RAI DYNASTY

This topic is divided into 2 parts. 1. Rai Dynasty of Sindh and 2. Rai Dynasty.

1. Rai Dynasty of Sindh :

Map of Sindh (Rais), circa 550-600 CE

Government : Monarchy

History :

• Established : 489

• Disestablished : 632

Preceded by : Hind (Sasanian province)

Succeeded by : Brahmin dynasty of Sindh

Today part of : Sindh, Pakistan

The Rai dynasty (c. 489–632 CE) was a polity of ancient Sindh.

Background :

Numismatic evidence attends to the indirect influence of Sasanians over Sindh since under the reign of Shapur II. [a] In the last Sassanian mints discovered from the region — of Peroz I (r. 459-484) —, a new Brahmi legend "Ranaditya Satya" appears on the reverse, which was probably the name of the local ruler. [b] Sometime soon, Sindh appears to have fallen off the orbit of Sassanians who were reeling under Hephthalite invasions. The Rai dynasty's origin probably laid in this power vacuum.

Sources :

Sindh, as a region, had no extant histories until late-medieval era and our knowledge of Rai dynasty remains rudimentary. The lone literary source remains Chachnama. However, the historical accuracy of Chachnama remains disputed among scholars.[c] Nonetheless, its contents has since made to multiple Persian and Oriental histories of the region — Tarikh i Sind (17th c.), Tuhfatul karaam (18th c.), Gazettes etc.

No definitive epigraphic or archaeological evidence, pertaining to the dynasty, have been located. Alexander M. Fishman and Ian Todd speculates [d] a series of gold dinars and silver dammas — similar to the Ranaditya Satya mints, in deriving from Sassanian coinage but bearing different legends and different crown patterns — to have been minted by the Rais. The legends can be read as Sri Shahi Rasra(…), Sri Jayatak, Sri Harsharuk, and Sri Bharharsh. Most of these names match, albeit roughly, with speculative reconstructions obtained upon by Habib from the Chachnama — Diwaj > Diwaditya > Devaditya, Sahsi > Shahi Sri (?), and Sahiras > Sri Harsh. Ranaditya was likely Devaditya.

Rai dynasty coinage :

Ranaditya Satya

Sri Shahi Rasra

Sri Jayataka

Sri Harsharuka

Sri Bharharsha

Scholarship :

Pre-Islamic Sindh has been the subject of voluminous scholarship but only around the eve of Arab conquests; otherwise, the paucity of source materials remain a severe hindrance. Rai Dynasty has been yet to attract any significant scholarship except recent attention from numismatists.

Nonetheless, under the British Raj, as bureaucrats and amateur historians mined the Chachnama to justify their invasion of Khairpur, and presence in the subcontinent, Rai dynasty received attention. Alexander Cunningham proposed an alternate chronology (? - > 641 A.D.) — primarily on the basis of numismatic and literary evidence [e] — identifying the first two Rais as Huns and the later three as rulers of Zabulistan and Khorasan. [f] However, there exists little historical evidence to favor the proposition of Hunas ever making to Sindh and the bases of his hypothesis stands discredited in modern scholarship. Chintaman Vinayak Vaidya supported Cunningham's chronology but held the Rais to be descendants of Mauryas and Shudra, by caste. [g]

Rulers :

The Rais reigned for a period of 144 years c. 489 - 632 A.D. Their origins, caste status, and the precise details of rise remains unknown. They appear to have had familial ties with other rulers of South Asia including Kashmir, Kabul, Rajasthan, Gujarat etc. The first three kings were Rai Diwaji, Rai Sahiras I, and Rai Sahasi I. Nothing is known about them; their names are mentioned in a single line, where Wazir Buddhiman describes the territorial expanses and administrative structure of Rais under Rai Sahiras II to Chach.

Rai Sahiras II :

The Chachnama in its opening verses note Rai Sahiras II to be famed for his justice and generosity; his coffers overflowed with wealth. The kingdom was divided into four units, each under either a governor or a vassal. The southern unit which extended from the coasts of Arabian Sea to Lohana and Samona — including Nerun and Debal port — had its capital at Brahmanabad. The central unit had Sewistan as its capital and spanned across the areas around Jankan and Rujaban to the Makran frontier. The third unit extended over a vast area — Batia, Chachpur and Dehrpur — of western Sindh; Iskalanda was the capital. The fourth unit was centered around Multan, adjoining Kashmir.

