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The Pakistani monarchs were the rulers of Pakistan or the Greater Indus region throughout its Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern and Modern periods.[1][2][3] The earliest known monarchs are from the Ror dynasty (c. 450 BCE–489 CE) of Sindh with uncertain and contested historicity, followed by the Euthydemid dynasty (c. 230 BCE–10 CE) of the Indo-Greeks.[4][5][6] Pakistan is historically important as a central area for many empires and kingdoms. Recognized as one of the oldest continuously inhabited lands in the world, Pakistan is considered a diverse cradle of civilizations.[7] The Harappan civilization, one of the world’s earliest, had a complex society, but there is limited evidence about centralized rulers or governance. Three main theories about Harappan governance are: a unified state covering all communities, more than one rulers for major urban centers like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, or a society without where everyone had equal status.[8]
Located at the crossroads of Asia, Pakistan has been ruled by various dynasties during different periods and in different regions. In ancient times, Pakistani monarchs included the Ror (c. 450 BCE–489 CE), Indo-Greek (c. 230 BCE–10 CE), Indo-Scythian (c. 90 BCE–10 CE), Indo-Parthian (c. 25 BCE–240 CE), Mauryan (c. 322–185 BCE), and Kushan (c. 30–375 CE) rulers.[9] The medieval period saw the rise of powerful dynasties such as the Ghaznavids (c. 971–1186 CE) and Ghurids (c. 1170–1215 CE), which played key roles in spreading Islam and forming Islamic states.[10] The Delhi Sultanate (c. 1206–1526 CE), including the Khalji (c. 1290–1320 CE) and Tughlaq (c. 1320–1413 CE) dynasties, greatly influenced the region’s political landscape. The Mughal Empire later unified much of the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent, bringing significant cultural and administrative advancements.[11] After the Mughal decline, regional monarchies and princely states, such as the Khanate of Kalat (c. 1666–1955 CE), the Katoor dynasty (c. 1340–1969 CE), the Ayasho dynasty (c. 874–1974 CE), the Abbasi Dynasty (c. 1748–1955 CE), the Talpur dynasty (c. 1783–1955) and the states of Nagar (c. 1354–1974 CE), Swat (c. 1000–1969 CE), Dir (c. 1540–1969 CE) and others, continued to rule the region even after Pakistan's independence in 1947.[12]
In the early modern period, the Sikh Empire (c. 1799–1849 CE) ruled the Punjab region of Pakistan.[13] The British Raj (c. 1858–1947 CE) included the Princely states in its colonial framework, with the monarchy lasting until the formal abolition of the British crown in Pakistan in 1956. The last monarch to reign unified Pakistan was Queen Elizabeth II until 23 March 1956.[14]
For the purposes of the list, Pakistani monarchs are the monarchs of the empires and kingdoms that were centred in Pakistan or the Greater Indus region, the list may not include monarchs who ruled Pakistan when it was part of an larger empire centred outside of the Greater Indus region.
Pakistan has a rich history that spans thousands of years and includes numerous tribes, kingdoms, empires, cultures, languages, and religions. This diverse history has led to a variety of royal titles and aristocratic ranks, each with different meanings and uses depending on the region and culture. Monarchism has a long tradition in Pakistan and continued even after the country's independence, until 1974 when the last princely states joined Pakistan. Some of these royal titles are still used by descendants in modern Pakistan:
Name | Portrait | Birth | Reign length | Death | Purported life details |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Demetrius I
Δημήτριος Ἀνίκητος (Demetrius the unconquered) |
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c. 222 BC | c. 200 – c. 180 BC[17] | c. 167 BC | Expanded into northern Pakistan, establishing early Hellenistic influence and the Indo-Greek kingdom in the region of Gandhara. |
Agathocles I Dicaeus
Ἀγαθοκλῆς Δικαῖος (Agathocles the just) |
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Between c. 190 – c. 180 BC | Ruler known for his efforts to consolidate the Indo-Greek control in northern Pakistan, particularly the region of Gandhara. | ||
Pantaleon
Πανταλέων |
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Between c. 190 – c. 180 BC | c. 180 BCE | He was a younger contemporary or successor of king Demetrius I, and is sometimes believed to have been his brother and/or subking. | |
Antimachus I
Ἀντίμαχος Α΄ ὁ Θεός (Antimachus the God) |
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c. 171 – c. 160 BCE | On his coinage, Antimachus called himself Theos, "The God", a first in the Hellenistic world. This indicates that Antimachus I might have been instrumental in creating a royal state cult. | ||
