Ayasho Dynasty
The Ayasho Dynasty or the Hunza Royal House comprised of members of the Royal House of Ayasho I, who ruled the Kingdom of Hunza or Khanjut in Central Asia (now Pakistan) succeeding the Girkis dynasty.[1] Their rule lasted 1100 years from 874-1974 CE.[2] The Ayasho dynasty was founded by Shah Khan or Ayasho I of Hunza. The Ayash family had direct relations with the rulers of Wakhan and Badakshan.[3] Khanjut or Hunza was an independent Kingdom. It was ruled by the Mirs of Hunza, who took the title of Thum.[4][5][6] The state of Hunza acceded to Pakistan on 3 November 1974.[7]
| House of Ayasho | |
|---|---|
 Baltit Fort, the Seat of Power of the Ayasho Dynasty until 1974. | |
| Parent house | Girkis Dynasty |
| Country | Khanjut Kingdom |
| Founded | 874 CE |
| Founder | Ayasho I (Shah Khan) |
| Final ruler | Mohammad Jamal Khan |
| Final head | Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan (current) |
| Titles | List
|
| Traditions | Nizari Ismailism (Mulai) |
| Dissolution | 3 November 1974 |
Name and Origin
The Burusho folklore claims that the power and authority of the Ayasho family came from the Sky or dwellers of the sky, Hence called Ayeshé or Ayashó meaning "Heavenly" or "Heaven-born" in Burushaski. The rulers of Hunza were also known as "Heavenly Kings" or "Divine Rulers".[8] The royal house was founded by King Shah Khan or Ayasho I, who traced his bloodline back to Prince Azar Jamshed of the Kayan Dynasty, whose great-grandson Sahib Khan, also known as Girkis, founded the Girkis dynasty and took control over the Hunza region.[2]
According to the British sources the title Girkis the same as the Kirghis, who inhabit the steppes of Pamirs of northern Hunza. Cunningham writes that the Hunza region was formerly inhabited by the Dards and that they were displaced by the Kirghis nomads. According to him The Hunza Kings and the Chiefs of Shigar who take the Khanjut title of Tham, must also be Kirghis.[9]
Language and Religion
The people of Hunza and the ruling Ayasho dynasty spoke Burushaski as their native language. The Burushaski language is unrelated to any other language and is classified as an language Isolate.[10] Few linguists have linked it to the Caucasian languages.[11]
According to the British sources in the "History of Dardistan", the Hunzakuts or the people of Hunza are Mulais, a mysterious and heretical sect of Islam, similar to the Druze, practising curious rites. Their religious scripture is the "Kelam-i-pir" (Words of Saint), which throws much light on the doctrines of the "Assassins order" of Nizari Ismailism during the Crusades.[12]
List of Rulers
The hereditary rulers, the "Thams of Hunza" were assisted by a council of Wazirs or ministers. Following is the list of rulers of Hunza, early rulers not included, first definite date starts from 1750 onwards.
| Reign | Mirs of Hunza[13] |
|---|---|
| 1680–1697 | Silum I |
| 1697–1710 | Mir Sultan Khan |
| 1710–1735 | Mir Shahboos |
| 1735–1754 | Shahbeg Khan |
| 1754–1777 | Shah Khusro Khan |
| 1777–1784 | Mir Mirza Khan |
| 1784–1824 | Mir Shah Silum II |
| 1824–1857 | Ghazanfur Khan |
| 1857–1886 | Mir Ghazan Khan I |
| 1886–1891 | Safdar Ali Khan |
| 1892–1938 | Mohammad Nazim Khan KCIE |
| 1938–1945 | Mir Ghazan Khan II |
| 1945–1974 | Mir Jamal Khan |
| 1974 – present |
| Name of Ruler[13] | Note |
|---|---|
| Azar Jamshed | Son of Yaqub Shah and grandson of Prince Abdul Faiz of Kayan dynasty, He alongside his brother Prince Abdul Ghani fled Persia after the Arab Conquest. He married Queen Nur Bakht, the daughter of Shri Badat (The Cannibal King). |
| Su Malik | |
| Mir Malik | |
| Sahib Khan | |
| Dilla Khan | |
| Shah Malik II | Married Hashim Begum, the Princess of Makpon Empire. |
| Shah Tham | When Kiser attacked Hunza, he along with his brother fled to Shughnan. |
| Lali Tham | He was too young to accompany his father, so he went to his reffered uncle, the ruler of Gilgit. |
| Sahub Khan (Girkis) | He was invited to Nagar for a hunt and was killed by Maghlot (King of Nagar). |
| Nur Bibi | Hunzakuts decided to give the Thamkush (Throne) to Nur Bibi after the death of his father Girkis. |
| Shah Khan (Ayasho I) | Great grandson of Shah Tham brought back to Hunza from Afghanistan by Wazir Chusay Boto. He married Nur Bibi and established the Ayasho Dynasty. |
| Mir Mayuri Tham | Married Shah Begum, the daughter of King of Darwaz. |
| Mir Ayasho II | Married Princess Shah Khatun, the granddaughter of Ali Senge Anchan of [[Makpon Kingdom|Makpon. |
| Haider Khan | |
| Yousaf Shah | |
| Mir Hari Tham | Attacked Mir Firdous and ruled Nagar for 12 years. Mir Firdous defeated him with troops from Skardu. |
Gallery
Potraits of Ayasho Rulers in Baltit Fort.
