Taank Kingdom (6th AD – 8th AD)

Feature	Details
Period	6th AD – 8th AD
Geographical Location	Covered parts of northern Punjab, including present-day Pakistan and India
Capital	Sialkot
Mention in Historical Records	Hiuen-Tsang (Xuanzang) (631-643 AD) referred to it as “Tekka” Chach Nama called it “Tak” Sulaiman (before 851 AD) recorded it as “Táfak” Al-Masudi (915 AD) mentioned it as “at-Tákin” Ibn Khordadbeh (912 AD) ranked the Taank ruler below the Balhara
Political Structure	Ruled as a confederacy of smaller states Governed by regional chieftains under a central ruler
Strength of Rule	Described as weak and politically unstable by Sir Alexander Cunningham Often influenced by neighboring rulers
Economy	Agriculture was the main economic activity Trade routes passed through the region, facilitating commerce Known for fine craftsmanship
Society & Culture	Multi-ethnic and multi-religious society (Hindus & Buddhists) Mentioned by Sulaiman for having “the finest white women in all of the Indics” Practiced Hindu and Buddhist traditions
Military & Defense	Fortifications in key areas like Taifand Fort (identified as Sangala Hill, near Sialkot) Often faced external threats from neighboring regions
Influence & Relations	Maintained diplomatic and trade relations with neighboring Indian and Arab regions Threatened by the rising Hindu Shahi dynasty and early Muslim incursions
Decline	Gradual decline due to internal conflicts Weakened by invasions from Hindu Shahis and early Muslim rulers Eventually absorbed into larger regional powers
Legacy	Some scholars believe descendants of the Taank rulers assimilated into Rajput and Jat clans in Punjab The forts and ruins of Taank rule remain historical sites

The “Taki” kingdom is mentioned by the Chinese traveler Hiuen-Tsang (Xuanzang) during his visit to India between 631-643 A.D. He described it as being located east of Gandhara and referred to it as “Tekka,” while the Chach Nama (a historical account of Sindh) mentions it as “Tak.” The earliest Muslim reference to the kingdom comes from a merchant named Sulaiman, who visited the region before 851 A.D. and recorded it as “Táfak.” Later, in 915 A.D., the Arab historian Al-Masudi referred to it as “at-Tákin” in connection with the hills of Punjab. Scholars have interpreted the name differently—Sir Henry Elliott read it as “Tákin,” while Gildemeister, in his extracts from Masudi, recorded it as “Táfan.”

The Taki kingdom ruled the Punjab region during the 6th and 7th centuries, as evidenced by Xuanzang’s chronicles and other historical accounts. Its capital was Sialkot, a prominent city in the region.

Around 851 A.D., Sulaiman described the kingdom as “Taank,” a name confirmed by historian Sir Alexander Cunningham. He portrayed its rulers as weak and lacking significant power, noting that the kingdom was under the influence of neighboring rulers. Additionally, he mentioned that the region was known for possessing “the finest white women in all of the Indics.” Ibn Khordadbeh, who died in 912 A.D., ranked the king of the Taki confederacy just below the Balhara in prominence. Furthermore, the historian Kazwini mentioned a fort named Taifand, which is believed to correspond with the hill of Sangala, near modern-day Sialkot.