Zunbils

Zunbil, also written as Zhunbil, or Rutbils of Zabulistan, was a royal dynasty south of the Hindu Kush in present southern Afghanistan region. They ruled from circa 680 AD until the Saffarid conquest in 870 AD. The Zunbil dynasty was founded by Rutbil (Turkic: Iltäbär), the elder brother of the Turk Shahi ruler (either Barha Tegin or Tegin Shah), who ruled over the Hephthalite kingdom from his capital in Kabul.

Quotes

• In southern and eastern Afghanistan, the regions of Zamindawar (Zamin I Datbar or land of the justice giver, the classical Archosia) and Zabulistan or Zabul (Jabala, Kapisha, Kia pi shi) and Kābul, the Arabs were effectively opposed for more than two centuries, from 643 to 870 AD, by the indigenous rulers the Zunbils and the related Kābul-Shahs of the dynasty which became known as the Buddhist-Shahi. With Makran and Baluchistan and much of Sindh this area can be reckoned to belong to the cultural and political frontier zone between India and Persia. It is clear however that in the seventh to the ninth centuries the Zunbils and their kinsmen the Kābulshahs ruled over a predominantly Indian rather than a Persian realm. The Arab geographers, in effect commonly speak of that king of “Al Hind” . . . (who) bore the title of Zunbil.
  • Wink, André. Al-Hind: Early medieval India and the expansion of Islam, 7th-11th centuries. s.l.: BRILL, 2002, pp. 112-114. quoted in Aabhas Maldahiyar - Babur_ The Chessboard King-Vintage Books (2024)

• In 643 AD the Sun worshiping, Zunbils attempted to defeat Islamized Persia assembling a large army. But the Persians defeated them badly. A decade had passed. 653-4 AD, an Arab general along with his 6,000 Arab Muslim troops penetrated the Zunbil territory and broke into the shrine of Zun (Sun God) in Zamindawar. It was located about three miles south of Musa Qala in today’s northern part of Helmand Province of Afghanistan. The General of the Arab army mutilated the idol and plucked out the rubies which were its eyes, to persuade the Marzbān of Sīstān of the god’s worthlessness.†
  • Wink, André. Al-Hind: Early medieval India and the expansion of Islam, 7th-11th centuries. s.l.: BRILL, 2002, pp. 112-118 quoted in Aabhas Maldahiyar - Babur_ The Chessboard King-Vintage Books (2024)