Apollodotus I
Ἀπολλόδοτος Α΄ ὁ Σωτήρ (Apollodotus the Savior) |
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c. 180 – c. 160 BC or between c. 174 – c. 165 BC | c. 163 – c. 162 BC | Apollodotus I ruled the western and southern parts of the Indo-Greek kingdom, from Taxila in the Punjab region to the areas of Sindh. | |
Demetrius II
Δημήτριος |
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c. 175 – c. 170 BC or c. 140 BC | An Indo-Greek king who ruled briefly during the 2nd century BC. Little is known about him and there are different views about how to date him. Earlier authors such as Tarn and Narain saw him as a son and sub-king of Demetrius I, but this view has now been abandoned. | ||
Antimachus II
Ἀντίμαχος Β΄ ὁ Νικηφόρος (Antimachus the Victorious) |
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c. 174 – c. 165 BCE | Antimachus II Ruled a vast territory from the Hindu-Kush to the Punjab around 170 BCE. He was almost certainly the eponymous son of Antimachus I, who is known from a unique preserved tax receipt. | ||
Eucratides I
Εὐκρατίδης (Eucratides the Great) |
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c. 205 BC | c. 171 – c. 145 BC | c. 145 BC | Eucratides I was one of the most important Indo-Greek kings. He conquered large parts of northern Pakistan by overthrowing the Euthydemid dynasty and minted a vast and prestigious coinage, suggesting a rule of considerable importance and prosperity. |
Menander I
Μένανδρος Σωτήρ (Menander the Saviour) |
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c. 180 BC | c. 165/155 – c. 130 BC | c. 130 BC | |
Zoilus I
Ζωΐλος Δίκαιος (Zoilus the just) |
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c. 130 – c. 120 BCE |
The Ror dynasty (روهڙا راڄ) was a prominent ruling dynasty in the region of Sindh, Pakistan, with its origins traced back to the early historical period. It was a Sindhi-Buddhist dynasty founded by Dhaj, also known as Ror Kumar in around 450 BC, the dynasty played a significant role in the historical and cultureal development of Sindh.[18] The Ror dynasty established its capital in Rori, which is now modern-day Rohri and Sukkur. This dynasty was known for its influence over the region and its succession of 42 kings, who governed until Raja Dadror, who was poisoned by his head priest (Dewaji), in 620 AD. The rulers of Ror dynasty are one of the earliest known monarchs of Pakistan. The following table lists the chronology of the Ror monarchs from its inception until the end of its reign in 489 AD.[19]
Rori, also known as Roruka, was the capital of the Ror dynasty. It was previously also the capital of the Sauvira Kingdom. Roruka is mentioned as an important trading center in early Buddhist literature.[20] Buddhist Jataka stories talk about exchanges of gifts between King Rudrayan of Roruka and King Bimbisara of Magadha.[21] Divyavadana, the Buddhist chronicle has said that Ror historically competed with Pataliputra in terms of political influence.[22] The scholar T.W. Rhys Davids has mentioned Roruka as one of the most important cities of the subcontinent in the 7th century BCE.[23]
Shortly after the reign of Rudrayan, in the times of his son Shikhandi, Roruka got wiped out in a major sand storm.[24] This event is recorded in both Buddhist (Bhallatiya Jataka) and Jain annals.[25] It was then that the legendary Dhaj (Rai Diyach in Sindhi folklore) built Rori Shankar, Rohri and Sukkur in Pakistan in the year 450 BC.
Monarch | Sindhi |
---|---|
Dhaj (Ror Kumar) | (ڌج (رور ڪمار |
Kunak | ڪنڪ |
Rurak | رورڪ |
Harak | هارڪ |
Devanik | ڏيوانڪ |
Ahinak | احينڪ |
Paripat | پاريپٽ |
Bal Shah | بال شاهه |
Vijay Bhan | وجيڀن |
Khangar | خانگر |
Brihadrath (Raja Ror) | (برهدرٿ (راجا رور |
Har Ansh | هر انش |
Brihad-datt | برهدر دت |
Ishman | اشمن |
Sridhar | شريدھر |
Mohri | موهري |
Prasann Ket | پرسن ڪيٽ |
Amirvan | اميرون |
Mahasen | ماحسن |
Brihad-dhaul | برهدر ڌول |
Harikeert | هرڪيئرٽ |
Som | سوم |
Mitravan | مترون |
Pushyapata | پوشي پٽا |
Sudaav | سوداو |
Bideerakh | بيدرک |
Nahakman | ناحڪمن |
Mangalmitra | منگلميترا |
Surat | سورٽ |
Pushkar Ket | پوشڪر ڪيٽ |
Antar Ket | انتڙ ڪيٽ |
Sutjaya | ستجيا |
Brihad-dhwaj | برهدر ڌواج |
Bahuk | باهڪ |
Kampjayi | ڪمپجئي |
Kagnish | ڪگنيش |
Kapish | ڪپش |
Sumantra | سومنتر |
Ling-laav | لنگ لاو |
Manasjit | مانس جيت |
Sunder Ket | سندر ڪيٽ |
Dadror | دادرور |
Today 36 Indo-Greek kings are known. Several of them are also recorded in Western and Indian historical sources, but the majority are known through numismatic evidence only. The exact chronology and sequencing of their rule is still a matter of scholarly inquiry, with adjustments regular being made with new analysis and coin finds (overstrikes of one king over another's coins being the most critical element in establishing chronological sequences).
