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History of Kashmir – Complete Chronology of Rulers
Are you interested in ancient history of Kashmir? Want to know who was First king of Kashmir? Or are you interested to know about Sikh/Afghan/Dogra rule in Kashmir? You have to come to right place. We have compiled this massive list of Kings/Rulers of Kashmir after a great deal of research.
| Gonada 1 | 3120-3103 B.C | First known ruler of Kashmir. Existed 20 years before Mahabharata war. Killed by Balarama and lost the war. |
| Damodara 1 | 3103 – 3090 B.C | Son of Gonada. Was never happy, wanted to take revenge of father death. Eventually got killed by Krishna |
| Yacovati | 3090-3075 B.C | She was Wife of Damodra 1 and was preganant when he was killed. Krishna declared her queen of Kashmir |
| Gonada 2 | 3075-3035 B.C | He was son of Yacovati and Damodara. He was killed after 40 years of rein |
The Pandava Dynasty
| Harnadeva | 3035-3005 B.C | He was the second son of Pariksliit, grandson of Arjuna, the third brother of Pandava. He fought with his brother Janmejaya for Hastinapur, but lost. So he left and wandered towards the hill, where he met a hermit and become his assistant. This hermit told him, that he will become King of Kashmir, so left for Kashmir. In Kashmir he joined the army of Gonada 2 and rose to become Prime minister. He then became greedy and betrayed Gonada 2, by getting him killed. He then took control of throne. He reigned for 30 years and died |
| Ramadeva | 3005-2936 B.C | He was son of Harnadeva. He reigned for 69 years. He conquered Punjab, Kabul and Multan and used to get daughters of other kings in his harem. He made many people slaves and with much wealth returned to Kashmir |
| Vyasadeva | 2936-2880 B.C | He reigned for 56 years. He married Kalabhawani dughter of king Jaswant of Marwar in svayamvara (maiden’s own choice) |
| Druna | 2800-2822 B.C. | He reigned for 58 years. He was a generous ruler.His wife, Margidevibuilt the temple of Margeshvara at the villape of Kuther. |
| Simhadeva | 2822-2768 B.C | He reigned for 54 years. The village Simhpur was founded by him. |
| Gopaldeva | 2768-2755 B.C | He reigned for 13 years and 3 months. He died of liver disease |
| Vijayananda | 2755-2730 B.C | He was younger brother of Gopaldeva. He reigned for 25 years. He built a grand temple of Vijayeshvara at Bijbihara |
| Sukhadeva | 2730-2686 B.C | He was son of Gopaldeva. He reigned for 44 years. |
| Rama Nanda | 2686-2629 B.C | He drowned Sukhadeva in liider river and took control of throne. He reigned for 57 years |
| Sandiman | 2629-2564 B.C | He was renowned for justice. He founded a big city at the place which now forms the bed of the Wular Lake, and called it Sandimatnagar, which today is known as Salbbatnagar. He constructed 21 temples of stone. He built The temple of Zeshteshvara on the Suliman hill. He reigned for 65 years |
| Marhandeva and Kamandeva | 2564-2509 B.C | Marhandeva ruled for 55 years. They were sons of Sandiman. Initially Marhandeva was on throne and Kamandeva was his minister. Eventauully they grew hostile to each other so kingdom was divided between them. While Marhandeva was a generous king, Kamandeva was a tyrant |
| Chandardeva | 2509-2457 B.C. | He reigned for 52 years. He had 360 wives and spent one day with each in a year. He was son of Marhandeva and killed Kamandeva and his son. |
| Ananda | 2457-2429 B.C. | He reigned for 28 years. He was very cruel king. |
| Drupadadeva | 2429-2378 B.C. | He reigend for 51 years . He was son of Ananda |
| Harnamdeva | 2378-2329 B.C | He was a drunkyard. Built vineyards . He forcefully took woman away from people. He reigned for 39 years before getting killed. |
| Sulkandeva | 2329-2311 B.C | He reigned for 28 years. He used to work only on Saturday and rest of the days he used to waste in luxuries and women |
| Sinaditya | 2311-2294 B.C | He was foolish king he was killed by his brother Mangaladitya |
