Chacha Dynasty

The Brahmin dynasty (), also known as the Chacha dynasty or Silaij dynasty, was a Sindhi Hindu dynasty that ruled the Sindh region, after usurping and overthrowing the Buddhist Rai dynasty of Sindh. Most of the information about its existence comes from the ''Chach Nama'', a historical account of the Chach-Brahmin dynasty.

The members of the dynasty continued to administer parts of Sindh under the Umayyad Caliphate's Caliphal province of Sind after it fell in 712. These rulers include Hullishāh and Shishah.

History

The dynasty was founded by a Brahmin named Chach of Aror after he married the widow of Rai Sahasi II and usurped the Buddhist Rai dynasty. His claim was further secured by the killing of Rai Sahasi II's brother.

The casus belli for the Ummayad invasion was Sindhi pirates seizing tribute sent from the king of Serendib to the Ummayad Caliph. For the campaign Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan granted a large army to the governor Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, but no attempt was made to annex Sindh due to the caliph's death. Under his son and successor Al-Walid I, the general Muhammad bin Qasim led Islamic invasion of Sindh in 712.

During the conflict local Buddhist clans who maintained loyalty to the previous Rai dynasty such as the Jats, allied themselves with the Ummayads against Dahir. The last Hindu king of Sindh Raja Dahir was killed during the battle of Aror and Sindh was annexed into the Ummayad Caliphate. However, significant medieval Muslim chronicles such as the ''Chach Nama'', ''Zainul-Akhbar'' and ''Tarikh-I-Baihaqi'' refute this as those have recorded battles between Jats and forces of Muhammad ibn al-Qasim.Chapter by S Jabir Raza ''Passages in the Chachnama, Zainul-Akhbar And Tarikh-i-Baihaqi'', Text and Translation, from the book ''The Jats, Their Role and contribution to the socio-Economic Life and Polity of North and North-West India'', Volume 2, pp. 43–52 At battle of Aror (Rohri) Muhammad ibn al-Qasim was met by Dahir's forces and the eastern Jats in battle., pp=201–205.

Rulers

The known rulers of the Brahmin dynasty are:
* Chach ()
* Chandar ()
* Dāhir ( from Alor)
*Bachera (Vajra) in Siwistan
** Jaisimba (Jaisiah) - the son of Dahir: After the death of Umayyad governor Hajjaj (r. 692-714) in 714 CE, Jaisimba reconquered the Brahmanabad during the reign of Umayyad caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik (r. 715-717). Jaisimba was later killed in a battle with Umayyad governor of Sindh, Junayd ibn Abd ar-Rahman al-Murri (r. 723 to 726 CE).Sailendra Nath Sen, 1999, Ancient Indian History and Civilization, New Age International Publishers, pp-347-348.

* Dahirsiya ( from Brahmanabad)
Under the Umayyad Caliphate:
* Hullishāh ()
* Shishah ()

File:Sindh. Chach of Alor. Pracandendra. Circa 632-671 CE. AR Damma (11mm, 0.64 g, 2h). Crowned head right; swastika to right Large trident.jpg, center, upright=1.5, Sindh. Chach of Alor. Pracandendra. Circa 632-671 CE. AR Damma (11mm, 0.64 g, 2h). ''Obverse'': Crowned head right; swastika to right. ''Reverse:'' Large trident
File:Sindh. Multan. ‘Śri Tapana’. Circa 675-700 CE. AR Damma (12mm, 0.62 g, 8h) Head right; śri in Brahmi on forehead Stylized fire altar surmounted by three pellets; tapan and rja in Brahmi around.jpg, Sindh. Multan. ‘Śri Tapana’. Circa 675-700 CE. AR Damma (12mm, 0.62 g, 8h) Head right; śri in Brahmi on forehead Stylized fire altar surmounted by three pellets; tapan and rja in Brahmi around

External links

, -

, -

See also

* List of monarchs of Sindh

References

History of Sindh
History of Punjab
History of Balochistan
History of Gujarat
History of Rajasthan
Hindu dynasties
Medieval Indian dynasties
Former monarchies in Pakistani history
Dynasties of Pakistan

{{India-hist-stub