Sultanate of Kashmir

Starting Resource: 10 -- From Land: 6 -- From Trade: 4 Capital Territory: Kashmir Nation Class: Small Total Starting Military Infantry: 12 Cavalry: 5 Knights: 0 Artillery: 0 Generals: 1 Merchantmen: 0 Frigates: 0 Ships of the Line: 0

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Kashmir, if literally translated, means land desiccated from water: 'ka' (the water) and shimeera (to desiccate). Tradition says that Kashmir was originally a lake that was drained by the great saint of ancient India Kashyap. It was included in the empire of Ashoka Maurya who is credited with the foundation of the city of Srinagar around the year 250 BC. During this period Buddhism spread in Kashmir and flourished under the Kushans. During the reign of Kanishka, the third Buddhist council took place in Kashmir which has been attested by the 7th century Chinese traveler Hien Tsang. But Hinduism held its sway in the region. The 7th Century AD witnessed the establishment of a dynasty called the Karkota whose foundation stone was laid by Durlabhavarrdhana. The most famous ruler of this dynasty was Lalitaditya Muktapid who built the world famous sun temple (Martand) in Kashmir. The Karkotas were supplanted by the Utpalas in 855 AD. The most important ruler of this dynasty was Avanti-verman. He recovered Kashmir from utter political and economic disorder into which Kashmir had fallen during the rule of his predecessors. Didda, a Gupta widowed queen, ruled Kashmir until 1003 AD when the Lohara dynasty took over. Didda was a very unscrupulous and willful lady and led a very immoral life. But in spite of these drawbacks, she ruled the valley with firm hands. The last Hindu ruler of Kashmir was Udyan Dev. His chief Queen Kota Rani was the de facto ruler of the kingdom. She was a very brave lady, shrewd and an able ruler. With her death in 1339 the Hindu rule in Kashmir came to an end and thus was established the Muslim rule in Kashmir under Sultan Shamas-ud-din whose dynasty has rules till the time of 1483. Kashmir is a very small state in the mountainous northern part of the Indian sub continent. It holds a great defensive position and a large standing army, but lacks the resources to replace many loses in battle. Kashmir must make a decision early on, war with Dehli or dependency on Dehli. War from the first turn, especially if done in conjuction with the Bahamani Kingdom and possibly Herat, Samarkand and or the White Sheep Turks is Kashmir's best chance of destroying Dehli, but its economic superiority can be leveraged into an army beyond Kashmir's ability to confront. Though a strong alliance with Dehli can prove equally fruitful and can lead to the expansion of Kashmir. Visit the 1483 Discussion Forums to chat about the Sultanate of Kashmir.