-
Jibawin ?
- Jibawin is listed in Arab sources as the
builder of Multan's main temple. He is described as having ruled in
"ancient times". Nothing else about him is recorded.
- The Mauryan
Empire........................................316 - c. 250
- Bactria................................................c.
250 - c. 100
- Suren (within
Parthian hegemony)..........................100
- 60
- The
Kushanids and the
Kushanshahs...................c.
60 BCE - c. 300 CE
- The Guptas................................................300 - mid
400's
- The Hephthalites........................................400's - 565
- Sindh.....................................................550 - 712
-
Malik
Bajhara.............................................641 - ?
- In
641 AD, Multan was ruled over by Malik Bajhara, a relative of Rai Sehasi-II,
as governor. Chach, who was the successor of Sehasi-II, defeated Malik
Bajhara’s son and annexed Multan to Sindh, which remained a part of
Sindh during Chach dynasty.
- CHACH dynasty at Multan
- Korsiah S/o Chach.......................................... ? - 711
- He was brother of Dahar.
Korsiah was defeated by Muhammad bin Qasim and had to fled to Kashmir.
- Sri Tapanasa...........................................c.
712 - c. 717
- Sri tapanasa is not the
name of the ruler but means “of the sun”. Perhaps a reference
to the Sun Temple of Multan. Such pieces are of the pre-Islamic style of
the Multan mint. Silver Damma coins of
weight around 0.46 - 0.74 g is known.
Obverse:
Heavy stylized head
facing right within dotted border, bare forehead.
Reverse:
Stylized fire altar of three pellets / dots above a base, Sharada legend
around, Arabic "Lillah" (in God) on the altar base below dots.
-
Umayyad
Caliphate.........................................712 - 750
-
Abbasid
Caliphate.........................................750 - 892
- Amirs of Multan (Banu SAMA)
- Abd al-Malik..............................................717
- c. 720
- Abd al-Malik is probably the Governor (Amil)
of the al-Sindh province. It seems very likely that Abd al-Malik could
be the Umayyad Military Governor of Sindh Abd al-Malik ibn Misma, who
held office in Sindh and Multan a few years after the conqueror Muhammad
bin Qasim for ca. 717 to perhaps 720 (or earlier). According to the
historian Khalifah ibn Khayyat, Abd al-Malik was appointed by Adi ibn
Artah al-Fazari, the Governor of al-Basrah, but dismissed by the Caliph
only a few years later. His coins are extremely very rare. Placing his
coins within the sequence of the three-dot Multani coins is somewhat
problematic. They are heavy, show high quality engraving and calligraphy
and the use of a completely native reverse without any Kufic elements.
The Obverse
has three lines in Arabic as: "Lillah / Abd / al-Malik" (In Allah, Abd
al-Malik). Reverse:
Stylized fire altar of three dots, Sharada legend around. Silver damma (Qanhari
Dirham) coin of weight around 0.65g, references: Fishman-M25 varieties
is known for this ruler.
- Qad
Rabi...............................................c. 720 - c. 730
with...
- The title "Qad" (magistrate or judge) is given
on these rare coins. Might be a local administrator, an appointee of
Muhammad bin Qasim or his successors. Sindh province experienced much
turnoil under the mid-720s. There was probably a gap in the coinage
production, so dating these earliest issues is problematic. It is
possible that no coinage was struck during the period of internal strife
and civul war which lasted for a decade following the conquest of Sindh
and Multan until the Governor Junayd (Junaid) ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Murri
(c. 723-726) restored order in the Province. Coins with "Rabi fanasr" as
reference: Fishman-M27.1, M27.2 and M27.3 and coin with "Rabi qad" as
reference: Fishman-M27.4 and M27.5 are known. Uncertain transitional
type are as also known with reference Fishman-M28.1 and M28.2, legend
"Rabi fath" on the Obverse and "Muhammad Lillah" on Reverse. M28
varieties are considered as a join rule of Qad Rabi and Muhammad I.
- Muhammad
I.............................................c. 720 - c. 750
- The identity of this
Muhammad is unknown. He might have been an appointee of the Sindhi
governor, or he could have come from the old Hindu royal family which
might have regained the throne around 715 and accepted Islam in exchange
for official recognition. He issued coins on his name alone as well. Silver damma coin of
weight around 0.60g, references:
- A-4568 / Fishman-M26
varieties (without Kufic legends) are known as earlier type for this
ruler. Obverse:
Heavily stylized large head facing right within dotted border, corrupt
Sharada akshara "Sri" on forehead.
