Live JKSSB Health and Medical Education, FAA Exam Target Evaluation Sheets available! Practice Now
Mock Tests

Chak Dynasty & Mughal Rule — 1561 to 1753 AD

Chak Dynasty & Mughal Rule — 1561 to 1753 AD

Chak Dynasty & Mughal Rule
Figure 1: Chak Dynasty & Mughal Rule — frequently tested in JKSSB and UPSC examinations.

1. Introduction — Chak Dynasty

  • Period: 1561 - 1586 AD
  • Chaks came to Kashmir during Shah Mir's Rule.
  • They were from the Dardistan region (covers northern part of Pakistan and north-eastern part of Afghanistan).
  • Residents of the Gilgit Hunza region.
  • They belong to the Shia sect.
  • Ghazi Chak: Founder of Chak Dynasty in Kashmir.
CHRONOLOGY OF CHAK KINGS

  • Ghazi Chak (1561 - 1563 AD) — 1st Chak ruler
  • Hussain Shah Chak (1563 - 1570 AD) — Shia-Sunni conflicts
  • Sultan Ali Shah (1571 - 1578 AD)
  • Yusuf Shah Chak (1578-79; 1580-86 AD) — Last Independent ruler
  • Yakub Shah (1586 - 1588 AD) — Last ruler of Chak dynasty
NOTE

  • Akbar conquered Kashmir during the time period of Yakub Shah Chak (and NOT during Yusuf Shah Chak).
  • Akbar's rule (1556 - 1605 AD) in India was contemporary to Chak rule in Kashmir.

2. Ghazi Chak (1561 - 1563 AD)

  • First Chak ruler of Kashmir.
  • Improved the condition of the state.
  • Restored peace.
  • Repulsed Mughal invasions by Malli and Qara Bahadur.
  • Faced revolts from his brothers.

3. Hussain Shah Chak (1563 - 1570 AD)

  • Restored peace & order.
  • Punished thieves, robbers & corrupt officials.
  • Listened to complaints of the people himself.
  • The people believed that the kingdom of Kashmir had become equal to heaven.
  • Important incident: Shia - Sunni conflict.
NOTE

  • During Hussain Shah's rule, Akbar sent personal emissaries to Kashmir led by Mirza Muhammad Muqim.

4. Ali Shah (1570 - 1578 AD)

  • Tried to end the Shia-Sunni conflict (but the problem continued).
  • He appointed Mubarak Baihaqi (Sunni) as his chief minister.
  • Kishtwar region got independence during his rule.
  • Important Event: Acceptance of Akbar's sovereignty.
  • The niece of Ali Shah was married to Mughal prince Salim (Jahangir).
  • Death: Fell from horse while playing polo.
POLO

  • Polo was known as Choghan.
  • Qutub-ud-Din (the founder of Delhi Sultanate) also died while playing polo.

5. Yusuf Shah Chak (1578-79; 1580-86 AD)

  • Wife: Habba Khatoon
  • Last Independent ruler of Kashmir.
  • He was bewitched by the natural beauty of Kashmir and used to roam freely in the valley.
  • He transformed Gulmarg & Sonmarg into holiday resorts.
  • He found himself incapable of shouldering the responsibilities of governing the country.
KEY EVENTS

  • Yusuf Shah Chak fled from the valley, leaving the throne vacant. Sayyid Mubarak Shah (1579 AD) became the ruler.
  • 1580 A.D.: Yusuf Shah got his throne back with the support of Man Singh (Mughal Commander).
  • 1585 A.D.: Mughal forces (under Raja Bhagwan Dass) invaded Kashmir; defeated. Yusuf Shah Chak secretly surrendered.
  • Kashmiri considered Yusuf Shah's action as his personal surrender. Yakub Shah Chak (son of Yusuf Shah Chak) proclaimed as the new ruler of Kashmir.
  • Yusuf Shah Chak died in prison in Bihar.

