# Langah Sultanate

The Langah Sultanate was a late medieval sultanate based in the Punjab region in the western Indian subcontinent between the 15th and 16th centuries. It was the dominant power of the lower Doab tract with Multan at its centre. The Langah Sultanate was annexed in 1527 but had autonomous authority until its merger with the Mughal Empire in 1530.
The sultanate gave the Derajat region to the Mirani mercenaries who ruled it as their direct vassals.

## Origins

There is much uncertainty about the ethnic origins and even the chronology of the Langah rulers, as primary accounts differ among them widely.
Abd al-Haqq, author of Tārīkh-i ḥaqqī, states that the founder of the dynasty was one Buddhan Khan Sindhi. However, Firishta, Nizamuddin, Mir Ma'sum, Abbas Sarwani and Sujan Rai all consider the founder to be one Rai Sahra (or Sehra).
The ethnic origins of the Langah rulers are unclear. Suhail Zaheer Lari, who specialises in the history of Sindh and southern Pakistan, calls the tribe as Baloch. Dr. Mahmudul Hasan Siddiqi notes that the local traditions of Multan ascribe a Rajput origin to the Langahs, although contemporary Langahs are classed as Jats now.
The place of origin for the Langah rulers is similarly disputed, with Siwi (modern Sibi) and Rapar (in Mailsi tehsil, near Multan) being usually suggested. According to Siddiqi, it seems more than probable that Langahs were initially settled near Rapar, and their association with Siwi is probably a transcription error as they have never been noticed near it.

## History

After the invasion of Emir Timur in 1398, the Delhi Sultanate greatly weakened and the city of Multan became independent of the Sultanate of Delhi. The inhabitants chose Shaikh Yousaf Qureshi, a descendant of the famous Sufi Baha-ud-din Zakariya, as ruler in 1438. He was a mild and inexperienced ruler. In 1445, Rai Sahra, chief of the Langah, attacked the city at night with the help of his tribesmen, arrested Sheikh Yousaf and proclaimed himself sultan. In this way Multan passed to the Langah clan, thus establishing the Langah Sultanate. The reign of Sultan Husayn I, who ruled from 1469 to 1498, is considered to be the most illustrious of the Langah sultans. Multan experienced prosperity during this time, and a large number of Baloch settlers arrived in the city at the invitation of Shah Husayn. Shah Husayn successfully repulsed attempted invasion by the Delhi sultans led by Tatar Khan and Barbak Shah. He fought off attempts to reinstall Shiekh Yousaf, who had taken refuge under Delhi sultans. Eventually, he signed a peace treaty with Sikandar Lodi and abducted in the favour of his son. His successor, Budhan Khan, who assumed the title Sultan Mahmud Shah I, inherited the sultanate stretched encompassing the neighbouring regions, including the cities of Chiniot and Shorkot. During the rule of the Langah, a large number of Baloch tribes were allowed to settle in the Derajaat Border in turn for military service.

### Decline

Sultan Husayn I being unable to hold his trans-Indus possessions, assigned the region around Dera Ismail Khan to Sardar Malik Sohrab Dodai in 1469 or 1471 and appointed him as "Jagirdar". During the reign of Mahmud Langah, his Vizier rebelled and declared himself independent ruler of Sorkot. The city was invaded during the reign of Sultan Husseyn II by ruler Shah Husayn of the Arghun dynasty, probably at Babur's insistence. Multan fell in 1528 after an extended siege and Shah Husayn appointed his son Mirza Askari as governor of the city, assisted by Langar Khan, one of the powerful Amirs of Sultan Mahmud Langah I. Shortly after Shah Husayn departed Multan for Thatta, however, the governor was thrown out of the city. The rebels under Sultan Mahmud II administered Multan for a time independently but in 1541, Sher Shah Suri captured Multan, and the sultanate ended.

### Culture

The position of Multan as trans-regional mercantile centre for trade with the Islamic world remained dominant during the sultanate era. During their reign, Multan became the principle caravan route between Qandahar and Delhi. The extent of Multan's influence is also reflected in the construction of the Multani Caravanserai in Baku, Azerbaijan — which was built in the 15th century to house Multani merchants visiting the city. Legal records from the Uzbek city of Bukhara note that Multani merchants settled and owned land in the city in the late 1550s.
Another important feature of this era was migration of Baloch tribes and their settling in South Punjab. They soon became core of the military and held political positions in regions like Derajat.
Langahs are not known to have issued any coins, and no building built by the Langahs has survived. However, several mausolea belonging to the Langah period are still extant, including those of Bibi Jawindi (built c. 1494, Uch), Tahir Khan Nahar (built late 15th century, Sitpur) and Ghazi Khan Mirani (built c. 1495, Dera Ghazi Khan), among others.

### Ministers

Following is the list of known ministers of Langah Sultanate:
* Imadul Mulk (1469–1499), he was Vizier of Husseyn Langah I. He rebelled against him and was imprisoned.
* Jam Bayzid (1499–1503), he was Vizier of Mahmud Langah I. Due to his strained relations with the Sultan, he rebelled and declared himself independent ruler of Sorkot.
* Shuja Bukhari (1503–1518), He was Vizier of Mahmud Langah.
* Langar Khan (1518–1526), He was last Vizier of Sultanate. He assisted Shah Hussain Arghun to conquer Multan.

## Rulers

| Titular Name(s) | Personal Name | Reign |
| Sultan Qutbu'd-Din Mahmud I سلطان قطب الدین محمود اول | Rai Sahra Langah رائے ساحرہ لنگاہ | 1445 – 1469 |
| Sultan Husseyn I سلطان حسین اول | Husseyn Shah Langah حسین لنگاہ | 1469 – 1498 |
| Sultan Feroz سلطان فیروز | Feroz Khan Langah فیروز خان لنگاہ | 1498 – 1499 |
| Sultan Husseyn I سلطان حسین اول | Husseyn Shah Langah حسین لنگاہ | 1499 – 29 August 1502 |
| Sultan Mahmud II سلطان محمود دوم | Budha Khan Langah بدھا خان لنگاہ | 30 August 1502 – 1525 |
| Sultan Husseyn II سلطان حسین دوم | Husseyn Langah حسین لنگاہ | 1525 – 1527 |
| Sultan Lashkar سلطان لشکر | Lashkar Khan Langah لشکر خان لنگاہ | 1527 – 1530 |