Reverse:
Stylized fire altar of three dots,
stylized
Sharada "Sri" above, "ta" to the left and "pa" to
the right, Arabic "Muhammad lillah
/ wa" written below the dots.
- Reference Fishman-M29.1
(without Kufic legends)
Obverse:
Heavily stylized
large head facing right within dotted border,
"(fa) nasr fath ghazi" (victorious conquering
warrior) written horizontally in three lines on the head.
Reverse:
Stylized fire altar of three dots,
stylized
Sharada "Sri" above, "ta" to the left and "pa" to
the right, Arabic "Muhammad lillah"
below, perhaps "wa" below that.
- Reference Fishman-M30.1
(without Kufic legends)
Obverse:
Heavily stylized
large head facing right within dotted border,
"fath ghazd" (conquering warrior) written
horizontally in two lines on the head.
Reverse:
Stylized fire altar of three dots,
stylized
Sharada "Sri" above, "ta" to the left and "pa" to
the right, Arabic "Muhammad lillah
/ wa" written below the dots.
- Reference Fishman-M31 varieties
(with Kufic legends -
without title "Amir") Obverse:
"Lillah / Fansar / Fath Ghaz / d" (In God, conquering warrior is
victorious). Reverse:
Stylized fire altar of three dots,
stylized
Sharada "Sri" above, "ta" to the left and "pa" to
the right, auxiliary marks around, Arabic
"Muhammad lillah" written below the dots.
- Reference Fishman-M32 varieties
(with Kufic legends - with
title "Amir") Obverse:
"Lillah / Fansar / Fath Ghaz / d" (In God, conquering warrior is
victorious). Reverse:
Stylized fire altar of three dots,
stylized
Sharada "Sri" above, "ta" to the left and "pa" to
the right, auxiliary marks around, Arabic
"Muhammad lillah /
amir" [Muhammad in God, Amir (commander)] written below the dots.
- Jalam
I.........................................................750s
Silver damma
coin of around weight 0.65g, References: A-4571A / Fishman-M33-37 is known
for this ruler. One of the most used legends on his M35 coins is:-
Obverse: Arabic "Allah wali / jalam wa /
fansar" (Allah is a friend of Jalam and makes him victorious) written
in three lines. Reverse: Three central pellets with Arabic "jalam lillah"
(Jalam in God) written below.
- Muhammad
II.....................................................late 8th century
Silver damma coin of weight around 0.58g,
References: A-4572 /
Fishman-M38-42 is known for this ruler. One of the most used legends on
his M40 coins is:- Obverse:
Arabic "Allah wali /
muhammad wa / fansar" (Allah is a friend of Jalam and makes him
victorious) written in three lines. Reverse: Three central
pellets, Arabic "muhammad lillah" (Muhammad in God) written below.
- Ahmed
I.........................................................c. 800s
- Silver damma coin of
weight around 0.58g, References: A-4573 / Fishman-M43-46 is known for this
ruler. One of the most used legends on his M45 coins is:-
Obverse: Arabic legend "Allah wali / ahmed
wa / wa nasir" (Allah is the protector of Ahmed and his helper) written
in three lines. Two dots at the bottom.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar of three dots,
stylized
Sharada "Sri" above, "ta" to the left and "pa" to
the right, auxiliary marks around, Arabic
"Ahmed lillah" (Ahmed in
God) written below the dots. M46 has "fansar" instead of "nasir" on
Obverse legends.
- Hassan
I.......................................................c. 800s
-
al-Rabi................................................c. 826 - c. 827
- Jalam
II...............................................c. 830 - c. 840
- Silver damma coin of
weight around 0.50g, References: A-4576 / Fishman-M51 is known for this
ruler. Obverse: stylized bust facing right with Nagari legend "sri"
written inside the head. Reverse: Three central pellets, Arabic legend "lillah
jalam" written below. Some of his coins were assigned to the pre-Islamic
governor Jaisimha bin Dahir but now disproved. Another type of silver
damma of this ruler has Nagari "sri jalama" written on the Obverse side
and having same pervious Reverse side. This coin is referred as A-4577 /
Fishman-52.
- Shibl..................................................c.
840 - c. 861
- Muhammad
III..............................................861 - 864
Silver damma coin of weight around 0.53g, References: A-4579 /
Fishman-M59 is known for this ruler. Obverse: Nagari legend "sri mihira
deva" (to the Sun God Mithra). Reverse: Three central pellets, Arabic
legend "lillah muhammad" written below.
- Asad al-Qurayshi.....................................892 - early 900's
opposed by...
