Patola Shahis

Between 399 and 414, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Faxian visited Gilgit-Baltistan. Between 627 and 645, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang travelled through this region on his pilgrimage to India. According to Chinese records from the Tang dynasty, between the 600s and the 700s, the region was governed by a Buddhist dynasty referred to as Bolü (), also transliterated as Palola, Patola, Balur. They are believed to be the Patola Sāhi dynasty mentioned in a Brahmi inscription, and are devout adherents of Vajrayana Buddhism. At the time, Little Palola () was used to refer to Gilgit, while Great Palola () was used to refer to Baltistan. However, the records do not consistently disambiguate the two. The first known Palola Shahi, as recorded by the Tang annals, was King Somana in the 6th century CE. A few Buddhist paintings from the cover of manuscripts in the Sharada script are also known from this period in Gilgit. ==Tang suzerainty==

of the Chinese Tang dynasty. Circa 650 CE, Gilgit came under Tang suzerainty at the time the fall of Western Turkic Khaganate due to Tang military campaigns in the region. As early as 656 the Tibetan Empire attacked the Patola Shahis southwest of the Tang protectorate. In the late 600s CE, the rising Tibetan Empire wrestled control of the region from the Tang dynasty. Faced with growing influence of the Umayyad Caliphate and then the Abbasid Caliphate to the west, the Tibetan Empire was forced to ally themselves with the Islamic caliphates. The region was then contested by Tang and Tibetan forces, and their respective vassal states, until the mid-700s. Rulers of Gilgit formed an alliance with the Tang dynasty and held back the Arabs with their help. Between 644 and 655, Navasurendrāditya-nandin became king of Palola Sāhi dynasty in Gilgit. Numerous Sanskrit inscriptions, including the Danyor Rock Inscriptions, were discovered to be from his reign. In the late 600s and early 700s, Jayamaṅgalavikramāditya-nandin was king of Gilgit. By at least 719/720, Ladakh (Mard) became part of the Tibetan Empire. By that time, Buddhism was practiced in Baltistan, and Sanskrit was the written language. Buddhism became firmly established in the region. Great monasteries were established, with education in Sanskrit language regarding Indian religions and philosophy. Trade expanded between Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan. The rulers of Leh in Ladakh became increasingly influential in Balti culture and customs, and the chiefs of the region became vassals to the Ladakhis and Tibetan paramountcy. In 720, the delegation of Surendrāditya () reached the Tang imperial court. He was referred to by Tang records as the king of Great Palola; however, it is unknown if Baltistan was under Gilgit rule at the time. The Tang emperor also granted the ruler of Cashmere, Chandrāpīḍa ("Tchen-fo-lo-pi-li"), the title of "King of Cashmere". By 721/722, Baltistan had come under the influence of the Tibetan Empire. In 721–722, the Tibetan army attempted but failed to capture Gilgit or Bruzha (Yasin valley). By this time, according to Tang records, the king of Little Palola was Mo-ching-mang (). He had visited Tang court requesting military assistance against the Tibetans. Numerous ornate gilded Buddhas, often wearing elaborate crowns, are known from Gilgit at this period, which were often dedicated by local rulers. Among the dignitaries which have been recorded in these inscriptions are: Shri Surabi in 678 CE, Princess Devasri in 714 CE, King Nandivikramadityanandi in 715 CE. The figures of the kings frequently appear as donors at the base of these statues, together with identifying inscriptions. ==Tibetan suzerainty==

citing the areas of Gilgit-Baltistan as part of its territory in 780–790 CE , 9th-early 10th century CE, possibly Gilgit In 737/738, Tibetan troops under the leadership of Minister Bel Kyesang Dongtsab of Emperor Me Agtsom took control of Little Palola. By 747, the Tang army under the leadership of Gao Xianzhi had recaptured Little Palola. The Patola Shahis were then restored on the throne for some undetermined time. Great Palola was subsequently captured by the Tang army in 753 under the military governor Feng Changqing. However, by 755, due to the An Lushan rebellion, the Tang forces withdrew and were no longer able to exert influence in Central Asia and in the regions around Gilgit-Baltistan. The control of the region was left to the Tibetan Empire. They referred to the region as Bruzha, a toponym that is consistent with the ethnonym "Burusho" used today. Tibetan control of the region lasted until late-800s CE. ==Rulers==

• Somana (Mid 6th century CE). • Vajraditayanandin (585–605 CE). • Vikramadityanandin (605–625 CE). • Surendravikramadityanandin (625–644 or 654 CE). • Navasurendrāditya-nandin (644 or 654–685 CE). • Jayamaṅgalavikramāditya-nandin (685–710 CE). • Nandivikramadityanandin (710–715 CE). • Su-fu-che-li-chi-li-ni (name by foreign sources) (715–720 CE). • Surendradityanandin (720–740 or 750 CE). == Aftermath ==

Ahmad Hasan Dani noted Gilgit traditions to mention of a Trakhan Dynasty succeeding to the Patola Shahis, and ruling continuously until the 19th century. == Notes ==