| Royal Title: | Maharaja/Sultan |
| Realm: | Kashmir |
| Coatofarms: | Kashmir_Princely_State_CoA.png |
| Coatofarmscaption: | Emblem of the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir |
| First Monarch: | Maharaja Gonanda I (c. 1400 BCE) |
| Last Monarch: | Hari Singh (1925–1952 CE) |
| Style: | Maharaja Sultan Raja |
| Residence: | Amar Mahal Palace Mubarak Mandi Palace Hari Niwas Palace Akhnoor Fort Pari Mahal Hari Parbat Fort Red Fort Gulab Bhavan Sher Garhi Palace Baghsar Fort |
| Appointer: | Hereditary |
| Began: | c. 1400 BCE |
| Ended: | 17 November 1952[1] |
| Pretender: | Karan Singh |
This is a list of the monarchs of Kashmir from the establishment of the Gonanda dynasty[2] around 1400 BCE until the cession of parts of Kashmir State by the Dogra dynasty to Indian Union in 1947 and then officially merging into the Republic of India in 1952.[3]
The total reign of the following kings is mentioned as 1266 years.
| Ruler | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Gonanda I | Contemporary of Yudhishthira, a relative of Magadha's ruler Jarasandha (Jarasindhu) (I.59). He was killed by Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna. | |
| Damodara I | Killed in a battle by Krishna. | |
| Wife of Damodara. She was pregnant at the time of her husband's death, and Krishna helped her ascend the throne. | ||
| Gonanda II | Son of Yashovati and Damodara. Ruled as a minor over Kashmir, during the Kurukshetra War. Killed by Parikshit.[4] | |
| 35 kings (names lost) | A manuscript titled Ratnakar Purana supposedly contained these names, and was translated into Persian by the orders of the later Muslim ruler Zain-ul-Abidin. The purported original manuscript as well as its translation are now lost. A Muslim historian named Hassan is said to have obtained a copy of the translation, and the later Muslim historians provided a fabricated list of 35 names ending in -Khan.Some sources claim that after Gonanda II was killed, Parikshit handed over Kashmir to his second son Harnadeva. This gave rise to the Pandava Dynasty of Kashmir. Harnadeva lost a succession war against Janamejaya, and so he remained the King of Kashmir. The last ruler was Bhagavanta, who was defeated by Lava in 1752 BCE.[5] | |
| Lava | A descendant of Gonanda I, who belonged to the Naga Dynasty and defeated King Bhagavanta of the Pandava Dynasty of Kashmir in 1752 BCE. He laid the foundation of Kashmira Naga Dynasty, a sub-division of the Gonanda Dynasty (I). He established a city named Lolora (Lolab) in Kashmir. According to the Rajatarangini, there were 84 lakh stone-walled houses in it. | |
| Kusheshaya | Son of Lava | |
| Khagendra | Son of Kushyendra | |
| Surendra | Son of Khagendra. Surendra was the first Buddhist king of Kashmir who established the Buddhist culture of Saman culture in Kashmir. | |
| Godhara | Belonged to a different family from Lava's dynasty (I.95) | |
| Suvarna | Known for constructing a canal named Suvarnamani | |
| Janaka | Unsuccessfully invaded Persia | |
| Shachinara | Died childless | |
| Great-grandson of Shakuni and son of Shachinara's first cousin. Built a great city called Srinagara (near but not same as the modern-day Srinagar). In his days, the mlechchhas (foreigners) overran the country, and he took sannyasa. According to Kalhana's account, this Ashoka would have ruled in the 2nd millennium BCE, and was a member of the dynasty founded by Godhara. Kalhana also states that this king had adopted the doctrine of Jina, constructed stupas and Shiva temples, and appeased Bhutesha (Shiva) to obtain his son Jalauka. Despite the discrepancies, multiple scholars identify Kalhana's Ashoka with the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, who adopted Buddhism. Although "Jina" is a term generally associated with Jainism, some ancient sources use it to refer to the Buddha. | ||
| Jalauka (Jaloka) | A staunch Shaivite, who constructed several Shiva temples. He rid the country from the mlechchhas (foreigners, possibly Greco-Bactrians). | |
| Damodara II | Devout Shaivite. Built a new city called Damodarasuda, and a dam called Guddasetu. | |
| Hushka, Jushka, and Kanishka | Buddhist kings of Turashka origin (according to Kalhana). The third king is identified with Kanishka of the Kushan Empire.[6] | |
| Abhimanyu I | A Shaivite during whose reigns Buddhists also flourished. Because of the rising Buddhist influence, people stopped following the Shaivite Nāga rites prescribed in the holy text Nilamata Purana. This angered the Nāgas, who heavily persecuted the Buddhists. To avoid this disorder, the king retired. A Brahmin named Chandradeva restored Shaivite rites by worshipping Shiva. |
The Gonanda dynasty ruled Kashmir for 1002 years.