Sahiras II met his death while attempting to unsuccessfully ward off an invasion by the Sassanian King of Nimroz into Kirman — he was portrayed as a valiant King who battled till death despite much of his forces deserting the battle; Makran and other unknown territories were lost in the conflict.

Rai Sahasi II :

Under his regime, the kingdom exhibited socioeconomic prosperity; Sahasi II is noted to be a benevolent ruler who chose to abide by his counsel. He was married to Sohman Devi.

During his regime, Chach, a poor learned Brahmin was inducted under minister/chamberlain Ram in the epistolary office — he impressed the King with his expertise and rose through the ranks quickly, eventually becoming his personal secretary after Ram's death. As Chach gained access to the interiors of palace, Devi became enamored of him and proposed for marriage but met with Chach's rejection; Chachnama explains that he did not wish to incur the King's wrath and swerve further away from the scriptural ideals of a Brahminic life. Yet, Chach accepted her request for providing company and their relationship blossomed. The King, ignorant of Chach's ways, continued to let him gain unprecedented control in the affairs of the state until his natural death.

Usurpation :

On Sahasi II's death, Devi proposed that Chach exploit the opportunity to be the next king of Aror. Chach conceded to Devi's plan and the news of Sahasi II's death was withheld from public as potential claimants to the throne; instead, they were incited against each other in a fatal internecine warfare. [h] Then Devi proclaimed that Sahasi II, though recovering, was unable to hold court and had appointed Chach as the caretaker ruler for his lifetime. The elites were coaxed in support and such a state of affairs, with Chach as the de-facto King, prevailed for about six months. However, the news of his death somehow made way to Sahasi II's brother — Rai Mahrit, then ruler of Chittor — who claimed to be the rightful heir of the throne and mounted a military offensive against Chach.

Chachnama notes Chach to have been ambiguous about the morality of taking on a legitimate successor before being prodded by Devi, who shamed his masculinity. After a victory, [i] Chach commissioned triumphal arches and held public feasts; soon, Devi had him declared as the heir to the throne, being a man of unsurmountable intellect and bravery, and would marry him with the approval of the court. Thus the Brahman dynasty was established, in what is portrayed in Chachnama, as the intrigues of a femme fatale working in conjunction with a willing-yet-ethical apprentice. Chach would later have to subdue protracted resistance from Bachhera, a relative of Sahasi II and the governor (or vassal) of Multan province.

Source :

https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Rai_dynasty

2. Rai Dynasty :

The Rai Dynasty (A.D. 507 to 642) rulers of Sindh were Buddhists of the Mauryan clan Jats. Rai was their title. Their capital was at Alor.

Territory :

Their state extended from Kashmir and Kannauj in the east, Makran and Kewal port in the west, Surat port in south, Kandahar, Sistan, Suleyman, Ferdan and Kekanan hills in the north.

History :

The chronology of Rai rulers of Sindh is as under :

• Rai Devagya

• Rai Meharsan

• Rai Sahasi

• Rai Meharsan II

• Rai Sahasi II

Rai Meharsan II had a war with Badshah Nimroz of Iran in which he was killed. After him Rai Sahasi II became the king. Once Sahasi Rai second fell ill. He called his minister to see the letters. The minister sent his munshi Chach for this purpose. The wisdom of Chach influenced the king and he appointed Chach to look after the palace. This way he got free entry into the palace. Chach developed illigal relations with the queen Suhanadi. Chach conspired with the Rani Suhanadi and killed Raja Sahsi Rai second and married with the queen and became ruler of Sindh starting a line of Brahmin rulership in samvat 689 (632 AD).

Rana Maharath, the ruler of Chittor, was brother-in-law of Raja Sahasi Rai. Rana Maharath attacked Chach but Rana was killed in the war in 632. After Chach his son Chandra became king of Sindh. Later after death of Chandra Raja Dahir became the ruler of Sindh.

Qanungo writes that Brahmans in Sindh prospered under the patronage of the native Jat princes till they became so powerful that about 10 A.H. Chach, the Brahman father of Dahir, - usurped the throne of his master, King Sahasi Ray II through the influence of the fair but faithless queen Suhandi, who had fallen in love with him. He married the widowed queen formally and reigned vigorously for 40 years, leaving behind him the reputation of a wise and enlightened prince. But he was an implacable foe of the Jats, the bulk of whom were reduced to serfdom He degraded the Jats and Luhanas and bound over their chiefs. He took hostages from them and confined them in the fort of Brahmanabad.

