall of Nagarkot (Kangra)

1. The Rise of the Ghaznavids

  • The Ruler, Alaptgin: Died in 963 A.D.

The roots of the invasion lie in the instability of the region following Alaptgin’s death.

The Successors:

  • Minor Rulers: Abul Ishaq, Bilaktgin, Piritgin.
  • Piritgin: Known as the “Aggressor” who organized the first unsuccessful attacks against India.

Sabuktigin: From Slave to Sultan (977 A.D.)

Originally a slave purchased in Bukhara, he rose to prominence due to his merit.

  • Title: Amir-ul-Umra
  • Became Sultan in: 977 A.D.
  • Relation: Son-in-law of Alaptgin.
  • Strategy: Consolidated Afghans into a compact body; conquered Lamghan and Sistan.
  • Key Conquest: Secured Khorasan in 994 A.D.

2. The First Invasion: Sabuktigin vs. Raja Jaipal

Mains Analysis

The Adversaries: The Shahi Kingdom

  • Ruler: Raja Jaipal
  • Extent: From Sirhind to Lamghan (Jalalabad) and Kashmir to Multan.
  • Capitals: Successively at Und, Lahore, and Bhatinda.

Conflict Timeline

986-87 A.D. Sabuktigin attacks Indian territory (First Attack).
The Battle Jaipal marches to Lamghan. A sudden snowstorm forces Jaipal to sue for peace.

The Negotiation Drama

Under pressure from the weather, Jaipal sued for peace. This led to a dramatic standoff between Sabuktigin and his son Mahmud:

  • Mahmud’s Stance: Urged his father to continue the war for “the honour of Islam,” stating, “Cry neither for peace nor demand it.”
  • Jaipal’s Ultimatum: Sent a message describing the “impetuosity of the Hindus” in the face of calamity.

Jaipal’s “Scorched Earth” Threat

“If therefore, you refuse to grant peace in the hope of obtaining plunder… there is no alternative for us but to mount the horse of stern determination, destroy our property, take out the eyes of our elephants, cast our children into the fire, and rush on each other with sword and spear…”

Terms of Surrender

  • Monetary Tribute: One million Dirhams.
  • War Assets: 50 elephants.
  • Territory: Ceded specific cities and fortresses.
  • Guarantee: Two hostages sent to Sabuktigin.
HPAS Notes: The Second Invasion (991 A.D.)

HPAS Notes: The Second Invasion (Sabuktigin’s Retaliation)

1. The Cause: Violation of Treaty

  • The Betrayal: As soon as Raja Jaipal found himself out of danger, he decided to violate the terms of peace.
  • The Provocation: He imprisoned the officers of Sabuktigin who had accompanied him to collect the tribute.
  • Sabuktigin’s Fury: Annoyed by this “wickedness and infidelity,” Sabuktigin appeared like a “foaming torrent” and marched towards India to punish Jaipal.
  • Initial Action: The border lands were ravaged, and the town of Lamghan was captured.

2. The Hindu Confederacy (991 A.D.)

High Yield Fact: The Alliance

Realizing his weakness (“his chiefs had become the food of vultures”), Jaipal resolved to fight one last time by organizing a grand confederacy in 991 A.D.:

  • The Allies: He gathered the rulers of:
    • Ajmer
    • Kalinjar
    • Kanauj
  • Army Strength: He started at the head of more than a lakh (100,000) of soldiers to meet the enemy.

3. The Outcome and Consequences

Defeat and Territorial Loss

  • The Battle: Ultimately, Jaipal was defeated despite the large confederacy.
  • War Indemnity: He had to give a lot of booty, including 200 elephants of war as a heavy tribute.
  • Sovereignty Lost: The sovereignty of Sabuktigin was acknowledged by Jaipal.
  • Strategic Loss (Peshawar): Sabuktigin appointed one of his officers with ten thousand horses to the government of Peshawar.

4. Death of Sabuktigin

  • End of Reign: Before he could proceed further, Sabuktigin died in 997 A.D., exhausted by perpetual wars.
  • Legacy: He left behind a large and well-established kingdom for his son, Mahmud.
HPAS Notes: Mahmud’s Invasion of Nagarkot

HPAS Notes: Mahmud’s Fourth Expedition (1009 A.D.)

1. The Campaign Details

  • Succession: Mahmud of Ghazni succeeded his father in 997 A.D. and first invaded India in 1001 A.D..
  • The Fourth Expedition (1009 A.D.):
    • After defeating a large Hindu army, he advanced into the Punjab.
    • He crossed the large rivers near the foot of the hills and laid siege to Nagarkot (Kangra).
  • Historical Significance: Nagarkot was probably the first among the Hill States to fall prey to “deliberate and atrocious Muslim vandalism”.

