History of Kashmir

Mir Syed Ali bin Shahab-ud-Din Hamadani (Persian: ) (1384-1314) was a Persian Sufi of the Kubrawi order, a poet and a prominent Shafi'i Muslim scholar. He was born on Monday, 12th Rajab 714 AH (1314 CE) in Hamadan and died in 786 AH (1384 CE) in Kunar and was buried in Khatlan. He was very influential in spreading Islam in Kashmir and has had a major hand in shaping the culture of the Kashmir valley. He was also known as "Shah Hamadhan" ("King of Hamadhan", Iran) and as Amir-i Kabir ("the Great Commander"). He wrote several short works on spirituality and Sufism. He was immortalised by poets like Allama Iqbal.

Zorawar Singh Kahluria (1784–1841) was a military general of Dogra ruler Gulab Singh of Jammu, who was a vassal of the Sikh Empire. He served as the governor (wazir-e-wazarat) of Kishtwar and extended the territories of the kingdom by conquering Ladakh and Baltistan. He also boldly attempted the conquest of West Tibet (Ngari Khorsum) but was killed in battle. In reference to his legacy of conquests in the Himalaya Mountains including Ladakh, Tibet, Baltistan and Iskardu as General and Wazir, Zorowar Singh has been referred to as the "Napoleon of India", and "Conqueror of Ladakh".

Husain (Persian: حُسین, : Ḥusaīn, lit. 'handsome'; Persian pronunciation: [hsi:n]), born Ḥusaīn Shāh Chak (Persian: حُسین شاہ چَک, Kashmiri: حُسین شاہ ژَھک) was the second Chak Sultan. He succeeded his brother Ghazi Shah Chak after Ghazi abdicated the throne in Husain's favour in 1563. Husain was the 30th Sultan of Kashmir and ruled Kashmir until 1570.

Mir Saadullah Shahabadi (fl. 1780s) was a Kashmiri poet who wrote a Persian language verse history of Kashmir called Bagh-i-Sulaiman (Garden of Solomon, 1780). It is mainly derived from the earlier History of Kashmir of Muhammed Azam Didamari, but updates the history to the reign of Juma Khan (1787–1793 CE).

Kavi Bilhana was an 11th-century Kashmiri poet. He is known for his love poem, the Caurapañcāśikā.

Narendraditya Khinkhila (r.c. 597-633 CE), also called Naranda or Narenda or Deva Shahi Khingila from his coin legends, was one of the last rulers of the Alchon Huns in the area of Gandhara and Kashmir in northwestern India, following their retreat from northern India, during the 6th century CE. According to Kalhana's 12th century text Rajatarangini, where his full name Narendraditya Khinkhila is used, he was the son of a king named Gokarna, a follower of Shiva. Narendraditya is also known to have consecrated a shrine to Shiva, named Bhutesvara.

Sri Pravarasena (reigned c. 530-590 CE), also sometimes Pravarasena II based on the regnal lists of the Rajatarangini, was a 6th-century Huna king of the Alchon Huns in the area of Gandhara and Kashmir in northwestern India. His reign probably lasted about 60 years from about the year 530 CE.

The Nilamata Purana (नीलमत पुराण), also known as the Kasmira Mahatmya, is an ancient text (6th to 8th century CE) from Kashmir which contains information on its history, geography, religion, and folklore. It was used by Kalhana as one of sources of his history.

Toramana also called Toramana Shahi Jauvla (Gupta script: Toramāṇa, ruled circa 493-515 CE) was a king of the Alchon Huns who ruled in northern India in the late 5th and the early 6th century CE. Toramana consolidated the Hephthalite power in Punjab (present-day Pakistan and northwestern India), and conquered northern and central India including Eran in Madhya Pradesh. Toramana used the title "Great King of Kings" (Mahārājadhirāja ), equivalent to "Emperor", in his inscriptions, such as the Eran boar inscription.

Prajna Bhatta (16th century) was a historian who wrote Rajvalipataka that gives a historical account of Kashmir from the time of Zayn al-Abidin to the time of its incorporation in the dominions of the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1586.