King Síharas :

Sir H. M. Elliot quoting Chachnama writes that Chroniclers and historians have related that the city of Alor, the capital of Hind and Sind, was a large city adorned with all kinds of palaces and villas, gardens and groves, reservoirs and streams, parterres and flowers. It was situated on the banks of the Síhún, which they call Mihrán. This delightful city had a king, whose name was Síharas, son of Sáhasí Ráí Sháhí. 1 He possessed great wealth and treasures. His justice was diffused over the earth, and his generosity was renowned in the world. The boundaries of his dominions extended on the east to Kashmír, on the west to Makrán, on the south to the shores of the ocean and to Debal, and on the north to the mountains of Kardán 2 and to Kaikánán. 3 He had established four maliks, or governors, in his territories.

• The first at Brahmanábád and the forts of Nírún, Debal, Lohána, Lakha, and Samma, down to the sea (daryá), were placed in his charge.

• The second at the town of Siwistán: under him were placed Búdhpúr, 4 Jankán, and the skirts of the hills of Rújhán to the borders of Makrán.

• The third at the fort of Aska-landa and Pábiya, 6 which are called Talwára and Chachpúr; under him were placed their dependencies to the frontier of Búdhpúr.

[p.139] :

• The fourth at the great city of Multán and Sikka, and Brahmapúr and Karúr, and Ashahár and Kumba, as far as the borders of Kashmír, were under his government.

He (the king) himself dwelt at the capital, Alor, and kept under his own rule Kardán, and Kaikánán and Banarhás. 3 He enjoined upon every one of his princes the necessity of being prepared for war, by keeping the implements of warfare, arms, and horses ready. He also ordered them to attend to the security of the country, the con¬ciliation of the subjects, and the reparation of the buildings, so that they might keep their districts and dependencies safe. Through¬out his dominions there was no disaffected person who could make any pretensions against the specification of his frontiers.

Suddenly, by the decree of God, the army of the king of Nímroz marched from Fárs to Makrán. 4 When Síharas heard this he went forth from the fort of Alor, 5 haughty in mind and careless in heart, with the main part of his army to encounter him. They joined battle, and when many brave men and tried warriors, on both sides, had been slain, the Persian army, placing their whole trust in the Almighty, made an assault, and broke and put to flight the army of Ráí Síharas. He himself stood firm, fighting for his name and honour, until he was killed. The king of Fárs then returned to Nímroz, and Ráí Sáhasí, son of Síharas, sat upon the throne of his father.

He established his authority in the country, and the four princes who had been appointed by his father submitted and assented to him, exhibiting every mark of obedience, piacing their wealth at his disposal, and supporting him with honesty and energy. The whole country was thus safely secured in the power of Ráí Sáhasí; and the people lived happily under his just and equitable rule. He had a chamberlain named Rám, son of Abi (?), a man of science and wisdom. 6 This man had full and general authority over all parts of the dominions of Ráí Sáhasí; no person could enter or leave the king's service but through him. The duties of chief secretary were entrusted to him, and Ráí Sáhasí had faith in his eloquent pen, and never doubted his rectitude.

[p.140] :

Chach, son of Siláíj, goes to the Chamberlain Rám.

The office of Chamberlain is conferred on Chach, son of Siláíj.

The Rání falls in love with Chach, and Chach refuses compliance.

Sáhasí Ráí dies and goes to hell.

Chach ascends the throne of Malik Sáhasí Ráí.

Chach fights with Mahrat (Chief of Jaipúr1 ) and kills him by stratagem.

Chach marries Rání Súbhan Deo.

Chach sends for his brother Chandar and establishes him in Alor.

Chach issues orders appointing Chandar his deputy.

Chach asks Budhíman, the minister, questions concerning the government.

* * * * *

Budhíman, the minister, bowed his head to the ground, and said, "May Ráí Chach live for ever, and may it be known to him, that this government was under the dominion of a sole king, and his chiefs were always obedient to him. When the country was ruled by Síharas, son of Díwáíj, and when he was conquered by the army of Fárs, Sáhasí succeeded to the empire. He similarly appointed all the four rulers to their territories, expecting them to exert themselves in the collection of the revenue and the protection of the country.

Source :

https://www.jatland.com/
home/Rai_Dynasty