11 Facts About Didda

Didda first acted as regent for her son and various grandsons from 958 CE to 980 CE, and from 980 CE as sole ruler and monarch.

Didda was a daughter of Simharaja, the King of Lohara, and a granddaughter on her maternal side of Bhimadeva Shahi, one of the Hindu Shahi of Kabul.

The situation was tense and she came close to losing control, but having asserted her position with support from others, including some whom she bribed, Didda displayed a ruthlessness in executing not only the rebels who had been captured but their families.

Didda was succeeded by his son, Nandigupta, still a young child himself, and this caused restlessness among the Damaras, who were feudatory landlords and later to cause huge problems for the Lohara dynasty which Didda founded.

Didda took a lover called Tunga at this time, and although he was a mere herdsman, this provided her with a sense of security sufficient that in 980 she arranged for Bhimagupta to be tortured to death and assumed unfettered control for herself, with Tunga as her prime minister.

Didda ruled as Queen regnant from 980 CE until her death in 1003 CE, at the age of 79.

Didda is one of the very few female monarchs in Indian history.

Didda is sometimes called the Catherine of Kashmir, referring to the ruthless Catherine the Great of Russia, who ruled long and well with the help of her favourites, whom she periodically purged.

Didda adopted a nephew, Samgramaraja, Udayaraja's eldest son to be her heir in Kashmir.

Mahmud of Ghazni did not raid Kashmir as far as 1013, while Didda died in 1003, ten years before Mahmud of Ghazni invaded.

Didda did not embark on any adventure involving a conflict with any neighboring ruler during her rule.