The Sultanate of Delhi, 711–1526 A.D. c8.s1.1

c8.s1.1

The eighth century Hindu kingdom of Sindh was larger in area than the modern province of that name and extended to Kashmir in the north, Kanauj in the east and the sea in the south. In the north-west it included a large portion of modern Baluchistan and the Makran coast. Its capital was at Alor (modern Rohri), and the Kingdom was divided into four provinces, each of which was in charge of a semi-independent governor. The King's direct jurisdiction extended over the central part of his kingdom, while the governors were the real masters of the provinces and were described as tributary rulers. The king was Sudra by caste and Buddhist by religion.¹ At the beginning of the seventh century A.D., the reigning sovereign Sahiras fell in a battle with Nimruz of Persia who had invaded Sindh and entered Kirman. He was succeeded by his son, Sahasi Rai II, who was overthrown by his Brahman minister Chach who put his royal master to death and seized the throne. The usurper married the widowed queen of his predecessor and suppressed the rebellious governors who had refused to acknowledge his authority. He also conquered a part of Makran in modern Baluchistan and imposed his authority on Kandabil in that country. Chach was succeeded by his brother Chandar. But the latter died soon after, and there was a dispute for the throne between his son Duraj and the eldest son of Chach, named Dahir. Eventually Duraj was defeated and ousted, and Chach's two sons Dahir and Daharsiah (both of whom were born of the widowed queen of Sahasi Rai II) divided the kingdom. On Daharsiah's death Dahir became the sole ruler of Sindh. On the eve of the Arab conquest the country was very much weakened on account of political changes and internal strife. Its heterogeneous population was sparse and lacked social solidarity owing to the oppression of the lower orders of the society by the ruling hierarchy. Its resources too were small. Above all, King Dahir was unpopular, [Figure: INDIA IN 713A.D. The Arab Conquest.