| Ruler | Reign | Ascension year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gonanda III | 35 years | 1182 BCE | Gonanda III founded a new dynasty. (I.191) He belonged to Rama's lineage, and restored the Nāga rites | |
| Vibhishana I | 53 years, 6 months | 1147 BCE | ||
| Indrajit | 35 years | 1094 BCE | ||
| Ravana | 30 years, 6 months | – | A Shivalinga attributed to Ravana could still be seen at the time of Kalhana. | |
| Vibhishana II | 35 years, 6 months | 1058 BCE | ||
| Nara I (Kinnara) | 40 years, 9 months | 1023 BCE | His queen eloped with a Buddhist monk, so he destroyed the Buddhist monasteries and gave their land to the Brahmins. He tried to abduct a Nāga woman, who was the wife of a Brahmin. Because of this, the Nāga chief burnt down the king's city, and the king died in the fire. | |
| Siddha | 60 years | 983 BCE | Siddha, the son of Nara, was saved from Nāga's fury, because he was away from the capital at the time. He was a religious king, and followed a near-ascetic lifestyle. | |
| Utpalaksha | 30 years, 6 months | 923 BCE | Son of Siddha | |
| Hiranyaksha | 37 years, 7 months | 893 BCE | Son of Utpalaksha | |
| Hiranyakula | 60 years | 855 BCE | Son of Hiranyaksha | |
| Vasukula (Mukula) | 60 years | 795 BCE | Son of Hiranyakula. During his reign, the Mlechchhas (possibly Hunas) overran Kashmir. | |
| Mihirakula | 70 years | 735 BCE | According to historical evidence, Mihirakula's predecessor was Toramana. Kalhana mentions a king called Toramana, but places him much later, in Book 3. According to Kalhana, Mihirakula was a cruel ruler who ordered killings of a large number of people, including children, women and elders. He invaded the Sinhala Kingdom, and replaced their king with a cruel man. As he passed through Chola, Karnata and other kingdoms on his way back to Kashmir, the rulers of these kingdoms fled their capitals and returned only after he had gone away. On his return to Kashmir, he ordered killings of 100 elephants, who had been startled by the cries of a fallen elephant. Once, Mihirakula dreamt that a particular stone could be moved only by a chaste woman. He put this to test: the women who were unable to move the stone were killed, along with their husbands, sons and brothers. He was supported by some immoral Brahmins. In his old age, the king committed self-immolation. | |
| Vaka (Baka) | 63 years, 18 days | 665 BCE | A virtuous king, he was seduced and killed by a woman named Vatta, along with several of his sons and grandsons. | |
| Kshitinanda | 30 years | 602 BCE | The only surviving child of Vaka | |
| Vasunanda | 52 years, 2 months | 572 BCE | "Originator of the science of love" | |
| Nara II | 60 years | 520 BCE | Son of Vasunanda | |
| Aksha | 60 years | 460 BCE | Son of Nara II | |
| Gopaditya | 60 years, 6 days | 400 BCE | Son of Aksha. Gave lands to Brahmins. Expelled several irreligious Brahmins who used to eat garlic (non-Sattvic diet); in their place, he brought others from foreign countries. | |
| Gokarna | 57 years, 11 months | 340 BCE | Son of Gopaditya | |
| Narendraditya I (Khingkhila) | 36 years, 3 months, 10 days | 282 BCE | Son of Gokarna | |
| Yudhisthira I | 34 years, 5 months, 1 day | 246 BCE | Called "the blind" because of his small eyes. In later years of his reign, he started patronizing unwise persons, and the wise courtiers deserted him. He was deposed by rebellious ministers, and granted asylum by a neighboring king. His descendant Meghavahana later restored the dynasty's rule. |
No kings mentioned in this book have been traced in any other historical source. These kings ruled Kashmir for 192 years.
