|
When Alexander gained victory over Multan. he appointed
General Phillipos to rule Multan and Uch and advanced himself towards
Alor. The country remained under Phillipos, who \vas afterwards driven out
by Poros after the death of Alexander. This part of the country is also
said to have been a part of the Buddhist empire of Ashoka. Authenticated
history of the district begins by about 493 A.D. when Raja Divaji of Rai
dynasty came to the throne. In the Rai dynasty dominions were vast,
extending from Kashmir and Kanauj to Kandhar and Seistan and on the west
to Mekran and a part of Debal. while on the south to Surat. '! heir
capital was Alor and during their rule Sindh was divided into four
provinces of Bahmanabad. Siwistan. Chachpur (which comprised the greater
part of Bahaw'alpur Division) and the province consisting of Multan and
West Punjab. The Rai dynasty governed Sindh for 137 years and met its fate
when the king Rai Saliasi II. allowed a Brahman Chaeh to gain influence in
his kingdom. On the death of Rai Sahasi II. Chaeh married his widow and
established himself on the throne after killing the rightful heir of 111
e Rai. After a reign of 33 years, Chaeh died and was succeeded by his
brother Chandar who after ruling for eight years was succeeded by his
nephew Raja Dahir. During Dahir's reign some Arab ships carrying
merchandise were attacked and plundered by his subjects. Arabs demanded
compensation and on refusal by Raja Dahir. Muhammad Bin Qasim invaded this
area in April 712 A.D. and conquered the whole territory up to Multan.
Dahir was killed in the battle at Pawar. The territory remained under the
various governors appointed by the Abbassides and the LImmayyids from
712-870 A.D. In 871 A.D. the power of Caliphs declined and the province of
Sindh slipped from their control and went under the Baikh dynasty when two
principalities. Multan and Mansura (Bahawalpur Division) were founded. In
985 A.D. the Baikh ruler \vas over-thrown by Karamatian (a Persian sect).
In 978 A.D. when Subaktagin invaded the sub-continent, he left the
territory under the sovereignty ofH'amid Khan Lodhi. who ruled till 1004
A.D. when Ahdul Fateh son of Hamid Khan Lodhi revolted against Ghaznavids
and was Jailed by Mahmud Gha/navi. Fourteen years later Mahmud again
visited Multan and marched to Somnath passing through Bahawalpur
territory and on his way visited Moujgarh Fort (in Bahawalp.ur Tehsil). On
his return from the conquest of Somnath. Mahmud placed a Karamatian prince
on the throne in this area. The reign of Karamatian was followed by
Sumaras and Samas who ruled it for nearly 500 years. In 1578 A.D., the
territory was invaded and conquered by the Ghori Sultans of Delhi, who
were succeeded by the Mughals.
The exodus of the Abbassides nobles of Egypt to India had already started
in the reign of Muhammad Taughlak-Bin-Ghiasuddin. This Tughlak emperor of
India recognised the Abbassides Caliph, Abdul Abbas-AI-Hakim in Egypt and
accepted his spiritual leadership. He even got the name of the caliph
inscribed on the Indian coinage of his reign.
In 1366 A.D. Amir Sultan Ahmed II, Abbasi. fiftieth direct descendant from
Abdul Qasim Ahmed (the first Abbasside Caliph ruled in Egypt) migrated to
India with his family and a few hundred of followers entered into Sindh
through Balochistan and settled down in Sindh. Those Arabs who had already
settled in Sindh rallied round the Amir. In the course of time the Amir's
family gradually moved north-ward losing much of the Sindh territory, but
finally settled down at Fort Derawar. which they captured from the ruler
of Jaisalmir.
In 1540, Duddees a well-known tribe rose to considerable power in the
eastern part of Bahawalpur. In the same period. Amir Channi Khan Abbasi
was made Ranjhazari by Prince Murad. the son of emperor Akbar the Great.
After the death of Amir Mohammad Channi Khan. quarrels arose between the
two sections ofAbbasis. the Kalhora and Daudpota tribes. The Arab tribes
settled in Bahawalpur sided with the latter who were destined to create
and rule Bahawalpur State. Amir Bahadur Khan Abbasi, the chief of Daudpota
then came to power he and his descendants wielded small principalities of
Bahawalpur State into a united kingdom. Amir Muhammad Mubarik Khan I,
Abbasi. who came to power in 1702. was an able commander and leader.
Throughout his reign he had to fight many battles against Kalhoras. He
abdicated in 1723 A.D., in favour of his son Sadiq Mohammad Khan I. Sadiq
Mohammad Khan I (1723-1746) was killed in a battle with Khuda Yar Khan
Kalhora. Amir Mohammad Bahawal Khan I, (1 746-1 949) ascended the throne
in 1 746. During his short rule, he built the towns of Bahawalpur, Qaimpur,
Hasilpur, Tranda Ali Murad Khan, Shahbazpur and Mohammadpur Laman. During
his reign three canals namely Khan Wah. Qutab Wah and Wahi Qaidr Dina were
dug. As a result the agriculture of the state improved considerably and
the people became prosperous. Amir Muhammad Mubarik Khan II Abbasi (1
749-1 772) succeeded Amir Muhammad Bahawal Khan 1 Abbasi. In 1 750, he
captured Marot, Jaisalmir and Madwala and its dependencies west of the
Sutlej and Panjnad, now part of Muzaffargarh district from Nahrs. Bet Doma
territory which belonged to Makhdum Sheikh Raju of Sitpur was also
conquered. Later a part of the country including the important towns of
Dunyapur and Kahror were occupied. In 1766, the Sikh confederates Jhanda
Singh. Ganda Singh and Hari Singh invaded the Amir's trans-Sutlej
territories but were repulsed. Pakpattan was fixed as the boundary
between Bahawalpur and the Sikh State. Amir Muhammad Mubarik Khan II
Abbasi was an able administrator and a powerful ruler. He took keen
interest in building his army. Many of the forts on the border of the
state were built during his reign. He kept the Sikhs in check. Many canals
on which the prosperity of the district depend were constructed during his
time.