2. The Plunder of the Temple

The text describes Mahmud as an “avaricious iconoclast” who robbed the town of its every penny:

  • The Loot: He carried away immense wealth which the Turks had never even dreamed of.

Prof. J.R. Sharma’s Remark

“With the plunder of the ancient temple of Nagarkot (Kangra) in 1008 A.D. the tiger tasted human blood.”

3. The Capture of the Fort (Key Figures)

High Yield Prelims Fact: Who took what?

The entry into the fort involved specific historical figures:

  • The Entourage: The Sultan entered the fort with the ruler of Juzjan, named Abu Hasar Ahmad Bin Muhammad Fariguni.
  • Division of Loot:
    • Gold & Silver: Two commanders, ‘Asightigin’ and ‘Altutmish’, were allowed to take charge of all valuables including gold and silver.
    • Jewels: Mahmud himself took charge of the jewels.

4. Geographical Context

Location of Kangra Fort

  • Elevation: Situated about 150 feet above the river Banganga.
  • Confluence: Located near the confluence of the Banganga with the Beas river.
  • Defenses: The hill sides are precipitous, protected by masonry and ramparts.
HPAS Notes: Aftermath of Nagarkot Invasion

HPAS Notes: Aftermath of Nagarkot Invasion (1009 A.D.)

1. Administrative Arrangements

  • Garrisoning: After capturing the Kangra fort, Mahmud did not abandon it immediately. He appointed one of his most confidential servants to the charge of the fort and the property in it.

2. Analysis of the Wealth (The ‘Utbi’ Account)

Was it just “Temple Money”?

Contrary to popular belief that the loot was solely religious offerings, historical records suggest a political origin:

  • The Source: The historian ‘Utbi’ describes the contents of the loot.
  • The Revelation: The wealth comprised the Royal Treasury of the Hindu Shahis of Kabul.
  • Why was it there? The Shahis had shifted their treasury from Kabul and Peshawar to this stronghold for safety after their earlier defeat at Sakawad at the hands of Sabuktigin.

3. The Location Debate

Which Temple was Plundered?

Historians debate the exact location of the specific temple mentioned in the chronicles:

  • View 1 (Inside the Fort): Some opine that the temple plundered was situated within the fort itself.
  • View 2 (The Bhawan): It is argued it was not the famous temple of Devi in Bhawan (outside the fort).
  • Counter-View: However, the plunder of the Bhawan is not ruled out, especially since it was situated quite near the fort and was likely undefended.
HPAS Notes: The Fall of Kangra Fort

HPAS Notes: Why did Kangra Fort Fall so Easily?

1. The Context: Anand Pal’s Confederacy

  • The Mobilization: In a bid to save his trans-Indus dominions and Peshawar, Anand Pal Shahi gave a call to his vassals and fellow rulers.
  • The Hill Connection: He organized a massive confederacy in which chieftains from North Punjab and the Hills (including Kangra) participated.
  • The Loyalty: These chieftains went at the head of their armies to help their overlord, who once held a vast kingdom spreading from Kabul to Kangra.

2. The Battle: A Tragedy of Errors

The Turning Point (The Elephant Incident)

The battle against the Turk invaders was initially going in favor of the Indian confederacy:

  • Mahmud’s Fear: The confederate army fought so desperately that Mahmud was actually thinking of withdrawing.
  • The Accident: Suddenly, Anand Pal’s elephant fled the battlefield.
  • The Misunderstanding: This flight was taken by Anand Pal’s armies as a signal to retreat.
  • The Result: Disorder prevailed, and a sure victory converted into defeat.

3. The Consequence for Kangra

Strategic Vacuum

Why did the fort, usually so impregnable, surrender meekly?

  • Empty Defenses: Since the chieftains of Kangra had taken their armies to fight in the open field for Anand Pal, Nagarkot was left undefended.
  • Meek Surrender: The fleet-footed cavalry of Mahmud pursued the fugitives, and the “unimaginative inhabitants” remaining in the fort surrendered without a fight.
HPAS Notes: Tomar Intervention & End of Shahis

HPAS Notes: The Tomar Intervention (1043 A.D.)

1. The Counter-Offensive (1043 A.D.)

Before the final Katoch recovery in 1060, a major attempt was made to break the Ghaznavid hold on the hills:

Mahipal’s Confederacy

  • The Leader: Mahipal, the proud Tomar chief of Delhi.
  • The Objective: He founded a confederacy of Indian princes in 1043 A.D. to put an end to Ghaznavid rule in the plains of Punjab.
  • The Targets: He marched against Hansi, Thanesar, and other places held by Mohammedan garrisons under Madud (grandson of Mahmud) and drove them out.
  • The Siege of Kangra: Having completed raids in the plains, he moved towards the hills and captured the Kangra Fort after a four-month siege.