| Ruler | Reign | Ascension year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pratapaditya I | 32 years | 167 BCE | Pratapaditya was a relative of a distant king named Vikrmaditya (II.6). This Vikramaditya is not same as the Vikramaditya of Ujjain, who is mentioned later as a patron of Matrigupta. | |
| 32 years | 135 BCE | Son of Pratapaditya | ||
| Tungjina I | 36 years | 103 BCE | Shared the administration with his queen. The couple sheltered their citizens in the royal palace during a severe famine resulting from heavy frost. After his death, the queen committed sati. The couple died childless. | |
| Vijaya | 8 years | 67 BCE | From a different dynasty than Tungjina. | |
| Jayendra | 37 years | 59 BCE | Son of Vijaya: his "long arms reached to his knees". His flatters instigated him against his minister Sandhimati. The minister was persecuted, and ultimately imprisoned because of rumors that he would succeed the king. Sandhimati remained in prison for 10 years. In his old age, the childless king ordered killing of Sandhimati to prevent any chance of him becoming a king. He died after hearing about the false news of Sandhimati's death. | |
| Sandhimati alias Aryaraja | 47 years | 22 BCE | Sandhimati was selected by the citizens as the new ruler. He ascended the throne reluctantly, at the request of his guru Ishana. He was a devout Shaivite, and his reign was marked by peace. He filled his court with rishis (sages), and spent his time in forest retreats. Therefore, his ministers replaced him with Meghavahana, a descendant of Yudhishthira I. He willingly gave up the throne. |
See main article: Gonanda dynasty (II).
| Ruler | Reign | Ascension year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 years | 25 CE | Meghavahana was the son of Yudhisthira I's great-grandson, who had been granted asylum by Gopaditya, the king of Gandhara. Meghavahana had been selected the husband of a Vaishnavite princess at a Swayamvara in another kingdom. The ministers of Kashmir brought him to Kashmir after Sandhimati proved to be an unwilling king. Meghavahana banned animal slaughter and compensated those who earned their living through hunting. He patrnozed Brahmins, and set up a monastery. His queens built Buddhist viharas and monasteries. He subdued kings in regions as far as Sinhala Kingdom, forcing them to abandon animal slaughter. | ||
| Shreshtasena (Pravarasena I / Tungjina II) | 30 years | 59 CE | Son of Meghavahana | |
| 30 years, 2 months | 89 CE | Son of Shreshtasena, assisted by his brother and co-regent Toramana. The king imprisoned Toramana, when the latter stuck royal coins in his own name. Toramana's son Pravarasena, who had been brought up in secrecy by his mother Anjana, freed him. Hiranya died childless. Several coins of a king named Toramana have been found in the Kashmir region. This king is identified by some with Huna ruler Toramana, although his successor Mihirakula is placed much earlier by Kalhana. | ||
| Matrigupta | 4 years, 9 months, 1 day | 120 CE | According to Kalhana, the emperor Vikramditya (alias Harsha) of Ujjayini defeated the Shakas, and made his friend and poet Matrigupta the ruler of Kashmir. After Vikramaditya's death, Matrigupta abdicated the throne in favour of Pravarasena. According to D. C. Sircar, Kalhana has confused the legendary Vikramaditya of Ujjain with the Vardhana Emperor Harsha (c. 606–47 CE).[7] The latter is identified with Shiladitya mentioned in Xuanzang's account. However, according to M. A. Stein, Kalhana's Vikramaditya is another Shiladitya mentioned in Xuanzang's account: a king of Malwa around 580 CE. | |
