Baltistan

Map of Baltistan and its neighboring regions

Baltistan ( Urdu بلتستان , Hindi बल्तिस्तान ), also known as Baltiyul (بلتیول in the Baltic language) - a region in northern Pakistan ( Gilgit-Baltistan territory), corresponding to the medieval kingdom with the same name, during the British rule in India was part of the princedom of Jammu and Kashmir and came under Pakistani control in 1947 .

It borders with Tibet ( PRC ). It is located in the Karakoram mountains (to the south of K2 ), the second highest mountain in the world. Extremely mountainous region, with an average height of more than 3350 m.

Baltistan in the Middle Ages

In Chinese chronicles, it was called Bolyuy (勃 律, option: Bolu, Bolule, Bilu, Bole, Bolun, Bolulo, Bolair), was divided into large and small Bolyuy. Small Boluy is localized more likely in Gilgit . It was dependent on Tibet . At the beginning of the 7th century, Prince Sufusheli Zhilini (蘇弗舍利 支離 泥) was recognized by China as a prince. He was succeeded by the son of Tsesolintoichi (冊 蘇 麟 陀 逸 之). In 713, the small prince Boluya Mojinman (沒 謹 忙) requested protection from the Tibetans from Tan . When the Tibetans began to take over its cities, the Chinese sent from Kashgar Zhang Syli (張思禮) with 4,000 selected warriors. With their help, Mojinman defeated the Tibetans in an open battle and killed several tens of thousands, recaptured 9 cities. He was succeeded by the son of Nanni (難 泥). After the rules, Nanni's brother is Malaysi (麻 來 兮), and after him, Sushilichi (蘇 失利 之, Suja Raja). Sushilichzhi married a Tibetan princess and, together with neighboring princes, accepted Tibetan citizenship. Attempts by the Tang troops to invade Baltistan were unsuccessful.

In 747, Gao Xianzhi received the order to capture the small Boluy. He sent General Xi Yuanqing (席 元 慶) to Small Bolui to convince Sushilichi that only the Big Bolui planned to attack the dances. While the prince hesitated, Xianzhi penetrated into Boluy and, acting by bribery, persuaded the highlanders to open passageways to him. Tibetan garrisons were destroyed, and Sushilichi tried to escape. Tibetan troops approached the capital at dusk, but when they saw that there was no one to help, they turned back. Sushilichi surrendered and was sent to Changan , where he was pardoned. In the small Bolyuya, a Chinese garrison of 1000 people is located.

In the Middle Ages, the importance of Baltistan-Boluy was determined by the fact that the caravan route that connected India with China and was a branch of the Great Silk Road passed through it. Buddhist monks traveled through Baltistan, leaving their notes.

The map shows the trade route passing through Baltistan.