Amir Muhammad Bahawal Khan II, Abbasi succeeded him and ruled from 1772 to
1809 A.D. He assumed the title of Muhammad Bahawal Khan II. In 1777. the
Sikh captured Multan. From 1785 to 1788, Amir had to encounter Taimur
Shah, the powerful Durrani monarch of Kabul. Bahawalpur was plundered by
Durranis, the town was burnt and destroyed. The fort of Derawar was also
occupied and Taimur Shah garrisoned it with troops under his general Shah
Muhammad Khan Badozai, but eventually the Amir drove out the Durranis
after fighting many fierce battles. In 1802 Shah Muhammad of Kabul sent a
valuable Khilat and title of Mukhlis-ud-Daula. A mint was started at
Bahawalpur in 1802. where gold. silver and copper coins were made. The
first treaty between Bahawalpur and the British government was affected in
1833 which remained in force till the 14th August, 1947 when the state
acceded to Pakistan. After Muhammad Bahawal Khan II. prince Abdullah Khan
under the title of Sadiq Muhammad Khan II (1809-1825) was proclaimed Amir
of Bahawalpur. The greater part of his reign passed in repelling the
attacks of the Amirs of Sindh, in suppressing the rebellions of his own
Umaras and protecting his conquered territories.
On the death of Amir Sadiq Mohammad Khan II in 1825 A.D.. Amir Bahawal
Khan ill ascended the throne in 1825 at Derawar. He ruled from 1825-1852
A.D. On his accession to the throne Amir sent presents to Maharaja Ranjit
Singh. In response Maharaja sent his congratulations and some presents to
Amir.
As some dues for the lease of Dera Gha/i Khan had not been paid for
several years. Ranjit Singh sent a force under General Ventura to expel
the governor appointed there by the Amir of Bahawalpur without giving him
any opportunity for parley. General Ventura occupied Dera Ghazi Khan.
Muzaffargarh and Multan. and they thus passed from the rule of the state.
The Amir was very upset at this loss. Alliances with the neighbouring
states Sindh. Bikanir or Jaisalmir were out of question for they were
already hostile to Bahawalpur
Ranjit Singh sent a large force under Sham Singh Atariwala to Kahror to
invade the state on any pretext. There upon the Amir sent an envoy to the
British Governor General at Simla to invoke his intervention. Lord William
Bentinck, the then British Governor General, accepted the proposal and
Ranjit Singh was warned not to cross the Sutlej. In 1833 Nawab negotiated
a treaty of friendship arid alliance with the Britishers.
In 1842 Parganas of Kot Sabzal and Ghung Bhara lost by the state in 1807,
were conquered by the British from the Mirs of Sindh and resorted to
Bahawalpur state by Sr. Charles Napier. In 1 848 the Amir of Bahawalpur
assisted the British in the battle of Multan. As a result of Bahawalpur
British alliance Multan fell and was made part of the British Indian
territory
On the death of Amir Bahawal Khan 111. Sadiq Mohammad Khan III,
(1852-1853) was crowned as Amir. On assuming rulership he confined prince
Haji Khan and his brothers and treated them harshly. A large number of
Bahawalpur army was demobilized. All the grants, rights and claims of
Daudpotas and other usual expenses were diminished and abolished. These
events made the Amir unpopular. On the 29th of Rabi-ul-Sani, 1269 A.H,
Fateh Garh Fort was attacked at night. Prince Haji Khan, who was kept as
prisoner, was freed and brought to Khanpur. Haji Khan entered Ahmedpur
East without any resistance and Sadiq Muhammad Khan III was imprisoned.
Prince Haji Khan who assumed the title of Fateh Khan ruled the state from
I 853 to I 858 A.D. Prince Rahim Yar Khan succeeded his father, the late
Amir Fateh Khan Abbasi, as Muhammad Bahawal Khan IV (I 858-1 866). He was
poisoned and died on the 25th March. I 866. On the death of Amir Bahawal
Khan IV, Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan IV was crowned when he was four and half
year old. He was installed in I 879. when he attained maturity. In the
interim period from I 866 to I 879. the state was supervised by British
Officers. Amir Muhammad Bahawal Khan V, the next successor was about I 6
years of age at the time of his father's death in 1907. Amir Sadiq
Mohammad Khan Abbasi V (I 907-1955), was proclaimed Amir of Bahawalpur on
the death of his father in 1907. He was then a child of three years old.
He ruled the state till 1955 when it was integrated in the Punjab province
of Pakistan. |
