Conquest of Sindan
Arabs had captured Sind and Multan in 712 A.D. after defeating Raja Dahir of Sind.The Arabs of Sind and Multan regularly tried to extend their sway over the adjoining territories.In the 839 A.D.,Arabs lost the fort Sindan to Mihira Bhoja.[1]
| Battle of Sindan | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sandhan fort | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Abbasid Caliphate | Gurjara Pratihara dynasty | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Mahan ibn al-Fadl  [4] | Mihira Bhoja | ||||||||
Background[edit]
The governors of Sind in the Umayyad period undertook extensive campaigns against the non-Muslim kingdoms of Hind, but with mixed results. Al-Junayd's campaigns were largely successful, but his successor Tamim ibn Zaid al-Utbi encountered difficulties and the Muslims were forced to retreat from Hind. The next governor, al-Hakam ibn Awana, vigorously campaigned in Hind and initially achieved some victories, but he too experienced a reversal of fortune and was eventually killed. Raids into Hind continued after al-Hakam's death, but no major territorial gains were achieved, and the Muslim presence in India remained largely restricted to the Indus valley region.[5] Imran ibn Musa was nominated as governer of sind by his father in 836 A.D.During this period the Abbasid caliphs were declining and they could not support their distant viceroys with adequate resources.[6]The Arabs realised that Vatsaraja and Nagabhata II are formidable enemies and didn't attempted raids on the mainland .[7]
Conquest of Sindan by al-Fadl ibn Mahin[edit]
The historical account of Sindan's conquest begins with al-Fadl ibn Mahin, a freedman of the Banu Samah tribe. Under his leadership, Sindan was successfully subdued and brought under Islamic control. Demonstrating his loyalty to the Abbasid Caliphate, al-Fadl ibn Mahin sent an elephant as a gift to the Caliph al-Ma'mun, initiated correspondence with him, and invoked blessings upon the Caliph in a newly constructed cathedral mosque in Sindan.
Upon al-Fadl's death, his son Muhammad ibn al-Fadl ibn Mahin succeeded him. Muhammad ibn al-Fadl continued his father's legacy of military prowess. He led an expedition comprising a fleet of 70 warships against the Mid of al-Hind. This campaign was marked by significant violence, resulting in the death of many Mid inhabitants and the conquest of Fali. After this successful military campaign, Muhammad returned to Sindan. Another notable figure in this narrative is Mahan ibn al-Fadl, Muhammad's brother. Mahan established his control over Sindan and demonstrated his allegiance to the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tasim-billah by sending him an extraordinarily large and long turban, a gesture symbolizing respect and submission.[8]
Conquest by Bhoja[edit]
Within a year of Bhoja's succession,Imran carried a vigorous policy fighting against zutts of kikan and Meds of Kutch and fort Sindan(in the southern district of Kutch) was already captured by al-Fadl ibn Mahan.[9][10]However,during the reign of Mihira Bhoja,the Arabs were driven out of Kutch and Kathiawad.[11]
“But the Hindus were under the sway of his brother, and they turned against Mahan, killed him and crucified him. Then later the Hindus got control of Sindan, but they left its mosque for the Moslems to assemble in and pray for the caliph"
— Kitab Futuh Al-buldan, [12]
Aftermath[edit]
The regions of Kutch and Kathiawad were annexed in the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty.These regions remained under Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty even during the reign of Bhoja's son,Mahendrapala.[13]The Abbasid Caliphs effectively lost control over the region of Sind around the year 257 A.H. (870-871 A.D.). This loss of control coincided with the rise of Ya'qub ibn Layth, who established an independent dynasty on the remnants of the Tahirid rule. In that year, the Caliph, unable to resist Ya'qub's power, formally recognized his authority by conferring upon him the governorship of Sind, Balkh, and Tukharistan. This was in addition to the regions of Sijistan and Kirman, which Ya'qub had already been ruling. The dynasty founded by Ya'qub ibn Layth, known as the Saffarid dynasty, did not last long. Around 288 A.H. (900-901 A.D.), the Saffarids were replaced by the Samanid dynasty from Transoxania. This change marked a significant shift in the political landscape of the region, with the Samanids taking over the territories previously controlled by the Saffarids.[14]
Reference[edit]
- ^ early-Hindu-islamic-conflict-richards. p. 96.
- ^ early-Hindu-islamic-conflict-richards. p. 96.
- ^ early-Hindu-islamic-conflict-richards. p. 96.
- ^ Al-Baladhuri, Ahmad ibn Jabir (1924). The Origins of the Islamic State, Vol. 2 [Kitab Futuh Al-Buldan]. Translated by Francis Clark Murgotten. New York: Columbia University. p. 233.
- ^ Al-Baladhuri, Ahmad ibn Jabir (1924). The Origins of the Islamic State, Part II. Translated by Francis Clark Murgotten. New York: Columbia University. pp. 225–229.
- ^ Ray, H. C. (1931). Dynastic History Of Northern India Vol. 1. p. 12.
- ^ K.m. Munshi. Glory That Was Gurjara Desa Ad 550 1300. p. 113.
- ^ Ray, H. C. (1931). Dynastic History Of Northern India Vol. 1. p. 13.
- ^ Ray, H. C. (1931). Dynastic History Of Northern India Vol. 1. p. 12.
- ^ early-Hindu-islamic-conflict-richards. p. 95.
- ^ R. C. Majumdar (2009). History and Culture of the Indian People, Volume 04, The Age Of Imperial Kanauj. Public Resource. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
- ^ Al-Baladhuri, Ahmad ibn Jabir (1924). The Origins of the Islamic State, Vol. 2 [Kitab Futuh Al-Buldan]. Translated by Francis Clark Murgotten. New York: Columbia University. p. 233.
- ^ Praful Kartha. The History Of The Gurjara Pratiharas Baij Nath Puri.
- ^ Ray, Hem Chandra (1973). The Dynastic History of Northern India (early Mediaeval Period). Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. pp. 12, 13.