[edit]
Main article: Early Muhammadan period in Lahore
Lahore appears as the capital of the Punjab for the first time under Anandapala – the Hindu Shahi king who is referred to as the ruler of (hakim i lahur) –after leaving the earlier capital of Waihind.[26] Few references to Lahore remain from before its capture by Sultan Mahmud of Ghaznavi in
the 11th century. The sultan took Lahore after a long siege and battle
in which the city was torched and depopulated. In 1021, Sultan Mahmud
appointed Malik Ayaz to the throne and made Lahore the capital of theGhaznavid Empire. As the first Muslim governor
of Lahore, Ayaz rebuilt and repopulated the city. He added many
important features, such as city gates and a masonry fort, built in
1037–1040 on the ruins of the previous one,[27] which had been demolished in the fighting (as recorded by Munshi Sujan Rae Bhandari, author of theKhulasatut Tawarikh in
1695–96). The present Lahore Fort stands on the same location. Under
Ayaz's rule, the city became a cultural and academic centre, renowned
for poetry.[28] The tomb of Malik Ayaz can still be seen in the Rang Mahal commercial area of town.[29]
After the fall of the Ghaznavid Empire, Lahore was ruled by various Turko-Afghan dynasties based in Delhi, known as the Delhi Sultanate,[30] including the Khiljis,Tughlaqs, Mamluk, Sayyid and Lodhis.[31] During the reign of Qutbu l-Din Aibak, Lahore was known as the 'Ghazni of India'. Scholars and poets from as far away asKashghar, Bukhara, Samarkand, Iraq, Khorasan and Herat, gathered in Lahore and made it a city of learning. Under Aibak, Lahore had more poets of Persian than any other Islamic city.[32] In 1286, Prince Muhammad, who was the son of Balban was defeated in an encounter with the Mongols in the city.[33]
Mughal era[edit]
Main article: Mughal period in Lahore
In the early 16th century, Babur, a Timurid descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan from Fergana Valley (modern day Uzbekistan), swept across the Khyber Pass and founded the Mughal Empire, covering modern day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.[34] The Mughals were descended from Central Asian Turco-Mongols .
Lahore reached the zenith of its glory during the Mughal rule from 1524
to 1752. Lahore reached the peak of its architectural glory during the
rule of the Mughals, many of whose buildings and gardens have survived
the ravages of time.[33]
Humayun, his son married Hamida Banu Begum in Lahore while fleeing to Persia. It was also the headquarters of Mughal rule during Akbar between 1584 to 1598. Thus along with Agra and Delhi,
it became an "alternate seat of imperial court". Akbar also held
discussions with various Portuguese missionaries in the city. Abul Fazl, his court historian calls it a "a great city in Bari Doab,in magnificance and populousness it has few equals".[35]
Afghan era[edit]
During the 18th century, as Mughal power dwindled, Punjab, including
Lahore, was often invaded, and government authority was lacking. In
1747, the Durrani Empire was established by Ahmad Shah Abdali in Afghanistan, during this period, Punjab saw frequent invasions by Ahmad Shah Abdali, The great Punjabi poet Baba Waris Shah said of the situation, "khada peeta lahy da, baqi Ahmad Shahy da"("we have nothing with us except what we eat and wear, all other things are for Ahmad Shah").
In 1758, the Maratha Empire's general Raghunathrao conquered Lahore, Attock and Peshawar, and drove out Timur Shah Durrani,
the son and viceroy of Ahmad Shah Abdali. Lahore, Multan, Peshawar,
Kashmir and other subahs on the south and eastern side of Attock were
under the Maratha rule for the most part. In Punjab and Kashmir, the
Marathas were now major players.[36] In 1761, following the victory at the Third Battle of Panipat between
the Durrani and the Maratha Empire, Ahmad Shah Abdali captured remnants
of the Maratha Empire in Punjab and Kashmir regions and consolidated
control over them.[37]
Sikh reign[edit]
Main article: Sikh period in Lahore
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