- Silver damma coin of
weight around 0.54g, Referece: A-4581 / Fishman-M65/70, is known for
this ruler. Obverse: Nagari legend "srimad varaha" in three
lines. Reverse: Nagari text in upper area. Three
central pellets in the center. Arabic legend "lillah asad" written below.
This ruler is believed to rule in fl. AH 305 (918 CE).
- Hassan
II.......................................................c. Late 800s
- Ahmed
II.........................................c. Late 800s - c. Early 900s
- Munabbih
I................................................912 - 913
- He was earlier believed to rule in fl. AH 312
(925 CE) at Multan. Silver damma coin of weight around 0.54g,
References: A-4584 / Fishman-M73/75 is known for this ruler. Obverse: Nagari legend "sri adivaraha" (Adivaraha is the boar incarnation of
Vishnu). Reverse: Three central pellets, Arabic legend "lillah munabbih"
written below.
- Muhammad
IV............................................c. 913 - c. 920
- Munabbih
II............................................c. 920 - c. 930
- Fahad..................................................c.
930 - c. 940
- Silver damma coin of weight around 0.42g,
References: A-4587 / Fishman-M78/79, is known for this ruler. Obverse: Nagari legend "sri amara / siyaka" (Amarasiyaka means "immortal lion").
Reverse: Three central pellets, Arabic legend "lillah fahad" written
below.
- Harun..................................................c.
940 - c. 960
- A Qarmatian army under Abdullah al-Qarmati......................c.
900
- Independent Arab Rulers, perhaps
under Abbasid influence. All of these rulers are known to issue coins.
- Salih al-Ma'mun
(at
Multan)
- Silver damma of weight around 0.73g is known
for this ruler. Obverse: "(al-h)ajib / salih / (al-)m'mu- / -n" in four
lines. Reverse: "muhammad / rasul / Allah" in three lines. This coin is
extremely rare. The title "al-hajib" is uncertain, as only the last
three lines are visible. The name is clear, though it might be
interpreted as Salih bin al-Ma'mun, not the caliph al-Ma'mun, as he had
no son named Salih. The style seems much earlier, late Umayyad or early
Abbasid. It is discovered recently and probably unique.
- Mansur ibn
Ali
(at
Multan)
- Silver Damma of weight around 0.33g coin is
known to this ruler. He seems to be
of unknown governor at or near Multan or Mansura, probably early
Abbasid period by style. Obverse: kalima, with unread word
below. Reverse: "mansur / bin 'ali a- / l-nasir?" in three lines. This
coin is extremely rare.
- Fatimid Governors at Multan
- In 985 a coup led by an Ismai'ili agitator
aligned with the Fatimids toppled the last Sama emir of Multan. The new
dynasty was fanatically Shi'ite and allied with the Assasins of Alamut.
- al-Mu'izz (at
Multan).....................................953
- 975
- Isma'ili kalima on his AR 1/5 dirham (damma)
coins of around weight 0.44g are known for this ruler. It indicates that he was Governor of Multan under Fatimid rule.
Obverse legend: Isma'ili kalima. Reverse: legend around triangle, of which part is
quite clearly "al-mu'izz lidi- / -n Allah amir / al-mu'minin /
ma'add", of which more than 3 lines are visible. Extremely rare coin.
References: A-A708 / Nicol-510 / Lowick (Numismatic Digest #7, p.64).
The attribution to the Fatimid Imam is tentative, as the style seems too
early for al-Mu'izz. An alternative possibility is the much earlier
Abbasid caliph al-Mansur (754-775), but that seems too early. Probably
unique and unpublished, but struck from broad dies, so additional
specimens will be needed to read the entire legends.
- al-Aziz (at
Multan).......................................975
- 997
- 1/5 silver dirham (damma) coin of
weight around 0.56g with References: A-A708 / Nicol-859 / Lowick
(Numismatic Digest #7, p.65) is known for this ruler.
Obverse: Isma'ili kalima. Reverse: caliphal text "nizar abu /
mansur / al-imam al-'az- / -iz billah", of which about three lines are always
visible. Very rare coin. The denomination and mint place are confirmed
by the contemporary historian al-Muqaddasi, who visited Multan in AH 375
(985 CE).
- al-Hakim (at
Multan)......................................997
- 1021
- 1/5 silver dirham (damma) coin of
weight around 0.47g with Reference: A-A713 is known for this ruler.
Obverse: Isma'ili kalima. Reverse: caliphal text "al-mansur / abu
ali al-imam / al-hakim bi-amr / Allah", of which about three lines are
always visible. The dammas of al-Hakim are much rarer than
dammas of the previous Fatimid Imams.