| 60 years | 125 CE | Historical evidence suggests that a king named Pravarasena ruled Kashmir in the 6th century CE. According to Kalhana, Pravarasena subdued many other kings, in lands as far as Saurashtra. He restored the rule of Vikramaditya's son Pratapshila (alias Shiladitya), who had been expelled from Ujjain by his enemies. Pratapshila agreed to be a vassal of Pravarasena after initial resistance. He founded a city called Pravarapura, which is identified by later historians as the modern city of Srinagar on the basis topographical details. | ||
| Yudhishthira II | 39 years, 8 months | 185 CE | Son of Pravarasena | |
| Narendraditya I (Lakshmana) | 13 years | 206 CE | Son of Yudhishthira II and Padmavati | |
| Ranaditya I (Tungjina III) | - | 219 CE | Younger brother of Narendraditya. His queen Ranarambha was an incarnation of Bhramaravasini. The Chola king Ratisena had found her among the waves, during an ocean worship ritual. | |
| Vikramaditya | 42 years | 519 CE | Son of Ranaditya | |
| Baladitya | 36 years, 8 months | 561 CE | Younger brother of Vikramaditya. He subdued several enemies. An astrologer prophesied that his son-in-law would succeed him as the king. To avoid this outcome, the king married his daughter Anangalekha to Durlabhavardhana, a handsome but non-royal man from Ashvaghama Kayastha caste. |
See main article: Karkota dynasty.
| Ruler | Reign | Ascension year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durlabhavardhana (Prajnaditya) | 38 years | 598 CE | |
| 60 years | 634 CE | ||
| 8 years, 8 months | 694 CE | ||
| Tarapida (Udayaditya) | 4 years, 24 days | 703 CE | |
| Muktapida (Lalitaditya I) | 36 years, 7 months, 11 days | 703 CE | |
| 1 year, 15 days | 739 CE | ||
| Vajraditya II (Bappiyaka / Vappiyaka / Lalitaditya II) | 7 years | 746 CE | |
| Prithivyapida I | 4 years, 1 month | 750 CE | |
| Sangramapida I | 7 days | 750 CE | |
| Jayapida (Vinayaditya); Jajja | 31 years; 3 years | 781 CE | |
| Lalitapida | 12 years | 793 CE | |
| Sangramapida II (Prithivyapida II) | 7 years | 805 CE | |
| Chippatajayapida (Brhspati / Vrihaspati) | 12 years | 812 CE | |
| Ajitapida | 37 years | 830 CE | |
| Anangapida | 3 years | 867 CE | |
| Utpalapida | 2 years | 870 CE |
See main article: Utpala dynasty.
| Ruler | Reign (CE) | |
|---|---|---|
| 853/855–883 | ||
| 883–902 | ||
| Gopalavarman | 902–904 | |
| Sankata | 904 | |
| 904–906 | ||
| Partha | 906–921 | |
| Nirjitavarman | 921–922 | |
| Chakravarman | 922–933 | |
| Shuravarman I | 933–934 | |
| Partha (2nd reign) | 934–935 | |
| Chakravarman (2nd reign) | 935 | |
| Shankaravardhana (or Shambhuvardhana) | 935–936 | |
| Chakravarman (3rd reign) | 936–937 | |
| Unmattavanti ("Mad Avanti") | 937–939 | |
| Shuravarman II | 939 | |
| Yashaskara-deva | 939 | |
| Varnata | 948 | |
| Sangramadeva (Sanggrama I) | 948 | |
| Parvagupta | 948–950 | |
| Kshemagupta | 950–958 | |
| Abhimanyu II | 958–972 | |
| Nandigupta | 972–973 | |
| Tribhuvanagupta | 973–975 | |
| Bhimagupta | 975–980 | |
| 980–1009/1012 |
See main article: Lohara dynasty.
