Subah of Lahore

The province ceased to exist as a political unit after the death of Adina Beg in 1758, with large parts being incorporated into Durrani Empire.

[3] In 1519, Babur first crossed the Indus River and took control of the entire Sind Sagar Doab up to Bhera and Khushab and by 1524 he had sacked Lahore.

He then appointed representatives to key positions in his newly occupied territories, including Mir Abdul Aziz at Lahore.

After Babur's death, his son Kamran annexed the region up to the Sutlej, an act acquiesced by Humayun based in Delhi.

Now lacking resources from the strategically important region, Humayun struggled in his conflict against Sher Shah Suri and fled to Kabul.

[6] Following the death of Bahadur Shah in 1712, the Mughal Empire was ruled by a succession of rulers influenced by powerful and competing nobles.

A conflict between the emperor Muhammad Shah and his wazir, Qamruddin, led to a delay in appointing a replacement governor.

He was forced to deal with increased raiding by Sikhs and a rebellion by Hayatullah Khan, his brother and governor of Multan.

Durrani launched a second invasion later in the year resulting in a peace agreement which gave the revenues of the Chahar Mahal, namely Sialkot, Gujrat, Pasrur and Aurangabad to the Afghans.

[3] Despite successfully defeating both rebellions, Muinul Mulk was then attacked by Durrani for his failure to pay the revenues of the Chahar Mahal.

[3] The protracted conflict with Abdali led to widespread destruction across the subah and in 1752 Muinul Mulk was finally defeated by Afghan forces.

The subah of Lahore was now annexed by the Afghans, however Muinul Mulk was left in place to govern until his death on 4 November 1753.

The five sarkars were Rechna, Bist Jalandhar, Bari, Sindh Sagar and Jech, as detailed below: The subah was ruled by a governor, called a subedar (viceroy).

His duties involved maintaining the peace, subduing the northern hill states, hearing cases in court, supervising provincial officers and undertaking works of public utility.

[3] In Lahore, the capital of the subah, a qazi was appointed, who heard cases, carried out investigations, and delivered judgments.

He renovated large portions of the Lahore Fort with luxurious white marble and erected the iconic Naulakha Pavilion in 1633.

[26] Shah Jahan lavished Lahore with some of its most celebrated and iconic monuments, such as the Shahi Hammam in 1635, and both the Shalimar Gardens and the extravagantly decorated Wazir Khan Mosque in 1641.

Lahore Subah depicted in map of Mughal India by Robert Wilkinson (1805)
'Arrival of Humayun in the City of Lahore', illustrated folio from the "third" Akbarnama manuscript, ca.1595–1600
Painting depicting the arrival of Prince Aurangzeb at the court of Lahore (9 January 1640) and him being greeted by Shah Jahan, by Murar
Zamzama Gun (1757), cast in Lahore
Portrait of Ali Mardan Khan
Defaced mural of possibly a Mughal prince, likely Dara Shikoh, from the Sedari on the north wall of Lahore Fort, Punjab, circa 17th century