Multan was taken by the Ghaznavid, briefly in 1005, then conquered in
1010-1011.
- SUMRA / SHAIBANID
(refer to Sindh)
- Jalam ibn Shaiban.........................................985 -
?
- Hamid ibn Jalam.............................................? - 997
- Nasr ibn Hamid............................................997 - ?
- Abu'l Fath Daud ibn Nasr....................................? -
Apr 1008
- The
Ghaznavids and
then
Ghurids of Afghanistan.......Apr 1008 - 1215
- Mahmud at Multan
(1011-1030) also issued silver damma of weight around 0.43g. Reference:
A-4593. Obverse: Sunni kalima with "haqqan" written below. Reverse: name
of titles of Mahmud in 4 lines (yamin al-dawla / wa amin al-milla /
mahmud bin / nasir al-din). Very rare coin. Stylistically and
calligraphically identical to the last Fatimid
issues of Multan, seized by the Ghaznavid briefly in 1005, permanently
in 1011.
- A anonymous silver
damma, ca. 1010-1040, with weight around 0.39g is also known. Obverse:
kalima with what appears to be an unread word or name below. Reverse:
Surah Ikhlas with a fancy rosette in the center. This could possibly one
of the local governors at or near Multan during or shortly after the
time of the Ghaznavid ruler Mahmud (999 - 1030). Extremely rare coin.
- Sukhpal (governor)..............................Apr
1008 - ?
- Fall of Multan, flight
of Abul Fateh Daud, its Ismaili ruler with Mahmud Ghazni and Sukhpal was
appointed governor of Multan.
- Ai'i al-Karmani..............................late
1100's - early 1200's
-
Delhi....................................................1215 - 1397
- Ainul Mulk Mahru (governor).........................1352
- 1365
-
The Timurids.............................................1397 - 1413
-
Dehli
(restored).........................................1397 - 1438
- LANGAH
- Multan had for many years been a province of
the Delhi sultanate but with the weakening of that kingdom, and the lack
of a governor nominated by the ruler at Delhi, the inhabitants, in 1438,
had chose as their ruler Shaikh Yusuf Quaraishi. He was a mild, but
inexperienced ruler, and was soon deposed by Sahra Langah, who
founded a dynasty that lasted some 90 years. He reigned for sixteen
years and was succeeded by his energetic son, Sultan Husain I who
managed to extend his territories and fought off attempts to reinstate
Shaikh Yusuf, who had taken refuge with the Delhi sultan. Eventually
Husain signed a peace treaty with Sikandar Lodi of Delhi, and being old,
abdicated in favour of his son Firuz. Firuz turned out to be a worthless
ruler and was assassinated, whereupon, Husain resumed the reins of power
and nominated his grandson Mahmud as his heir. Husain died in 1502.
Mahmud's abilities as ruler were disappointing and it was not long
before he fell out with his minister, and as a result of the ensuing
conflict, lost territory. Nevertheless, he continue to rule until 1527
and was followed by his young son Husain II. By this time, the Arghuns
were in power in lower Sind and captured Multan. Not long afterwards,
Multan became part of the Mughal Empire.
- Shaikh Yusuf al-Quaraishi................................1438 - 1440
- Qutb ud-Din Shah Sahra Langah............................1440 - 1456
- Husain Langah I S/o Sahra Langah.........................1456 - 1502
- Mahmud Langah............................................1502 - 1527
- Husain Langah II S/o Mahmud Langah.......................1527 - 1528
-
The Mughals..............................................1528 - 1730's
- Various coins have been produced by Mughal
Emperors at Multan. Two of such attractive coins; Falus by Akbar (1556-1605) and
Rupee by Ahmad Shah Bahadur (1748-1752) can be viewed at above web link.
- Abdul Samad Khan................................................fl. 1730's
-
The Mughals (restored).................................1730's - 1752
-
Kabul,
but
under constant attack by the Sikh Khalsa......1752 - 1816
- Taimur Shah minted coins on his name as Nizam (Governor) at
Multan (1757-1772 CE).
- Muzzafar Khan Saddozai...................................1779 - 1818
-
Sikh Empire..............................................1818 - 1848
- Diwan Mul Raj Singh.............................................1840's
- Great
Britain...................................................1848
- Sardar Khan Singh...............................................1848 opposed
by...
- Diwan Mul Raj Singh (restored),
in
rebellion against Britain....1848 to 1849
- Great
Britain............................................1849 - 1947
- To
Pakistan..............................................1947 - date
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