| Mangaladitya | 2294-2255 B.C | He was a drunkyard ,gambler and a bad ruler |
| Khimdendra | 2355-2180 B.C | He was son Mangaladitya. He used to rape women by entering in houses in disguise.He raped wife of his minster Druna who eventually got him killed. |
| Bhimsena | 2189-2128 B.C | Son of Khimdendra, we was a wild, reckless prince and a drunkard |
| Indrasena | 2128-2082 B.C | Blhimsena’s son, Indrasena also encorgaed gambling and alchohol |
| Sundarsena | 2082-2041 B.C. | Son of Indrasena.He indulged in debauchery.He riegend for 41 years |
| Lava | 2041-1981 B.C | He founded a large city, named Lolau, in the Lolab valley. He reigned for 60years |
| Kushaeshya | 1981-1794 B.C | Reigned for 7 years |
| Khagendra | 1974-1944 B.C | He founded Kakapur and Khunmuh |
| Surendra | 1944-1901 B.C | He built town named saura. He was son of Khagendra |
| Godhara | 1901-1864 B.C | He reigned for 37 years |
| Suvarna | 1864-1829 B.C | Liberal prince |
| Janaka | 1820-1797 B.C. | He was like a father to peeople |
| Sachinara | 1797-1757 B.C | He reigned for 40 years |
| Galgendra | 1757-1712 B.C | Rajatarangini of Kalhana does not mention this king, but other sources do |
| Baladeva | 1712-1669 B.C | Rajatarangini of Kalhana does not mention this king, but other sources do |
| Nalsena | 1669-1644 B.C | Rajatarangini of Kalhana does not mention this king, but other sources do |
| Gokarna | 1644-1608 B.C | Rajatarangini of Kalhana does not mention this king, but other sources do |
| Prahlad | 1608-1597 B.C | Rajatarangini of Kalhana does not mention this king, but other sources do |
| Bambru | 1597-1589 B.C | Rajatarangini of Kalhana does not mention this king, but other sources do |
| Pratapashila | 1589-1553 B.C | Rajatarangini of Kalhana does not mention this king, but other sources do |
| Sangram Chandra | 1553-1552 B.C | Rajatarangini of Kalhana does not mention this king, but other sources do |
| Larik Chandra | 1552-1521 B.C | Rajatarangini of Kalhana does not mention this king, but other sources do |
| Biram Chandra | 1521-1476 B.C | Rajatarangini of Kalhana does not mention this king, but other sources do |
| Babighana | 1476-1459 B.C | Rajatarangini of Kalhana does not mention this king, but other sources do |
| Bhawant | 1459-1445 B.C | Rajatarangini of Kalhana does not mention this king, but other sources do |
The Maurya Dyansty Ashoka Jalauka – Built a temple on Shankaracyrya Moutain Damodara 2
The Kushana Dynasty Yueh – Chi Kadiphises 1 Kadiphises 2 Kanishka – The Fourth Buddhist Council of the Sarvastivada tradition were 500 monks gathered at Harwan was under his rule. Huviska – Aushkar near Budgam Jushka
Abhimanyu
Gonerdiya Dynasty Gonerda III Vibhishana Indrajit Ravana Vibishan II Nara – Burned thousand of Buddhist Monasteries in Kashmir Siddha Utpalalaksha Hiranyâiısha Hiranyakula Vasukukala Mihirakula .- Devotee of Shiva, Cruel and Anti Buddhist, Committed suicide Baka Kshitinanda Vasunanda Nara II Aksha Gopaditya Gokerna -Built Parihaspora His capital Narenditya Yudhishthira – Oppressive ruler, Worthless
Aditya Dynasty Pratapaditya Jakukas Tunjina Vijaya Jayendra Arya Raja
Gonerdiya Dynasty Méghavahana Pravarasena 1 Sreshtasena Hiranya & Toram à na Matrigupta Pravarasena 2 – Founder of Srinagar Yudishthra II Nandravat Ramaditya Vikramadatya Baladitya
Karkota Empire Durlabha vardhana – Son in law of Baladitya Pratıpaditya II – Son of Durlabhavardhana Chandrapira – Virtuous Prince, Son of Pratıpaditya II Tarapira – Tyrant, younger brother of Chandrapira Lalitaditya – Raised Kashmir to glory, started drainage system, used land for cultivation Kuvalayaditya Vajraditya -Son of Lalitaditya Prithivyapira Sangrámapira I Jajja Jayapira – Grandson of Lalitaditya Lalitapira Sangrámapira II. Chippatajayapira – Brihaspati Son of prostitute Ajitapira Anangapira Utpalapira
Vermma Dynasty