| Ruler | Ascension year (CE) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sangramaraja (Samgramaraja / Kshamapati) | 1003 CE | |
| Hariraja | 1028 CE | |
| 1028 CE | ||
| Kalasha (Ranaditya II) | 1063 CE | |
| Utkarsha | 1089 CE | |
| died in 1101 CE | ||
| 1101 CE | ||
| Sussala | unknown | |
| Jayasimha | 1111 CE | |
| Paramanuka | 1123 CE | |
| Vantideva | until 1165 CE | |
| Vuppadeva | 1172 CE | |
| Jassaka | 1181 CE | |
| Jagadeva | 1199 CE | |
| Rājadeva | 1213 CE | |
| Samgrāmadeva | 1235 CE | |
| Laksmandadeva | 1273 CE | |
| Simhadeva | 1286 CE | |
| Sūhadeva | 1301 CE | |
| 13 November 1320 - December 1320 (as Maharaja of Kashmir), December 1320 - 25 November 1323 (as Sultan of Kashmir) | ||
| 1323 CE | ||
| 1338–1339 CE |
See main article: Kashmir Sultanate.
See main article: Rinchan.
| style= width=7% | No. | style= width=7% | Titular Name | style= width=7% | Personal Name | style= width=7% | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sadr'ud-Din Shah | Rinchan | 13 November 1320 – 31 December 1323 | ||||
See main article: Shah Mir dynasty.
| No. | Titular Name | Personal Name | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Shamsu'd-Dīn Shāh | Shāh Mīr | 4 July 1339 – 6 July 1342 |
| 3 | Jamshīd Shāh | Jamshīd | 6 July 1342 – 6 May 1343 |
| 4 | Alāu'd-Dīn Shāh | Alī Shēr | 6 May 1343 – 19 April 1354 |
| 5 | Shihābu'd-Dīn Shāh | Shīrashāmak | 19 April 1354 – 6 June 1373 |
| 6 | Qutbu'd-Dīn Shāh | Hindāl | 6 June 1373 – 24 August 1389 |
| 7 | Sikandar Shāh | 24 August 1389 – 31 May 1413 | |
| 8 | Alī Shāh | 31 May 1413 – 20 February 1418 | |
| 9 | Ghiyasu'd-Din Shah | 20 February 1418 – December 1419 | |
| – | Alī Shāh | December 1419 – 7 July 1420 | |
| – | Ghiyasu'd-Din Shah | 7 July 1420 – 5 April 1470 | |
| 10 | Haider Shāh | Hāji Khān | 5 April 1470 – 13 April 1472 |
| 11 | Hasan Shāh | Hasan Khān | 13 April 1472 – 19 April 1484 |
| 12 | Muhammad Shāh | 19 April 1484 – 14 October 1486 | |
| 13 | Fatēh Shāh | Fatēh Khān | 14 October 1486 – July 1493 |
| – | Muhammad Shāh | July 1493 – 1505 | |
| – | Fatēh Shāh | 1505 – 1514 | |
| – | Muhammad Shāh | 1514 – September 1515 | |
| – | Fatēh Shāh | Fatēh Khān | September 1515 – August 1517 |
| – | Muhammad Shāh | Muhammad Khān | August 1517 – January 1528 |
| 14 | Ibrahīm Shāh | Ibrahīm Khān | January 1528 – April 1528 |
| 15 | Nāzuk Shāh | Nādir Shāh | April 1528 – June 1530 |
| – | Muhammad Shāh | June 1530 – July 1537 | |
| 16 | Shamsu'd-Dīn Shāh II | Shamsu'd-Dīn | July 1537 – 1540 |
| 17 | Ismaīl Shāh | Ismaīl Khān | 1540 – December 1540 |
| – | Nāzuk Shāh | Nādir Shāh | December 1540 – December 1552 |
| – | Ibrahīm Shāh | Ibrahīm Khān | December 1552 – 1555 |
| – | Ismaīl Shāh | Ismaīl Khān | 1555 – 1557 |
| 18 | Habīb Shāh | Habīb Khān | 1557 – 1561 |
See main article: Chak dynasty.
