Coins of Queen Didda of Kashmir
Ca 958 AD
Kashmir
Coins from the reign of Queen Didda of Kashmir, one of the most famous queens and also one who is renowned for her strict government, executions, imprisonments and cruelty. With incrustations and losses.
Culture
Kashmir
Period
ca 958 AD
Context
Didda was the ruler of Kashmir from 980 CE to 1003 CE, first as a Regent for her son and various grandsons, and from 980 as sole ruler and monarch. Most knowledge relating to her is obtained from the Rajatarangini, a work written by Kalhana in the twelfth century.
Didda was a daughter of Simharāja, the king of Lohara, and a granddaughter on her maternal side of Bhimadeva Shahi, one of the Hindu Shahi of Kabul. He visited Didda in Lohara frequently. Lohara lay in the Pir Panjal range of mountains, on a trade route between western Punjab and Kashmir. She was resented by her father as she was a cripple. Vigraharaja, her cousin brother was the heir to the throne until Udayaraja was born to Simharaja. She married the king of Kashmir, Ksemagupta, thus uniting the kingdom of Lohara with that of her husband. Even prior to becoming Regent Didda had considerable influence in state affairs, and coins have been found which appear to show both her name and that of Ksemagupta. When Ksemagupta died following a fever contracted after a hunt in 958, he was succeeded by his son, Abhimanyu II. As Abhimanyu was still a child, Didda acted as Regent and effectively exercised sole power. Compared to other societies of the period, women in Kashmir were held in high regard.
Her first task was to rid herself of troublesome ministers and nobles, whom she drove from office only to have them rebel against her. The situation was tense and she came close to losing control, but having asserted her position with support from others, including some whom she bribed, Didda displayed a ruthlessness in executing not only the rebels who had been captured but also their families. Further trouble erupted in 972 when Abhimanyu died. He was succeeded by his son, Nandigupta, still a young child himself, and this caused restlessness among the Dāmaras, who were feudatory landlords and later to cause huge problems for the Lohara dynasty which Didda founded.
In 973 she “disposed of” Nandigupta, in Stein’s phrase, and then did the same to Tribhuvanagupta, his younger brother, in 975. This left her youngest grandson, Bhimagupta, on the throne, again with Didda as Regent. Her desire for absolute power became untrammeled, especially after the death of Phalunga, a counsellor who had been prime minister of her husband before being exiled by Didda after Ksemagupta’s death and then brought back into her fold when his skills were required. She also took a lover called Tunga at this time, and although he was a mere herdsman, this provided her with a sense of security sufficient that in 980 she arranged for Bhimagupta to be tortured to death and assumed unfettered control for herself, with Tunga as her prime minister. She is one of the very few female monarchs in Indian history. Although there remained some discontent among the Dāmaras, Didda and Tunga were able to resolve the issues by force and by diplomacy, causing Stein to comment that
The statesmanlike instinct and political ability which we must ascribe to Didda in spite of all the defects of her character, are attested by the fact that she remained to the last in peaceful possession of the Kashmir throne, and was able to bequeath it to her family in undisputed succession.
For more information on Queen Didda, her reign, and her coins, click here.
Size
Vary
Material
Metal
Inventory Code
IGC20.2014.73
Other Pictures
Side 1
Side 2