6. Yakub Shah Chak & Annexation by Akbar

KEY FACTS

  • It was during Yakub Shah Chak (and NOT during Yusuf Shah Chak) that Akbar finally annexed the kingdom of Kashmir under the command of Qasim Khan on Oct 6, 1586 (at Haripur).
  • Mughals entered Srinagar: Oct 14, 1586.
  • The Mughal army was defeated twice by Kashmiris.
  • Yakub Shah Chak was the last ruler of the Chak Dynasty.
CHRONOLOGY OF CHAK RULERS

  • 1578 - 1579: Yusuf Shah Chak
  • 1579 - 1580: Sayyid Mubarak Shah (6 months, 2 days)
  • 1580 - 1586: Yusuf Shah Chak + Yakub Shah Chak
  • 1586 - 1588: Yakub Shah Chak
MUGHAL RULE IN KASHMIR

  • 1586 - 1753: Mughal rule in Kashmir.

7. Mughal Rule (1586 - 1753 AD)

  • Period: 1586 - 1753 AD
  • Akbar annexed Kashmir in 1586 under the command of Qasim Khan.
  • The Mughal period saw significant developments in:
    • Administration
    • Architecture
    • Culture
    • Trade & Commerce
  • Mughal rule in Kashmir ended in 1753.

8. JKSSB Previous Year Questions

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Q1. The Chak Dynasty was founded by:

  • A) Ghazi Chak
  • B) Hussain Shah Chak
  • C) Yusuf Shah Chak
  • D) Yakub Shah Chak

Q2. The Chak Dynasty ruled Kashmir from:

  • A) 1561-1586 AD
  • B) 1561-1586 AD
  • C) 1561-1586 AD
  • D) 1561-1586 AD

Q3. The Chaks originally belonged to which region?

  • A) Punjab
  • B) Ladakh
  • C) Dardistan (Gilgit Hunza region)
  • D) Baltistan

Q4. The Chaks belonged to which sect?

  • A) Sunni
  • B) Shia
  • C) Sufi
  • D) Buddhist

Q5. Who was the last independent ruler of Kashmir?

  • A) Ghazi Chak
  • B) Yusuf Shah Chak
  • C) Yakub Shah Chak
  • D) Hussain Shah Chak

Q6. Yusuf Shah Chak's wife was:

  • A) Noor Jahan
  • B) Habba Khatoon
  • C) Mumtaz Mahal
  • D) Jahanara

Q7. Yusuf Shah Chak transformed which places into holiday resorts?

    <
  • A) Gulmarg & Sonmarg
  • B) Pahalgam & Gulmarg
  • C) Sonmarg & Pahalgam
  • D) Srinagar & Gulmarg

Q8. Mughal forces under Raja Bhagwan Dass invaded Kashmir in:

  • A) 1580 AD
  • B) 1585 AD
  • C) 1586 AD
  • D) 1578 AD

Q9. Akbar annexed Kashmir under the command of:

  • A) Man Singh
  • B) Raja Bhagwan Dass
  • C) Qasim Khan
  • D) Mirza Muhammad Muqim

Q10. Akbar annexed Kashmir on:

  • A) Oct 6, 1586
  • B) Oct 14, 1586
  • C) Oct 6, 1585
  • D) Oct 14, 1585

Q11. Mughals entered Srinagar on:

  • A) Oct 6, 1586
  • B) Oct 14, 1586
  • C) Oct 6, 1585
  • D) Oct 14, 1585

Q12. The Mughal army was defeated how many times by Kashmiris?

  • A) Once
  • B) Twice
  • C) Thrice
  • D) Four times

Q13. The last ruler of the Chak Dynasty was:

  • A) Yusuf Shah Chak
  • B) Yakub Shah Chak
  • C) Ghazi Chak
  • D) Hussain Shah Chak

Q14. Mughal rule in Kashmir lasted from:

  • A) 1586-1753 AD
  • B) 1586-1753 AD
  • C) 1586-1753 AD
  • D) 1586-1753 AD

Q15. Polo was known as:

  • A) Choghan
  • B) Chaugan
  • C) Chogan
  • D) Chaghan

Q16. Ali Shah died while playing:

  • A) Chess
  • B) Polo
  • C) Wrestling
  • D) Archery

Q17. The niece of Ali Shah was married to which Mughal prince?

