Umar Soomro I
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| Jalaluddin Umar | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8th Sardar of Soomra dynasty | |||||
| Reign | 1142-1182 | ||||
| Predecessor | Khafif Soomro | ||||
| Successor | Dodo II | ||||
| Died | 1182 | ||||
| Issue | Dodo II | ||||
| |||||
| House | House of Soomar | ||||
| Dynasty | Soomra dynasty | ||||
| Father | Soomar | ||||
| Religion | Ismaili Islam[citation needed] | ||||
Jalaluddin Umar bin dodo I Soomro (Sindhi: جلال الدين عمر بن دودو اول سومرو) was the 8th Sardar of the Soomra Dynasty and the Ruler of Sindh from 1142 till 1182.[1] He is an influential figure in the folklore of Sindh and connected with the folklore of Umar Marvi.[2][3]
Life
[edit]He was the second brother of Hamun Bai, the Wife of Sultan Sanghar Soomro, he ascended the throne after his brother Sultan Khafif II Soomro died. It appears that he was the son of a certain Doda Soomra who was probably a Chieftain of the Soomra tribe of Tharparker and not Sultan Dodo I Soomro as Dodo I Soomro was the Father of Sultan Sanghar Soomro.[4][5]
Conflict with Kutch
[edit]First Conflict
[edit]As Umar was a young man when he ascended the throne he spent much of his time on pleasures and did not care much for the treasury or the affairs of the Kingdom. The Sammas of Kutch, Sodha, Jat and Baloch tribes who were subjects of the Soomras before had now stopped paying tribute. Hearing this Mullah Hamid, His Vazir, advised him to gather an army and march against these tribes.
He first went against Jareja Sammas of Kutch in the first battle the Sammas were victorious and Umar Soomro was forced to make a retreat.[6]
Second Conflict
[edit]After seeing the defeat in the first attack Mullah Hamid gathered the chiefs of his army and reunited the forces and honored them with rewards, and made this speech: "Thatta is very far and resources are scarce. If we fight the enemy with full strength and overpower them, a vast amount of wealth and property will fall into our hands, and we will be able to return home safely. The words encouraged them to continue. Against Sammas and in a single attack Defeated them. A vast amount of Loot fell in the hands of Soomras. One of the Chiefs of Sammas Jagan Nat came forward to seek forgiveness for the disobedience and presented offerings.[7]
Subjection of Sodhas, Jats and Balochs
[edit]The Tribes of Sodha, Jat, and Baloch who became disobedient were also subjected by Sultan Umar Soomro, After which they brought presents and asked for forgiveness from Umar Soomro.
Conflict with Ghurids
[edit]Sultan Umar I Soomro was on bad terms with Muhammad of Ghor because Soomro belonged to the Ismaili Faith,[8] during that time Umar Soomro had the possession of Multan and Ismailis thrived in Multan.[9][10]
Ghurid Occupation of Multan
[edit]During 1175 Uch and Multan were under the Soomras, either Umar or Khafif. later Ghurids Captured Multan from Soomras.[9][11]
Sack of Bhadresar
[edit]During the reign of Umar Soomro the relations between the Soomra dynasty of Sindh and the Chalukya dynasty of Gujarat Deteriorated leading to a serious of Raids and Expeditions done by Umar Soomro on the Chalukya territories finally leading to the Conquest of Bhadresar by Umar Soomro and Sirajuddin Fateh Khan Pathu Soomro.[12]
Sack of Bhadresar 1178
[edit]The Soomra chief of Tharparker Sirajuddin Fateh Khan Pathu Soomro along with the help of Sultan Umar I Soomro conquered the whole of Kutch and reached the city of Bhadresar, which he destroyed and returned to Nagar Parkar
In retaliation, the Chalukya King, Bhim dev II sent an expedition against Pathu but Pathu had already escaped.[13][14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Panhwar, M. H. (October 2011). Umer Soomro (ed.). Six Thousand Years of History of Irrigation in Sindh (1st ed.). Karachi: Department of Culture, Government of Sindh.
- ↑ Rahman, Khalil ur. "Male Character of Shah Bhitai: Umar Soomro" (PDF). Kalachi Research Journal. University of Karachi.
- ↑ Baloch, Nabi Bakhsh (1990). Sindhi Bolee Ain Adab Jee Taareekh (in Sindhi). Jamshoro: Institute of Sindhology, University of Sindh.
- ↑ Panhwar, M. H. (1983). Chronological Dictionary of Sindh. Jamshoro: Institute of Sindhology, University of Sind. p. 369.
Khafif died and was succeeded by his brother Umer-I, who died in 1180-81 or 576 A. H.
- ↑ Haq, Mahar Abdul (2010). Soomra Raj Gharano (in Sindhi). Karachi: Department of Culture, Government of Sindh. p. 115.
- ↑ Nizami, Maulana Abdul Karim (2020). Sindh ji Tarikh (Soomran ji Tarikh ain Soomra Daur) (in Sindhi). Translated by Dr. Ali Akbar Aseer Qureshi. Shikarpur: Mehran Academy. p. 180. ISBN 978-969-608-041-1.
- ↑ Nizami, Maulana Abdul Karim (2020). Sindh ji Tarikh (Soomran ji Tarikh ain Soomra Daur) (in Sindhi). Translated by Dr. Ali Akbar Aseer Qureshi. Shikarpur: Mehran Academy. p. 180. ISBN 978-969-608-041-1.
- ↑ Siddiqui, Habibullah. "The Soomras of Sindh: Their Origin, Main Characteristics and Rule – An Overview (General Survey) (1025–1351 AD)" (PDF). Literary Conference on Soomra Period in Sindh. Karachi: University of Karachi. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
- 1 2 Wink, André (1 January 2002). "Garrison, Plain and March". Al-Hind, Volume 2 Slave Kings and the Islamic Conquest, 11th-13th Centuries. Vol. 2. Brill. pp. 243–246. doi:10.1163/9789004483019_012. ISBN 978-90-04-48301-9.
- ↑ Shrimali, K. M.; Sharma, R. S., eds. (2025). Comprehensive History of Early India: From the Palaeolithic to AD 300. Brill. p. 184. ISBN 9789004753044.
- ↑ Panhwar, M. H. (1983). Chronological Dictionary of Sindh. Jamshoro: Institute of Sindhology, University of Sind. p. 373.
- ↑ Siddiqui, Habibullah. "The Soomras of Sindh: Their Origin, Main Characteristics and Rule – An Overview (General Survey) (1025–1351 AD)" (PDF). Literary Conference on Soomra Period in Sindh. Karachi: University of Karachi. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
- ↑ Panhwar, M. H. (1983). Chronological Dictionary of Sindh. Jamshoro: Institute of Sindhology, University of Sind. p. 375.
- ↑ Panhwar, M. H. (2016). Sindh-Cutch Relations (PDF). Karachi: Sindhika Academy. p. 80.
1175 AD and his son Rayadhan took over. The Chaulakayas of Gujarat seem to have organized an uprising in Cutch, and in retaliation Pithu (a Soomra chief Phatu) conquered the whole of Cutch, reached the city of Bhadvesvara, which he destroyed. Thus he seems to have helped Rayadhan to have firm control over Cutch. Gujarat ruler Bhima Deva Chaulakaya-II (1178-1241 AD), is said to have sent an expedition against Phatu, who is reported to have fled. In any case advantage went to Sindh by firmly establishing Rayadhan.