- Inside room galary.jpg
Gallery room, Baltit Fort,
Utensils in the Palace.
The Royal gardens at Altit fort.
Royal gardens in Autumn, Hunza
Royal Gardens in Spring, Hunza
Baltit Fort on top of a mountain.
Balcony view of Hunza Valley from the Baltit Palace.
One of the 8 mosques in Ganish, Hunza, bui;t by different ruling families of Hunza.
References
- ↑ Dani, Ahmad Hasan; Masson, Vadim Mikhaĭlovich; Unesco (2003-01-01). History of Civilizations of Central Asia: Development in contrast : from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. UNESCO. ISBN 978-92-3-103876-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "A brief history of Ancient Baltit fort - Best Historical sites in Pakistan | PakVoyager". www.pakvoyager.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ↑ Dani, Ahmad Hasan; Masson, Vadim Mikhaĭlovich; Unesco (2003-01-01). History of Civilizations of Central Asia: Development in contrast : from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. UNESCO. ISBN 978-92-3-103876-1.
- ↑ Younghusband, Francis (1904). The Heart of a Continent. Asian Educational Services. p. 186. ISBN 9788120608504.
- ↑ Livia Holden (2018). "Law, Culture and Governance in Hunza".
HAL ID: hal-03601069
- ↑ Knight, E. F. (Edward Frederick) (1893). Where three empires meet; a narrative of recent travel in Kashmir, western Tibet, Gilgit, and the adjoining countries. New York Public Library. London, New York, Longmans, Green, and Co.
- ↑ Jinnah Papers The states: Historical and Policy Perspectives and Accession to Pakistan, First series volume VIII, Editor: Z.H.Zaidi, Quaid-i-Azam Papers Project, Government of Pakistan 2003 Pg 113
- ↑ Leitner, Gottlieb William (1996). Dardistan in 1866, 1886, and 1893: Being an Account of the History, Religions, Customs, Legends, Fables, and Songs of Gilgit, Chilas, Kandia (Gabrial), Dasin, Chitral, Hunsa, Nagyr, and Other Parts of the Hindukush, as Also a Supplement to the Second Edition of the Hunza and Nagyr Handbook and an Epitome of Part III of the Author's The Languages and Races of Dardistan. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-1217-4.
- ↑ Leitner, Gottlieb William (1876). The Languages and Races of Dardistan. Trübner.
- ↑ "Burushaski language | Indo-European, Himalayan, Endangered | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ↑ Foundation, Encyclopaedia Iranica. "Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica". iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ↑ Leitner, Gottlieb William (1996). Dardistan in 1866, 1886, and 1893: Being an Account of the History, Religions, Customs, Legends, Fables, and Songs of Gilgit, Chilas, Kandia (Gabrial), Dasin, Chitral, Hunsa, Nagyr, and Other Parts of the Hindukush, as Also a Supplement to the Second Edition of the Hunza and Nagyr Handbook and an Epitome of Part III of the Author's The Languages and Races of Dardistan. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-1217-4.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ben Cahoon, WorldStatesmen.org. "Pakistan Princely States". Retrieved 2007-10-03.