2. The End of the Hindu Shahi Dynasty

The Final Fall (1026 A.D.)

While Kangra was struggling, the main Hindu Shahi line (which had originally stored the treasury in Kangra) met its end:

  • Continued Resistance: The Shahi rulers continued asserting their suzerainty in constant warfare against Mahmud Ghazni.
  • The Last Kings:
    • Trilochan Pal: Killed in battle.
    • Bhim Pal: His son, the last of the Hindu Shahi rulers, died in 1026 A.D..
  • Result: With the death of Bhim Pal, the Shahi rule in Kabul, Ohind, and Punjab came to an end, and Western Punjab was finally occupied by Ghazni rulers.

3. Garrison Timeline

Ghaznavid Control in Punjab

  • Slow Consolidation: Although Mahmud had conquered a part of the Punjab, he could not establish a garrison till 1023 A.D..
  • The Exception: The only major exception was Nagarkot (Kangra), which remained under the possession of Mahmud’s garrison continuously from 1009 until the intervention in 1043.
HPAS Notes: Recovery of Kangra & Rajput Migration

HPAS Notes: Recovery of Kangra & The Rajput Migration

1. The Struggle for the Fort (1051-1060 A.D.)

After the fall of the fort in 1009 A.D., it did not remain peacefully in Turk hands forever. Historical records mention a brief tug-of-war:

Timeline of Recovery

  • 1043 A.D. (Context): Although not explicitly detailed in this text, other sources cite a recapture attempt by Mahipala of Delhi around this time.
  • 1051-52 A.D. (Muslim Recapture): According to Khwaja Masud-bin-Sad-bin Salman, the fort was recaptured by Abdul Rashid, the son of Sultan Mahmud.
  • 1060 A.D. (Final Recovery): By 1060 A.D., the fort was finally recovered by the Katoch rulers.
  • Stability: Till about 1170 A.D. (nearly 300 years in total context), the state continued undivided under one head.

2. The Geopolitical Buffer (Satluj Line)

  • The Limit of Advance: For nearly 200 years after Mahmud, the Mohammedans were unable to advance their frontiers much beyond the Satluj river.
  • The Resistance: To the South, they were fiercely opposed by the Rajas of Delhi of the Tomar line of Rajputs.

3. Literary Evidence of Hill-Plains Unity

‘Prithvi Raj Raso’ Reference

The bard Chandbardai provides evidence that Hill chiefs were active allies of the Delhi rulers during this period:

  • The Summons: “Kangra and its mountain chiefs” are included among those summoned by Anang Pal (the last of his line) to follow his standard to the field.
  • Succession: Anang Pal died childless in 1151 A.D. and was succeeded by Visaladeva Chauhan of Ajmer.
  • Prithvi Raj Chauhan: His grandson, the famous Prithvi Raj, succeeded him around 1171 A.D..

4. The Great Rajput Migration (12th Century)

Why did so many Rajput Clans move to Himachal?

The 12th century saw a massive demographic shift that shaped modern Himachal’s caste structure:

  • Push Factor (Instability): The Punjab plains witnessed several attacks by Muslim Turks, making life insecure for ruling clans.
  • Pull Factor (Neglect): The first two royal houses of the Delhi Sultanate (Slaves 1206-1290 and Khiljis 1290-1320) did not pay any serious attention to the Punjab hills, making it a safe haven.
  • The Result: Many Rajputs migrated to Himachal Hills in the early 12th century and founded several Rajput states.
  • The Clans:
    • Chauhans
    • Chandels
    • Tomars
    • Sens
    • Panwars.

🏔️ Kangra Fort: Details and Background

  • Location: Situated about 150 feet above the Banganga river.
  • Nearby Confluence: Banganga river with the Beas river.
  • Size: About three miles in extent.
  • Defenses: The sides of the hill are “very precipitous,” with masonry and ramparts protecting exposed parts.
  • The Hindu Shahi Treasury: Following their defeat at Sakawad by Sabuktigin (Mahmud’s father), the Hindu Shahis of Kabul had shifted their royal treasury from Kabul and Peshawar to the stronghold of Nagarkot (Kangra) for safekeeping.

⚔️ Mahmud of Ghazni’s Invasion

  • A.D. 997: Mahmud of Ghazni (Mhd Ghazni) succeeds his father.
  • A.D. 1001: Mahmud invades India, conducting a total of 17 raids.
    • His 4th Raid was on Kangra.
    • His 16th Raid was on the Somnath Temple.
  • A.D. 1030: Mahmud of Ghazni died.