  • A) Akbar
  • B) Salim (Jahangir)
  • C) Shah Jahan
  • D) Aurangzeb

Q18. Kishtwar region got independence during the rule of:

  • A) Ghazi Chak
  • B) Hussain Shah Chak
  • C) Ali Shah
  • D) Yusuf Shah Chak

Q19. Yusuf Shah Chak died in:

  • A) Kashmir
  • B) Prison in Bihar
  • C) Delhi
  • D) Lahore

Q20. Sayyid Mubarak Shah ruled Kashmir for:

  • A) 1 year
  • B) 6 months, 2 days
  • C) 2 years
  • D) 3 months

9. Summary: Chak Dynasty & Mughal Rule at a Glance

Ruler/Event Period Key Achievements/Events
Ghazi Chak 1561-1563 AD Founder; repulsed Mughal invasions
Hussain Shah Chak 1563-1570 AD Restored peace; Shia-Sunni conflict
Ali Shah 1570-1578 AD Marriage alliance with Mughals; died playing polo
Yusuf Shah Chak 1578-1586 AD Last independent ruler; husband of Habba Khatoon
Yakub Shah Chak 1586-1588 AD Last Chak ruler; Akbar annexed Kashmir
Mughal Rule 1586-1753 AD Akbar annexed on Oct 6, 1586
Key Takeaways for JKSSB & UPSC

  • Chak Dynasty: 1561-1586 AD; founded by Ghazi Chak
  • Chaks: From Dardistan (Gilgit Hunza); Shia sect
  • Ghazi Chak: Repulsed Mughal invasions by Malli and Qara Bahadur
  • Yusuf Shah Chak: Last independent ruler; wife: Habba Khatoon
  • Ali Shah: Died playing polo (Choghan); niece married to Salim (Jahangir)
  • Akbar's Annexation: 1586 AD under Qasim Khan at Haripur
  • Mughals entered Srinagar: Oct 14, 1586
  • Yakub Shah Chak: Last ruler of Chak Dynasty
  • Mughal Rule: 1586-1753 AD
High-Yield Interactive UPSC & JKSSB Quiz (Chak Dynasty & Mughal Rule)

Q1. The Chak Dynasty was founded by:

Correct Answer: B. Ghazi Chak was the founder of the Chak Dynasty in Kashmir and the first Chak ruler (1561-1563 AD).

Q2. The Chaks originally belonged to which region?

Correct Answer: C. The Chaks were from the Dardistan region, which covers the northern part of Pakistan and the north-eastern part of Afghanistan. They were residents of the Gilgit Hunza region.

Q3. Who was the last independent ruler of Kashmir?

Correct Answer: B. Yusuf Shah Chak was the last independent ruler of Kashmir. He was bewitched by the natural beauty of Kashmir and transformed Gulmarg & Sonmarg into holiday resorts.

Q4. Yusuf Shah Chak's wife was:

Correct Answer: B. Yusuf Shah Chak's wife was Habba Khatoon. She was a famous Kashmiri poetess.

Q5. Akbar annexed Kashmir under the command of:

Correct Answer: C. Akbar annexed Kashmir under the command of Qasim Khan on October 6, 1586 at Haripur.

Q6. Mughals entered Srinagar on:

Correct Answer: B. Mughals entered Srinagar on October 14, 1586 after the annexation of Kashmir.

Q7. The Mughal army was defeated how many times by Kashmiris?

Correct Answer: B. The Mughal army was defeated twice by the Kashmiris before they finally entered Srinagar.

Q8. The last ruler of the Chak Dynasty was:

Correct Answer: B. Yakub Shah Chak was the last ruler of the Chak Dynasty. Akbar annexed Kashmir during his reign.

Q9. Polo was known as:

Correct Answer: B. Polo was known as Choghan. Ali Shah died while playing polo, and Qutub-ud-Din (founder of Delhi Sultanate) also died while playing polo.

Q10. Mughal rule in Kashmir lasted from:

Correct Answer: A. Mughal rule in Kashmir lasted from 1586 AD (annexation by Akbar) to 1753 AD.

You may also like