There is an important evolution of coin shape (round to square) and material (from gold to silver to brass) across the territories and the periods, and from Greek type to Indian type over a period of nearly 3 centuries. Also, the quality of coinage illustration decreases down to the 1st century AD. Coinage evolution is an important point of Indo-Greek history, and actually one of the most important since most of these kings are only known by their coins, and their chronology is mainly established by the evolution of the coin types.
The system used here is adapted from Osmund Bopearachchi, supplemented by the views of R C Senior and occasionally other authorities.[27]
Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kings, their coins, territories and chronology
Based on Bopearachchi (1991)[28] | ||||||||||||
Greco-Bactrian kings | Indo-Greek kings | |||||||||||
Territories/
dates |
West Bactria | East Bactria | Paropamisade | Arachosia | Gandhara | Western Punjab | Eastern Punjab | Mathura[29] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
326–325 BC | Campaigns of Alexander the Great in India![]() |
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312 BC | Creation of the Seleucid Empire | |||||||||||
305 BC | Seleucid Empire after Mauryan war | |||||||||||
280 BC | Foundation of Ai-Khanoum | |||||||||||
255–239 BC | Independence of the | |||||||||||
239–223 BC | Diodotus II![]() |
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230–200 BC | Euthydemus I![]() |
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200–190 BC | Demetrius I![]() |
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190–185 BC | Euthydemus IIFile:EuthydemusIICoin.jpg | |||||||||||
190–180 BC | Agathocles![]() |
Pantaleon![]() |
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185–170 BC | Antimachus I![]() |
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180–160 BC | Apollodotus I![]() |
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175–170 BC | Demetrius II![]() |
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160–155 BC | Antimachus II![]() |
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170–145 BC | Eucratides![]() |
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155–130 BC | Yuezhi occupation,
loss of Ai-Khanoum |
Eucratides II![]() |
Menander I![]() | |||||||||
130–120 BC | Yuezhi occupation | Zoilos IFile:ZoilosI-525.jpg | Agathokleia![]() |
![]() Yavanarajya inscription | ||||||||
120–110 BC | LysiasFile:Lysias-150.jpg | Strato I![]() | ||||||||||
110–100 BC | Antialcidas![]() |
Heliokles II![]() | ||||||||||
100 BC | Polyxenos![]() |
Demetrius IIIFile:Demetrius Aniketou.jpg | ||||||||||
100–95 BC | Philoxenus![]() | |||||||||||
95–90 BC | Diomedes![]() |
Amyntas![]() |
Epander![]() | |||||||||
90 BC | TheophilosFile:Theophilos-634.jpg | Peukolaos![]() |
Thraso![]() | |||||||||
90–85 BC | Nicias![]() |
Menander II![]() |
Artemidoros![]() | |||||||||
90–70 BC | Hermaeus![]() |
Archebius![]() | ||||||||||
Yuezhi occupation | Maues (Indo-Scythian) | |||||||||||
75–70 BC | Telephos![]() |
Apollodotus II![]() |
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65–55 BC | Hippostratos![]() |
Dionysios![]() |
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55–35 BC | Azes I (Indo-Scythian) | Zoilos II |
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55–35 BC | Apollophanes![]() |
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25 BC – AD 10 | Strato II and Strato III![]() |
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Zoilos III/ Bhadayasa![]() | ||||||||||||
Rajuvula (Indo-Scythian) |
This branch of Indo-Scythian ruled over regions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Eastern Afghanistan and Gandhara region.