| Avantivarman | 855 | Engineering removal of boulders near baramulla, so that water can be drainer out of valley. He was founder of Sopor, Built 2nd temple at Avantipora |
| Chamkaravarman | 883 | He plundered wealth of other temples and built city and temples of Pattan. He was killed while in a tent with a domba girl |
| Gopálavarman | 903 | |
| Samaktavarman | 904 | |
| Sugandhá Rani | 905 | |
| Nirjitavarman | 906 | |
| Partha | 907 | |
| Nirjitavarman | 923 | |
| Chakravarman (2nd time) | 924 | |
| Suravarman | 935 | |
| Partha | 936 | |
| Chakravarman (2nd time) | 936 | |
| Unmattavanti | 938 |
| Yasaskara | 940 | |
| Samgramadeva | 948 | |
| Parvagupta | 950 | |
| Kshémagupta | 951 | |
| Abhimanyu 2 | 958 | Son of Abhimanyu, Didda Rani was his regent as he was infant |
| Nandigupta | 973 | |
| Tribhuvana | 975 | |
| Bhimagupta | 976 | |
| Didda Ráni | 981 | |
| Sangrámaraja II. | 1003 | Nephew of Dida |
| Hari Raja | 1028 | Lasted ony for 22 days |
| Ananta | 1028 | He was weak, most of the goversning was done by his wife suryamati |
| Kalasa | 1063 | Son of Ananta, Cruel King |
| Utkarsha | 1088 | Lasted ony for 22 days |
| Harsha | 1088 | Though a good king intially later he became in debt cause of demands for luxury. He died a mierable death, his palace was burned including his wives and children |
| Uchchal | 1100 | Eldest Nephew of Harsha |
| Sahla | 1110 | |
| Susaala | 1111 | Brother of Uchchal |
| Bhiksháchar | 1127 | |
| Jaya Sinha | 1127 | Eldest son of Uchchal |
| Paramana | 1149 | |
| Avanti Devi | 1159 | |
| Bopya Deva | 1166 | |
| Jassa Deva | 1175 | |
| Jaga Deva | 1193 | |
| Raja Deva | 1208 | Insulted Brahmans and plundered their wealth |
| Sangrama Deva | 1231 | |
| Rama Deva | 1247 | |
| Lakshmna Deva | 1268 | |
| SimhaDeva | 1281 | Terrible times, people were mostly in gambling and drinking. He fled to Kishtawar in unmanly wasy when Kashmir was attacked |
| SahaDeva | 1296 | Terrible times, people were mostly in gambling and drinking. |
| Rinchana | 1315 | Orginally a ladakhi. Rinchana killed commander in chief of Sahadeva and married his daughter Kota Rani. He made Shah mir his Wazir. Rinchana conversted to Islam and assumed title Sultan Sadrudin |
| Udyana Deva | 1323 | Brother of SimhaDeva. He married widow Kota Rani.He also fled like his brother when kashmir was invaded, but Shah Mir took control and defended the valley. Lal Ded was born this time |
| Kota Rani | 1338 | Her reign lasted for 5 months |
Sultans of Kashmir
| Shamas-ud-Din Shah Mir (Term I ) | 1339 | He desposed the rani. abolished many arbitrary taxes, stopped cruel methods of extortion and fixed the rate of land revenue at the rate of 1/6 of the gross produce. |
| Jamshed | 1342 | Son of Shah mir |
| Ala-ud-Din | 1343 | Younger Son of Shah mir |
| Shiab-ud-Din | 1354 | Son of Alauddin, successful administrator, He made no distinction between his Hindu and Muslim subjects |
| Qutub-ud-Din | 1373 | Brother of Shiab-ud-Din, business with justice and moderation |
| Sikandar Shah Miri (Sikander Butshikan) | 1389 | Idol breaker |
| Ali Shah | 1413 | Son of Sikandar |
| Zainul Abidin -Badshah | 1420 | Name Shah Rukh, Furthermore ferry-toll, bridge-toll (baj, Tangha), cess on arts and crafts (Rasum-i-Birfagaran) on boat men and the produce on lakes (Rasum-i-Mirbahri), tax on firewood (Wan-waziri) cattle (Gaw-Shumari)and trees (Sar-Darakhti) were exacted. |
| Haider Shah | 1470 | drunkard |
| Hassan Shah | 1472 | |
| Mohammad Shah (Term I) | 1484 | |
| Fate Shah (Term I ) | 1486 | |
| Mohammad Shah (Term II) | 1493 | |
| Fate Shah (Term II) | 1505 | |
| Mohammad Shah (Term III) | 1514 | |
| Fate Shah (Term III) | 1515 | |
| Mohammad Shah (Term IV) | 1517 | |
| Ibrahim Shah (Term I) | 1528 | |
| Nazuk Shah (Term I) | 1529 | |
| Mohammad Shah (Term V) | 1530 | |
| Shamas-ud-Din (Term II) | 1537 | |
| Ismail Shah (Term I) | 1540 | |
| Nazuk Shah (Term I) | 1540 | |
| Ibrahim Shah (Term II) | 1552 | |
| Ismail Shah (Term II) | 1555 | |
| Habib Shah | 1557-15612 |
