Hunza (princely state)

Hunza (Urdu: ہنزہ‎), also known as Kanjut, was a princely state in a subsidiary alliance with British India from 1892 to August 1947, for three months was unaligned, and then from November 1947 until 1974 was a princely state of Pakistan.

Hunza covered territory now forming the northernmost part of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The state bordered the Gilgit Agency to the south, the former princely state of Nagar to the east, Xinjiang, China to the northeast and Afghanistan to the northwest. The state capital was Baltit (also known as Karimabad). The area of Hunza now forms the Aliabad tehsil of Hunza–Nagar District.

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 mountainous places of Karakorum and Kunlun mountains, including Xaidulla, where some groups of the nomadic Kirghiz were the main inhabitants, they sold some Kirghiz slaves to the Chinese.