Хунза (кнежевство)

This article is about the former State of Hunza, for the main article see Hunza Valley

Hunza (Urdu: ہنزہ) was a former princely state in the northernmost part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan, which existed until 1974. The state bordered the Gilgit Agency to the south, the former princely state of Nagar to the east, China to the north and Afghanistan to the northwest. The state capital was the town of Baltit (also known as Karimabad). The area of Hunza now forms the Aliabad tehsil of Gilgit District. Hunza along with Nagar, Gilgit and Baltistan are claimed by India as part of the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

History

A Hunza Rajah and Tribesmen by E. F. Knight (1891)

Hunza was an independent principality for 900 years. The British gained control of Hunza and the neighbouring valley of Nagar between 1889 and 1892. The Tham (Chief/Mir) of Hunza escaped to China.

The British retained Hunza's status as a 'principality' until 1947. According to Habib R. Sulemani, the people of Hunza were ruled by a local Mir for more than 900 years, which came to an end in 1974.

Although never ruled directly by neighbouring Kashmir, Hunza was a vassal of Kashmir from the time of Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir. The Mirs of Hunza sent an annual tribute to the Kashmir Durbar until 1947, and along with the ruler of Nagar, was considered to be among the most loyal vassals of the Maharaja of Kashmir.

Accession to Pakistan

On 3rd November 1947, the ruler, Mohammad Jamal Khan sent a telegram to Mohammad Ali Jinnah acceding his state to Pakistan. It stated:

I declare with pleasure on behalf of myself and my State accession to Pakistan

Government

Baltit Fort, the former residence of the Mirs of Hunza

The state was governed by hereditary rulers who took the title Mir (ruler) and were assisted by a council of Wazirs or Ministers. Details for early rulers are uncertain with the first definite dates available from 1750 CE onwards.

Reign	Mirs of Hunza
Uncertain dates	Salim Khan II
Uncertain dates	Shah Sultan Khan
1710 - uncertain date	Shahbaz Khan
Uncertain dates	Shahbeg Khan
~1750 - 1790	Shah Kisro Khan
1790	Mirza Khan
1790 - 1825	Salim Khan III
1825 - 1864	Ghazanfur Khan
1864 - 1886	Mohammad Ghazan Khan I
1886 - 15 September 1892	Safdar Ali Khan
15 September - 22 July 1938	Mohammad Nazim Khan
22 July 1938 - ? 1946	Mohammad Ghazan Khan II
? 1946 - 25 September 1974	Mohammad Jamal Khan
25 September 1974 -	State of Hunza Dissolved

Geography

Главна статија: Hunza Valley

The Hunza valley is situated at an elevation of 2,438 metres (7,999 feet). The former capital Baltit has an elevation of 2477 metres (8129 feet)

For many centuries, Hunza has provided the quickest access to Swat and Gandhara for a person travelling on foot. The route was impassable to baggage animals; only human porters could get through, and then only with permission from the locals.

Hunza was easily defended as the paths were often less than half a metre (about 18") wide. The high mountain paths often crossed bare cliff faces on logs wedged into cracks in the cliff, with stones balanced on top. They were also constantly exposed to regular damage from weather and falling rocks. These were the much feared "hanging passageways" of the early Chinese histories that terrified all, including several famous Chinese Buddhist monks.

The last independent ruler was Mir Safdar Khan, who ruled from 1886 to December 1891 - until the British conquest in December 1891. His younger brother Mir Mohammad Nazim Khan was installed by the British and Maharaja (Raja) of Kashmir in September 1892.

Demographics

Most of the people of Hunza are Ismaili Muslims. The local language is Brushuski, although Urdu and English are also widely understood.

See also

• Hunza Valley
• Northern Areas
• Karakoram Highway
• Karakoram Mountains

External links

• Government of Northern Areas
• Government of Pakistan
• PIA guide to Northern Areas