Arghun Tarkhans of Sindh, Mirza Muhammad Baqi Tarkhan, Falus, Balda Tatta

[sarwar khan]

The Arghun dynasty ruled the area between southern Afghanistan and the Sindh province of Pakistan from the late 15th century to the early 16th century. They claimed their descent and name from Ilkhanid-Mongol Arghun Khan , and were a dynasty of either Mongol , The Arghuns can be divided into two branches: the Arghun branch of Dhu'l-Nun Beg Arghun that ruled until 1554, and the Tarkhan branch of Muhammad Isa Tarkhan that ruled until 1591.

In 1522 Babur took Kandahar after a drawn out siege and annexed it. Following this, Shah Beg made Bukkur (Lower Sindh) his official capital. He died in 1524 and his son Shah Husayn succeeded him. Shah Husayn had the khutba read in Babur's name and attacked Multan , probably at Babur's insistence. Multan , which was ruled by the Langah , fell in 1528 after an extended siege and Shah Husayn appointed a governor of the city. Shortly after Shah Husayn departed Multan for Thatta , however, the governor was thrown out of the city. The rebels administered Multan for a time independently, but soon afterwards submitted to the Mughal Empire , which had been founded by Babur after his capture of Delhi in 1526.

In 1540 Shah Husayn had to deal with the arrival of Babur's successor Humayun , who had been expelled from Hindustan by Sher Shah Suri . Humayun implored Shah Husayn to provide assistance in fighting against Sher Shah, but was unable to convince him to do so. Some time after this Humayun later attempted to wrest Sindh from Shah Husayn, but the latter was able to force a stalemate. The Mughal Emperor eventually agreed to leave Sindh and made his way to Kandahar in 1543.

Shah Husayn became increasingly incapable of ruling as he approached the end of his life. Because of this, the nobles of Sindh decided to elect Mirza Muhammad 'Isa Tarkhan, who was a member of a senior branch of the Arghuns, as their ruler in 1554. Shah Husayn was set aside and died childless in 1556.

Tarkhan branch
During the civil war between Shah Husayn and Muhammad 'Isa Tarkhan, the latter had sent a request for the help to the Portuguese at Bassein . A 700-man force under the command of Pedro Barreto Rolim sailed up to Thatta in 1555, only to find that Muhammad 'Isa Tarkhan had already won the conflict and there was no need for their assistance. Furious at the governor of Thatta's refusal to pay them, the Portuguese sacked the defenseless city and killed several thousand people.

Muhammad 'Isa Tarkhan was soon forced to deal with a rival claimant, Sultan Mahmud Kokaltash reverently referred to as Sultan Mahmud Koka . He was eventually compelled to make peace with Sultan Mahmud; the two agreed that Muhammad 'Isa Tarkhan would keep lower Sindh, with his capital at Thatta, while Sultan Mahmud would rule upper Sindh from Bakhar. In 1567 Muhammad 'Isa Tarkhan died and was succeeded by his son Muhammad Baqi.

During the latter's reign upper Sindh was annexed by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1573.
Mirza Muhammad Baqi committed suicide in 1585, and was succeeded by his son Mirza Jani Beg. In 1591 Akbar sent an army to conquer lower Sindh. Jani Beg put up a resistance but was defeated by the Mughal forces and his principality was annexed. In 1599 he died of delirium tremens .

Details about the Coin :-

Sultan :-  Mirza Muhammad Baqi Tarkhan (1567-85 AD),
Denomination :- Copper Falus
Issue year :- 978  AH, 1570 AD
Obv:- bird (peacock) and floral ornaments,
Rev:- zarb (Totally out of flan) falus baldat tattah.
Mint :- tattah
Weight :- 2.08g,
Condition :-  very fine,
Rarity :- scarce but in my opinion it's Rare because these coin never acquire easily !!

I posted coin with Superb overlay

[THCoins]

Thanks for the write-up, i did not know much about this dynasty at all. I keep learning all the time ! And indeed great overlay !

Anthony

[sarwar khan]

Thanks for the write-up, i did not know much about this dynasty at all. I keep learning all the time ! And indeed great overlay !

Anthony

Thanks THCoins Sir for you're compliments

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