Soomra dynasty: Difference between revisions

Soomra dynasty
1026–1356 (Continued in exile until 1440 in Umerkot)
Capital	Thari (in present-day Badin District in Sindh), and Thatta
Common languages	Sindhi (native language) Arabic (liturgical language)
Religion	Shia Ismaili Islam
Government	Monarchy
History
• Soomra dynasty begins	1026
• Soomra dynasty ends	1356 (Continued in exile until 1440 in Umerkot)
Preceded by Succeeded by Habbari dynasty Samma dynasty

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Ancient Palaeolithic Soanian culture, c. 500,000 – 250,000 BCE Neolithic Mehrgarh, c. 7000 – c. 3000 BCE Indus Valley Civilisation, c. 3300 – c. 1700 BCE Vedic Civilization, c. 1500 – c. 500 BCE Achaemenid Empire, c. 550 – c. 330 BCE Gedrosia, c. 542 – c. 330 BCE Gandhara, c. 518 – c. 330 BCE Arachosia, c. 518 – c. 330 BCE Hindush, c. 517 – c. 330 BCE Sattagydia, c. 516 – c. 330 BCE Ror dynasty, c. 489 – c. 450 BCE Macedonian Empire, c. 329 – c. 323 BCE Arachosia, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Gedrosia, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Paropamisadae, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Porus, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Taxiles, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Mauryan Empire, c. 322 – c. 200 BCE Seleucid Empire, c. 312 – c. 63 BCE Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, c. 190 – c. 140 BCE Indo-Greek Kingdom, c. 170 – c. 50 BCE Indo-Scythian Kingdom, c. 110 BCE – c. 95 CE Apracharajas, c. 25 BCE – c. 50 CE Paratarajas, c. 120 – c. 300 CE
Classical Parthian Empire, c. 90 BCE – c. 25 CE Indo-Parthian Kingdom, c. 25 – c. 80 CE Kushan Empire, c. 60 – 345 CE Sasanian Empire, c. 250 – 655 CE Indo-Sasanians, c. 240 – 410 CE Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom, c. 240 – 410 CE Gupta Empire, c. 345 – c. 455 CE Rai dynasty, c. 415 – 644 CE Hephthalite Empire, c. 450 – 560 CE Brahman dynasty, c. 641 – 725 CE
Medieval Caliphate, c. 643 – 860 CE Rashidun Caliphate, c. 643 – 661 CE Umayyad Caliphate, c. 670 – 860 CE Pala Empire, c. 770 – 850 CE Habbari dynasty, c. 841 – 1024 CE Hindu Shahi, c. 870 – 1010 CE Samanid Empire, c. 905 – 999 CE Ghaznavids, c. 999 – 1186 CE Soomra dynasty, c. 1024 – 1351 CE Ghurid dynasty, c. 1170 – 1215 CE Delhi Sultanate, c. 1206 – c. 1526 CE Mamluk dynasty, c. 1206 – c. 1290 CE Khalji dynasty, c. 1290 – c. 1320 CE Tugluq dynasty, c. 1320 – c. 1413 CE Sayyid dynasty, c. 1414 – c. 1451 CE Lodhi dynasty, c. 1451 – c. 1526 CE Mongol Empire, c. 1221 – c. 1327 CE Chagatai Khanate, c. 1225 – c. 1485 CE Ilkhanate, c. 1256 – c. 1353 CE Raees dynasty, c. 1320 – 1620 CE Katoor dynasty, c. 1570 – c. 1947 CE Samma dynasty, c. 1351 – c. 1524 CE Arghun dynasty, c. 1520 – c. 1554 CE Mughal Empire, c. 1526 – c. 1707 CE Bombay Presidency, c. 1618 – c. 1947 CE Suri dynasty, c. 1540 – c. 1556 CE Tarkhan dynasty, c. 1554 – 1591 CE
Early modern Durrani Empire, c. 1747 – c. 1826 CE Las Bela, c. 1802 – c. 1947 CE Misl, c. 1716 – c. 1799 CE Maratha Empire, c. 1758 – c. 1760 CE Sikh Empire, c. 1799 – c. 1849 CE British Raj, c. 1858 – c. 1947 CE Independence Movement
Modern Pakistan, c. 1947 CE – present Dominion of Pakistan, c. 1947 – 1956 CE Islamic Republic, c. 1956 CE – present
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The Soomra dynasty were rulers of Sindh and adjacent regions, who were based in Thatta, located in present-day Pakistan. Their origins are variously claimed to be Arab, indigenous Sindhi, or Rajput. Beginning with the reign of Soomar, the dynasty ruled Sindh, in the northwest part of the Indian subcontinent from 1026 to 1356,^[1] and re-established local rule over Sindh after a period of several centuries of Arab rule.^[2] Despite their fall, Soomra culture and traditions continued to deeply impact Sindh for the next several centuries.^[3]

In 711 CE, Muhammad Bin Qasim extended Umayyad rule to Sindh, making it the easternmost province of the Umayyad empire based in Damascus.^[4] Under Umayyad rule, the Arab Habbari dynasty was established as a vassal state of the Umayyads, before ruling semi independently between the 9th and 11th centuries from their capital at Mansura.^[5]

The Umayyad Caliphate was overthrown by the Abbasids of Baghdad in 850,^[4] and the Habbari state continued to rule mostly independently, despite nominal recognition from the Abbasids.^[6] The Arab Habbari state was then invaded in 1010 by Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi,^[6] who believed the Abbasids of to be the rightful caliphs and sought to extinguish any remnants of Umayyad influence in Sindh by sacking Mansura.^[7]

Ghaznavi was unable to hold Sindh following his sacking of Mansura.^[7] In place of him, the local Soomro tribe established the Soomra Dynasty, and began to govern Sindh as a vassal state of the Abbasid Caliphate.^[4] Soomro historians regarded their first sultan to be Khafif, although modern research suggests that Khafif was the last Habbari sultan, rather than the first Soomra sultan.^[8]

The Soomro tribe were one of the first tribes in Sindh to convert to Islam, and had become wealthy at Mansura.^[4] Their origins were claimed to be Arab, although they were most likely indigenous Sindhis,^[9] with a ruling elite that also had mixed origins from Arab officers who were encouraged to intermarry with local Sindhis under Umayyad rule.^[7] Their name, in fact, may be derived from the city of Samarra in Iraq.^[10] They sometimes are claimed to be of Rajput descent,^[10][2] although no definitive evidence exists which corroborates that claim.^[11] Despite conversion to Islam, they continued to maintain several Hindu customs and traditions.^[7]

Under the rule of the second Soomra sultan, Soomra rule was extended northward until Multan and Uch.^[7] During the early 11th century, an Ismaili missionary from the Fatimid Caliphate named Abdullah visited Sindh to spread Isma'ilism, resulting the Sindh, Multan, and Uch becoming centers of Ismaili Shi'ism.^[9] Around the same time, large numbers of Sunni Sufi missionaries from Persia and Central Asia entered Sindh, and would eventually lead to large numbers of Sindhis converting to Islam.^[9] Both the Shia and Sunni traditions peacefully coexisted in Sindh.^[7]

In the late 1000s-early 1100s, Soomra control was extended southwards to the regions of Kutch and Kathiawar in the modern-day Indian state of Gujarat under the rule of Sanghar, and later under his son Khafif-ll.^[7] Following his death, Sanghar's wife Hamoon attempted to usurp the Soomra throne for herself, though her efforts were quickly crushed by Soomra nobles.^[7]

In the late 1100s, Muhammad Ghori invaded Sindh, leading to struggles over Kutch with the neighboring Samma dynasty.^[7] In the 1220s, Jalaluddin Mingburnu of Khwarezm sacked Sindh, and briefly occupied the Soomra port of Debal.^[7]

The Soomros ruled as Abbasid vassals until the Siege of Baghdad (1258), after which they began to rule independently.^[10] Soomro rule over Sindh was weakened in the 1330s as the River Indus shifted course, disturbing Sindh's economy.^[12]

The Soomra dynasty's rule over Sindh largely ended when the last Soomra king was defeated by Alauddin Khalji, the second king of the Khalji dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.^[13][14] They continued to rule pockets of territory in the Thar desert around Umerkot until the mid 1400s.^[7]

Soomro historians regarded their first sultan to be Khafif, although he may have been in fact the last Habbari sultan. Consensus lists the following as Soomro rulers:^[7]

1. Sardar Soomar; 1025-1030
2. Ibn Soomar Rajpal, also known as Dodo-l; 1030-1054
3. Bhoongar-l, the son of Khafif, the last Habbari ruler of Mansura; 1054-1068
4. Dodo-ll; 1068-1089
5. Sanghar; 1089-1107. First three years under the care of his sister Tari who acted as regent
6. Khafif-ll, son of Dodo-ll; 1107-1142
7. Umar-l; 1142-1181
8. Dodo-lll; 1181-1195
9. Bhoongar-ll; 1195-1226
10. Ganhwar; 1226-1242
11. Muhammad Toor; 1242-1251
12. Amrah Soomro; 1251-1256

Following the dissolution of Abbasid rule:

1. Ganhwar-ll; 1256-1259
2. Dodo-IV; 1259-1273
3. Tai; 1273-1296
4. Chanesar; 1296-1300
5. Bhoongar-lll; 1301-1315
6. Khafif-lll; 1315-1333
7. Dodo-V; 1333-1351

Following the collapse of Soomra rule in Sindh, and exile to Umarkot

1. Hamir Soomro; 1351-1355
2. Umar; 1355-1390
3. Bhoongar-V; 1390-1400
4. Hamir-ll; 1400-1440

• Dodo Bin Khafef Soomro III
• Shroff Sumra

• Khafif
• Ismailism

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