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History:
Under Nawab Sultan Muqarrab Khan Gakhar (r. 1739–1767), the Gakhars reached their peak of power and operated as a de facto independent state for the first time in their modern history. While his ancestors were loyal Mughal mansabdars, Muqarrab Khan exploited the 18th-century decline of the Mughal Empire to establish a sovereign Gakhar kingdom. Shift to Independence
- Seizing Territory: In 1740–1741, Muqarrab Khan expanded far beyond the traditional Gakhar ancestral jagirs (Pharwala and Dahan Gali). He conquered the cities of Gujrat and Jhelum and established Gujrat as his capital in 1758.
- Sovereign Authority: He was the first Gakhar ruler to act as a monarch, even striking his own currency (coins) in the name of "Sultan".
- Defeating Rivals: He asserted independence by defeating regional competitors, including the Yusufzai and Khattak tribes.
Strategic Alliances (Vassalage)Muqarrab Khan maintained independence from the crumbling Mughal court in Delhi by shifting his allegiance to the rising Afghan powers:
- Nadir Shah: He succeeded his father in 1739 after submitting to Nadir Shah during the Persian invasion.
- Ahmad Shah Abdali: He became a powerful vassal of the Durrani Empire, supporting Ahmad Shah Abdali in various Indian campaigns. To cement this alliance, he married his daughter to the Durrani emperor.
The Fall of the Gakhar State: His independence ended not because of the Mughals, but due to the rise of the Sikh Misls. In December 1765, the Bhangi Misl chiefs, Gujar Singh and Charat Singh, defeated Muqarrab Khan at the Battle of Gujrat. He was forced to retreat to Jhelum and was eventually killed in 1767 by rival Gakhar chiefs, marking the end of unified Gakhar rule.
examples of Coinage:
GAKKHAR: Sultan Adam, fl. 1545-1555, AE falus (8.95g), Pharwalah, ND, G-SG1, ruler's name fully clear, VF to EF, RRR.
https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1833369
Rupee. 1131 AH [1719 CE] 10.92g. Mint: Sultanpur [Sultanpur fort located about 8 kilometers from Mangla]. Metal: Silver. Obverse: (Darmiyan) Attock wa Jehlum shud (M)uqarrab Badshah - (Zar)b Sultan(pur) [words in brackets are off flan]. [Translation: Between Attock (River Indus) and Jehlum (River Jehlum) only Muqarrab is King, Mint: Sultanpur]. Reverse: Kalma written in a script similar to Naskh without any outline or border: La Ilaha Ila Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah. Ruler: Nawab Sultan Muqarrab Khan Gakhar.
Falus. 1168 AH [1755 CE] 5.58g. Mint: Pharwala. (Near Islamabad). Metal: Copper. Obverse: Darmiyan Attock wa Jehlum shud Muqarrab Badshah [Between Attock (River Indus) and Jehlum (River Jehlum) only Muqarrab is King]. Reverse: Bey hamdey' hee Zarb Pharwala [By his (God's) grace, struck at Pharwala]. Ruler: Nawab Sultan Muqarrab Khan Gakhar.
Ruling authorities to add:
- Muqarrab Khan Gakhar
- Sultan Adam Khan Gakhar (His only known image is in the painting)
sources:
