Jasrat Khokhar

Jasrat Khokhar was born to a local chieftain of Pothohar known as Shaikha Khokhar, during a time when Delhi sultanate was in decline due to civil war among members of Tughlaq dynasty. This anarchy drew the attentions of Timur, the central Asian conqueror who had already invaded most of west Asia. Timur invaded northern India, crossing the Indus by 24 September, 1398. At Sutlej ruver Jasrat Khokhar confronted Timur, but was defeated.[2] He was captured by Timurid Army and was held prisoner in Samarkand. However, due to his extra ordinary battle skills, he was appointed as a general in the Timurid army. For developing better relations with Timurids, he married a Timurid / Mughal Barlas princess, Sa'adat Sultan Agha who was the daughter of emperor Shah Rukh Mirza and granddaughter of Timur.[3] Later, he left Samarkand and returned to Punjab after Timur's death.[4]

After the death of his father Shaikha Khokhar, Jasrat was crowned as the chief of the Khokhar royal chiefdom. The following year, a civil war erupted in Kashmir between Zain-ul-Abidin and Ali Shah. Zain-ul-Abdin allied with Jasrat Khokhar and demanded for help against Ali Shah. Ali Shah was defeated and Zain-ul-Abidin retained the title of ruler of the Shah Mir Dynasty. Jasrat Khokhar was then awarded the Jammu region. Another ruler, named Rai Bhim from the Jammu region also united with Ali Shah, against the Khokhars and the ruler of the Shah Mir Dynasty. Rai Bhim and Ali Shah were then killed in battle against Jasrat.[5] After these remarkable victories, Jasrat then set eyes on the throne of Delhi. He then took over Lahore, the same year, 1421.[6]