Which ruler of the Dev Dynasty defeated Mahmud of Ghazni with the combined strength of Jammu hill chiefs?
Last updated Jun 24, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option B —
Bhuj Dev
• According to local chronicles and the Rajdarshani (a history of the Dogra rulers of Jammu), Raja Bhuj Dev is credited with leading a confederacy of hill chiefs from the Jammu region to resist the invasions of Mahmud of Ghazni.
• When Mahmud of Ghazni was retreating from one of his Indian expeditions (often associated with the period following the raid on Somnath or during his campaigns in the Punjab/Northwest), he was harassed and defeated by the combined forces of the Jammu hill tribes and chiefs led by Bhuj Dev.
• This victory is a significant point of pride in the regional history of Jammu, representing a successful resistance against the Ghaznavid forces by the local Dev Dynasty rulers.
The Dev dynasty ruled the Jammu region for centuries before the eventually better-known Dogra branch (the Jamwals) rose to prominence under the same lineage.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
