06th March 2018
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| Remnant of Fort |
You
can find the earliest references about “Chiniot Fort’’, when the Mongol Empire launched several invasions into the Indian subcontinent from 1221 to 1327. Mongol commander Mughlai killed
Machi Khan, the ruler of Bhera. Afterwards, the cities of Chiniot and Bhera got
captured by Mongols. In year 1391, Chini the sister of Machi Khan attacked Chiniot.
The Mongol commander Mughlai came out of the Chiniot city but got defeated by
Chini army. Mughlai escaped from the war site and took refuge inside the
Chiniot Fort. Chini army sieges the fort for three month and at last got
victorious. The fort was badly destroyed in this period. Chini rebuilt the fort
and city.
In
some references also found out Mughal Commander Tar Tai attacked Chiniot in
1398. The Fort rebuilt by Chini again got destroyed.
The
Ain-i-Akbari or the “Constitution of Akbar” is a 16th Century
detailed document recording the administration of Emperor Akbar’s Empire. You can find earliest references about
“Chiniot Fort “in this book.
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| Remnant of Fort |
According,
to Ain-i-Akbari there was a strong fortified Fort present in Chiniot, a military
of five hundred horsemen along with five thousand infantry was stationed inside
this fort. From Akbar Azam to Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Fort remained under the control of Mughal Rulers. During the rule
of Emperor Jahangir, this fort was renovated by Lahore Governor Nawab Wazir
Khan.
After the Mughals, this fort was used under “Sials Nawab”. In the book “History of Punjab” by Kenhya Lal you
will find the names of Sardar Karam Singh and Sardar Jasa Singh. These Sikh Sardar
took control of this fort from Sials. These Sikh Sardar’s created an
atmosphere of fear and discomfort in the whole area. Looting and killing unarmed
villagers was common during this time. Complain against these Sardar at last
reached in a court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. After conquering the fort of Daska in the year 1802, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh reached Chiniot with his army to help the
populace of Chiniot. These Sikh Sardar run from the site and took refuge inside
the Fort. Maharaja siege the fort,
however, he has to leave Chiniot after two months after hearing news that the Kasur Muslim
ruler was preparing to attack Lahore. Raja Ranjeet Singh Army again attacked
this fort in the year 1806, this time they came with heavy artillery. The city of
Chiniot was completely destroyed after this attack. People of Chiniot still
remembered that day, there is one story famous among the Chiniot populace. When
Raja Ranjeet Singh's army attacked Chiniot, along with other populace seventy
grooms were killed on the same day.
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| Remnant of Fort Wall |
No
renovation or protection work was done in the British period. Now only, a few parts of the external wall have
left.
It
is said that all old houses of Chiniot were constructed from bricks stolen from this
fort. An edifice of historical importance that has seen the different civilizations
of our land is no more with us.
