Chach of Alor

Chach of Alor

Sindh in 700 AD, under the Brahmin dynasty

Chach of Alor (610–682) was a Brahmin chamberlain and secretary to Rai Sahasi II of the Rai Dynasty, and succeeded him to the throne of Sindh. The history of Chach is related in the Chach Nama, a book about the history of Sindh.

In the 35th year of the reign of the Raja Sahasi Rai II (636 AD), the Chach Nama reports the repulsion of an Arab raid on Debal and Thana. The raid was meant for the purpose of looting the coastal cities, and not actually permitted by the Caliph Umar (634–644), who later dismissed the governor of Bahrain for raiding without permission. In 644, after Muslim conquest of the Sassanid Empire, the Rashidun army entered Makran and defeated the army of Sahasi Rai II in the Battle of Rasil, and annexed Makran and eastern Balochistan. Caliph Umar disapproved of any incursion beyond the Indus River and ordered his commanders to consolidate their position west of the Indus.[28][not in citation given] During the reign of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan (644–656), Muslims captured Qanzabil, a main military garrison of the Rai dynasty in northern Sindh. In 662, during the Ummayad Caliphate, it was retaken by the Rai kingdom, and it served as easternmost garrison town of the Rashidun army.

Chach is reported to have developed a relationship with the then Queen Suhanadi, and upon the death of Sahasi Rai II he conspired with the queen and became ruler. The Rana Maharath, the King of Chittor, who was the brother Sahasi Rai, claimed the throne and attacked Chach. The Rana was killed by strategem, in the war in 640.

Chach then enlisted his brother Chandra to help him administer the realm, and set off with an army to bring the rest of the realm under his control. He is reported to have fought battles at Babiah on the south bank of the River Beas, at Iskandah, and at Sikkah, where "Chach Rai took possession of the fort (of Sikkah), and killed 5,000 warlike men who were in it, and made the other residents of the town prisoners, and secured a large booty and a great number of slaves." He appointed a Thakur at Multan and rode unopposed to settle the boundary with Kashmir.

Later he expanded his rule, subduing neighbouring Buddhist regions across the Indus River, culminating in a battle at Brahmanabad. He stayed there for a year, cementing his control by various means such as marrying the widow of the king Agham; marrying his niece to Agham's son Sarhand; taking hostages; and prohibiting the Jat and Lohana tribes from carrying weapons.

He placed upon the Jat and Lohana restrictions such as forbidding them riding horses with saddles, forbidding them from wearing silk or velvet, forbidding them from wearing headgear or footwear, and forcing them to wear black or red scarves.

He then marched into Sassanid territory to the town of Armanbelah, and through Turan to Kandahar, from where he exacted tribute before returning.

Several places along the Sindhu river are named after this king. For example, there are Chachpur, Chachar, Chachro, Chachgaon, and Chachi.

 Chandar

Chach was succeeded by his brother, Chandra (671–679). Chandar was a Buddhist ascetic. He defended his realm from the Rana Sahiras of Kannauj. After a protracted siege of the capital at Aror, the Rana was captured during a conflict at a parley. Peace was concluded by means of hostages. Chandra ruled for 8 years.

[edit] Raja Dahir

Main article: Raja Dahir

Chach's eldest son Dahir then succeeded his uncle Chandar. His father is reported as being named Selaij. There are conflicting reports on when Chach married the Queen Suhanandi, who had no children from the Rai, and whether it was before or after the battle with the Rana Maharath. Chach had two sons (Dahir and Daharsiah) with the Queen Suhanandi and one daughter (Bai) from the widow of Argham.