History
Hunza was an independent principality for centuries. It was ruled by the Mirs of Hunza, who took the title of Thum.
The Hunzas were tributaries and allies to China, acknowledging China as suzerain since 1761. When the Hunzas raided the Kyrgyzstan, they sold Kirghiz slaves to Chinese.
The Tajiks of Xinjiang sometimes enslaved the Gilgitis and Kunjutis, with whom they had constant war with
Many Gilgitis and Kunjuti were also enslaved in China After being freed due to the efforts of British authorities in China, many slaves such as Gilgitis in Xinjiang cities like Tashkurgan, Yarkand, and Karghallik, stayed rather than return to Gilgit.
From 1847 the Mir of Hunza gave nominal allegiance to China. This resulted from assistance given by Mir Ghazanfur Khan to China in suppressing a rebellion in Yarkand, following which China granted Hunza a jagir (Land grant) in Yarkand and paid the Mir a subsidy.
In the late 19th century Hunza became embroiled in the Great Game, the rivalry between Britain and Russia for control of the northern approaches to India. The British suspected Russian involvement "with the Rulers of the petty States on the northern boundary of Kashmir;" In 1888 the Russian Captain Bronislav Grombchevsky visited Hunza, and the following year the British Captain Francis Younghusband visited Hunza to express British displeasure at Kanjuti raids in the Raskam. Younghusband formed a low opinion of the ruler, Safdar Ali, describing him as "a cur at heart and unworthy of ruling so fine a race as the people of Hunza". In 1891 the British mounted the Hunza-Nagar Campaign and gained control of Hunza and the neighbouring valley of Nagar. Hunza rulers claimed descent from Alexander the Great, and viewed only themselves and the leader of China as being the most important leaders in the world. The last independent ruler, Mir Safdar Khan, who ruled from 1886, escaped to China. His younger brother Mir Mohammad Nazim Khan was installed by the British as Mir in September 1892.
The British retained Hunza's status as a 'princely state' until 1947.
Read more about this topic: Hunza (princely State)
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