💥 The Siege of Nagarkot (A.D. 1009)

  • Fourth Expedition (A.D. 1009): Mahmud advanced into Punjab and laid siege to Nagarkot Kangra. (king : Jagdish Chand ).This was likely the first Hill State to suffer “deliberate and atrocious Muslim vandalism.”
  • Reason for the Easy Fall:
    • The Hindu Shahi ruler, Anand Pal Shahi, had called his vassals—including the chieftains of Kangra—to help defend his primary territories (trans-Indus dominions and Peshawar) against the Turk invaders.
    • Anand Pal organized a confederacy (chieftains from North Punjab and the Hills) which fought desperately.
    • Turning Point: Just as Mahmud was considering withdrawing, Anand Pal’s elephant fled the battlefield. This was mistaken for a signal to retreat, causing disorder in the Indian army and turning a “sure victory into defeat.”
    • Consequence: With its chieftains and armies away, the Nagarkot fort was left undefended. The “unimaginative inhabitants of the fort, surrendered it meekly.”
  • Aftermath of the Siege:
    • Sultan (Mahmud) entered the fort with Abu Hasar Ahmad Bin Muhammad Fariguni (ruler of Juzjan)
    • Commanders ‘Asightigin’ and ‘Altutmish’ were put in charge of the captured valuables.
  • Contemporary Accounts & Names:
    • Utbi (Ghazni’s secretary) mentions the “conquer of Nagarkot” in his book, Tarik-i-Yamini and calls nagarkot as bhimnagar
    • Farishta (historian) called the fort Bhimkot.
  • Quote (Prof. J.R. Sharma): “with the plunder of the ancient temple of Nagarkot (Kangra) in 1008 A.D. the tiger tasted human blood.” (The handwritten note quotes: “Here Ghazni (The Tiger) Tasted Human Blood.”)

👑 End of the Hindu Shahi Dynasty

  • Continued Warfare: Although Mahmud conquered parts of Punjab, the Hindu Shahi rulers Trilochan Pal and his son Bhim Pal continued to fight him.
  • A.D. 1026 (End of Shahis): Both Trilochan Pal and his son Bhim Pal were killed in battles. With the death of Bhim Pal, the last Hindu Shahi ruler, the Shahi rule in Kabul, Ohind, and Punjab came to an end.

🔄 Recapture and Recovery of Kangra Fort

  • Ghaznavid Occupation (till A.D. 1043):
    • The Nagarkot (Kangra) fort was won by Mahmud and remained under the possession of his garrison until A.D. 1043.
    • The ruler/caretaker at the time of its loss was Madud (Mahmud of Ghazni’s grandson).
  • A.D. 1043 (Tomar-led Recapture):
    • Mahipal, the Tomar chief of Delhi, formed a confederacy of Indian princes to end Ghaznavid rule.
    • After driving out Ghaznavid garrisons from the plains, Mahipal moved to the hills and, after a four-month siege, captured the Kangra Fort.
    • Traditional accounts state the Katoch rulers of Kangra were helped in this venture by the Tomar chief and other allies, including:
      • Bhoja Parmar
      • Karana, Kalachuris
      • Chahamanas of Annabela
  • Brief Ghaznavid Re-occupation (A.D. 1051-52):
    • Some references indicate that Abdul Rashid (son of Sultan Mahmud) recaptured the fort during this period.
  • A.D. 1060 (Final Katoch Recovery):
    • The fort was definitively recovered by the Katoch rulers by A.D. 1060.
    • It then remained in the possession of the Katoch dynasty for nearly 300 years
    • The state continued undivided under one head until about A.D. 1170.

Subsequent Political Situation (11th-13th Century)

  • Limited Mohammedan Advance: For nearly 200 years after Mahmud, the Mohammedan frontiers did not advance much beyond the Satluj river, opposed by the Tomar Rajputs of Delhi.
  • Role of Kangra Chiefs:
    • Chandbardai’s Prithvi Raj Raso mentions that “Kangra and its mountain chiefs” were among those summoned by Anang Pal (Tomar ruler, the last of his line) to join his standard.
    • Anang Pal died childless in A.D. 1151. His grandson was Prithvi Raj Chauhan, who became Raja of Ajmer and Delhi around A.D. 1171.
  • Era of Delhi Sultanate (A.D. 1206 onwards):
    • The first two royal houses of the Delhi Sultanate (Slaves, 1206-1290, and Khiljis, 1290-1320) did not pay “any serious attention” to the Punjab hills.
    • This neglect, combined with Turkish attacks in the plains, led many Rajput clans (Chauhans, Chandels, Tomars, Sens, Panwars) to migrate to the Himachal Hills in the early 12th century.

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