Ruler | Image | Title | Approx. dates | Mentions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hagamasha | ![]() |
Satrap | 1st century BCE | In the archaeological excavations of Sonkh, near Mathura, the earliest coins of the Kshatrapa levels were those of Hagamasha.[30] |
Hagana | ![]() |
Satrap | 1st century BCE | |
Rajuvula | ![]() |
Great Satrap | early 1st century BCE | |
Bhadayasa | ![]() |
Satrap | 1st century CE | Possible successor of Rajuvula in Eastern Punjab |
Sodasa | ![]() |
Satrap | 1st century CE | Son of Rajuvula in Mathura |
Kharapallana | ![]() |
Great Satrap | c. CE 130 | Great Satrap for Kushan ruler Kanishka I |
Vanaspara | ![]() |
Satrap | c. CE 130 | Satrap for Kushan ruler Kanishka I |
Apracharajas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
Ruler | Image | Filiation | Approx. dates | Mentions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vijayamitra | ![]() |
12 /15 BCE - 15 CE | Queen: Rukhana | |
Indravasu | Son of Vijayamitra | c. 20 CE | Queen: Vasumitra | |
Vispavarma or Visnuvarma | ![]() |
Son of Indravasu | Queen: Śiśirena | |
Iṃdravarmo | ![]() |
Son of Vispavarma | Queen: Utara | |
Aspo or Aspavarmo | ![]() |
Son of Indravarma | 15 - 45 CE | |
Sasan | Contemporary of Kujula Kadphises and Mujatria.[31] |
This branch of Indo-Scythian ruled over regions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and beyond.
(main founder of the Western Satraps)
One of the most recent list of rulers with dates is as follows:[32]
The following Kushanshahs were:[34]
Pakistani musical instruments are the musical instruments that developed and are used in Pakistan or the Greater Indus region. Pakistani classical music, also known as Hindustani classical music, uses a lot of instruments. These instruments known as Vadya are traditionally grouped into five types. The five types are: Tat Vadya which are string instruments played with fingers or a plectrum; Vitat Vadya which are string instruments played with a bow; Avanadh Vadya which are percussion instruments that are hollow and covered with membranes; Ghana Vadya which are non- Membranous Percussive Instruments based upon percussive instruments which do not have membranes, specifically those which have solid resonators; and Sushir Vadya which are wind instruments played by blowing air. There are other instruments considered traditional but may not fit in these groups.
The Abbasid Dynasty of Bahawalpur traces its descent to the sixth Abbasid Caliph of Egypt who In the second half of the 14th century migrated to Sindh.[35]
Located on the other side of the Radcliffe Line from Bikaner and Jaisalmer, Bahawalpur was a seventeen-gun-salute state. It joined the ranks of the princely states under British paramountcy in 1833 after seeking the East India Company's protection against Ranjit Singh, the Sikh ruler of Punjab. Its sovereign in 1947 was Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan V, sixtieth in a line of descent that traced its origins to Al Abbas Ibn Abdul al Muttalib, an uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, through the Abbasid caliphs of Cairo and Baghdad. Bahawalpur was founded by Nawab Mohammad Bahawal Khan II in 1802 after the fall of the Durrani dynasty of Afghanistan that had occupied the region. Once stretching as far north as the Sutlej and Indus rivers, Bahawalpur had strategic importance and had been used as a base by the British for their campaigns in Baluchistan, Sind and Afghanistan.
Credit for turning a feudal backwater into a modern state with grand public buildings, canals, railways, and an efficient administration goes to Sadiq Muhammad Khan IV, who ascended the gaddi at the age of four and was invested with full powers at the age of eighteen in 1879. Unlike his traditionally dressed father, Sadiq Muhammad V belonged to the 'breeches and boots and flannels for cricket' school of ruler and prided himself on his European tastes, though he was also fanatical about his ancestry and wore a fez to emphasize his Abbasid roots.[36]
...archaeologists often call the whole area the Greater Indus Region or the Greater Indus Valley. Thus, Ancient Pakistan is essentially the Greater Indus Valley; it is more a cultural and geographic unit than a political one.
The Greater Indus region is the easternmost portion of a large cultural and natural area of antiquity, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Thar Desert ...
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Over time, three major theories have developed concerning Harappan governance or system of rule. The first is that there was a single state encompassing all the communities of the civilization, given the similarity in artifacts, the evidence of planned settlements, the standardized ratio of brick size, and the apparent establishment of settlements near sources of raw material. The second theory posits that there was no single ruler, but a number of them representing each of the urban centers, including Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, and other communities. Finally, experts have theorized that the Indus Valley Civilization had no rulers as we understand them, with everyone enjoying equal status.
India and Pakistan remained among the king's dominions but both were set on republican courses, becoming republics within the Commonwealth in 1950 and 1956 respectively.
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