Chapter 5
The reign of Shah Fath
While we have no information if the great-grandfather of Shah Fath, Shah Kallar II ever responded to claims of him being Skanda Incarnate, we most certanly know, that Fath was well aware of people believing in him being an avatara of Indra, King of Gods and God of the Weather. He reinforced this image through public appearances on the elephant, and through the use of Vajra as a symbol of Imperial power. The tradition of deification of Shahs truly begins with Fath.
Indra, Thunder-God and Ruler of Heavens
Vajra, word can be translated as "diamond" or "thunderbolt", the symbol of Indra.
Ascended to the throne in the age of 5 years, he inherited rather unstable kingdom. Imperial army was finishing its conquest of Mosul, and his eldest brother proclaimed himself an independent Shah of Belujistan, Fars and Sistan. This short-lived policy prove however to be a blessing in disguise. Any dissident not content with the policy of Regent council, can just move to the court of other Shahi dynast, without need to participate in factions and conspiracies against Shah Fath. By the year 1019 the conquest of Mosul had been completed. The next year, 1020, saw probably the most important betrothal in Indian history, Shah Fath was betrothed to the ruler of Prathihara kingdom, Maharani Kumaradevi. Their future son would inherit both Shahi and Prathihara.
In the same year the military campaign against Belujistan was started. Belujistan was weird kingdom, ruling over isolated enclaves, surrounded by Shahi territory. The richest and most populated province, Merchant republic of Sistan proclaimed independence. However, due to near constant wars with Muslims in the West, Belujistan was subjugated only by 1028. The restoration of Imperial power in Sistan begun the same year.
In 1033, 2 years since the the return of Sistan, in the Imperial palace of Kabul Fath proclaimed himself Shahinshah of Afghans and Non-Afghans, stating, that all peoples of the World should be brought under benevolent rule of Shahi dynasty.
The following military campaigns acquired Djazira (1037) and Basra (1046), Hindu faith was triumphant in newly conquered lands, Great Temples of Agni, Skanda and Indra were built in Baghdad and other formerly Muslim cities. The only sizeable minority was Buddhists in Afghanistan, the local tribes and clans, true builders of Empire, continued their traditions. In Afghanistan Shahi dynasty wasn't seen as Godlike, but rather as the first among Afghan tribes, conquerors of the world. This led to emergence of esoteric mix of two Imperial religions: while laymen, most of population, were told stories of Godlike Emperors, avataras of Gods, the inner circle, consisting of Afghan aristocracy, were initiated into Vajrayana Buddhism influenced mysteries of chosen tribes and clans, predestined to rule the world, with Shahi first among them.
1049 saw the return of Romano-Persian wars, the war fought over Suenik in Armenia. For the first time in a very long time, Afghans were defeated.
Muslims, now united under banner of Fatimid dynasty, claiming descent from Prophet's daughter Fatima and Ali, his cousin and son-in-law. Fatimids, an old Shi'a house, made use of Taqqiya principle, appearing as Sunnis to the masses of followers. Jihad for Mesopotamia begun in 1056.
Although in the initial phase of Jihad saw limited Muslim success, the combined forces of Shahi and Prathihara were just to much to beat. In the same year the bethrotal between Fath's son Hormoz and Maharani Thirumalbike, the Empress of Maharashtra were made, thus, possibly, uniting all of India under future son of Hormoz.
In 1058 Caliph Sadaddin was killed in battle, his child-son succeeding him, throwing the remnants of Caliphate in turmoil, 4 years later, in 1064, all hostilities seized.
Shah Fath became incapable in 1064 and died following year, official propaganda claiming that he returned to rule Heavens' kingdom. His Hormoz succeed him.
Indra doing his job, those Hindus know what "awesome" means!