| No. | Titular Name | Personal Name | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Muḥammad Humāyūn | Ghazi Shah | 1561 – 1563 |
| 20 | Nasiru'd-Din | Husain Shah | 1563 – 1570 |
| 21 | Zahīru'd-Din Muhammad Alī | Ali Shah | 1570 – December 1578 |
| 22 | Nasiru'd-Din Ghazi | Yousuf Shah | December 1578 – February 1579 |
See main article: Sayyid Mubarak.
| style= width=7% | No. | style= width=7% | Titular Name | style= width=7% | Personal Name | style= width=7% | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Mubarak Ghazi | Mubarak Baihaqi | February 1579 – November 1579 | ||||
| style= width=7% | No. | style= width=7% | Titular Name | style= width=7% | Personal Name | style= width=7% | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Lohar Ghazi | Lohar Khan | November 1579 – November 1580 | ||||
| – | Nasiru'd-Din Ghazi | Yousuf Shah | November 1580 – 14 February 1586 | ||||
| 25 | Ismā'īl Shah | Yakub Shah | 14 February 1586 – 8 August 1589 |
| Ruler | Portrait | Reign | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raja Sangram Dev | 1600 – 1625 | [12] | ||
| Raja Bhupat Dev | 1625 – 1650 | |||
| Raja Hari Dev | 1660 – 1690 | [13] | ||
| Raja Gajai Dev | 1690 – 1703 | |||
| Raja Dhruv Dev | 1703 – 1735 | |||
| Mian Ghansar Dev | 1735 – 1747 | |||
| Raja Ranjit Dev | 1747 – 1781 | |||
| Raja Braj Dev | 1781 – 1787 | |||
| Raja Sampuran Dev | 1787 – 1797 | |||
| Raja Jit Dev | 1797 – 1808 or 1812 | |||
| Direct Sikh Rule | 1808 or 1812 – 1820 | |||
| Raja Kishore Singh | 1820 – 1822 | |||
| Raja Gulab Singh | 1822 – 1846 | |||
See main article: Durrani dynasty and Durrani Empire.
See main article: Kingdom of Kashmir (1754-1762).
See main article: Sikh Empire.
| S. No. | Name | Portrait | Birth and death | Reign | Note | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maharaja Ranjit Singh | 13 November 1780 (Gujranwala) | 27 June 1839 (Lahore) | 5 July 1819 | 27 June 1839 | The first Sikh king | Stroke | ||
| 2 | Maharaja Kharak Singh | 22 February 1801 (Lahore) | 5 November 1840 (Lahore) | 27 June 1839 | 8 October 1839 | Son of Ranjit Singh | Poisoning | ||
| 3 | Maharaja Nau Nihal Singh | 11 February 1820 (Lahore) | 6 November 1840 (Lahore) | 8 October 1839 | 6 November 1840 | Son of Kharak Singh | Assassinated | ||
| 4 | Maharani Chand Kaur | 1802 (Fatehgarh Churian) | 11 June 1842 (Lahore) | 6 November 1840 | 18 January 1841 | Wife of Kharak Singh and the only female ruler of Sikh Empire | Abdicated | ||
| 5 | Maharaja Sher Singh | 4 December 1807 (Batala) | 15 September 1843 (Lahore) | 18 January 1841 | 15 September 1843 | Son of Ranjit Singh | Assassinated | ||
| 6 | Maharaja Duleep Singh | 6 September 1838 (Lahore) | 22 October 1893 (Paris) | 15 September 1843 | 16 March 1846 | Son of Ranjit Singh | Exiled | ||
See main article: Dogra dynasty and Jammu and Kashmir (princely state).
| Ruler | Portrait | Reign |
|---|---|---|
| Maharaja Gulab Singh | 16 March 1846 – 20 February 1856 | |
| Maharaja Ranbir Singh | 20 February 1856 – 12 September 1885 | |
| Maharaja Pratap Singh | 12 September 1885 – 23 September 1925 | |
| Maharaja Hari Singh | 12 September 1925 – 17 November 1952 | |