Shri Badat: The Cannibal King of Hunza

Local traditions agree about the name of the last Buddhist ruler of Gilgit. They all call him Sri Badad or Shiri Badat. … This traditional history sounds more romantic than real. However, it is possible to make sense out of it in the light of other historical evidence. In the traditional name Bagartham [the name given for Shri Badat's grandfather in one version] one could recognize Bagra or Vajra. The word "Tham" is certainly "Thum", which, in the local language, means "a ruler". Thus the two names Bagartham and Vajraditya appear to be one and the same. … The last ruler, according to the Hunza Rock Inscription, was Chandra Sri Deva Vikramaditya. He should be identified with Sri Badad. The last known date of this ruler, according to inscriptions, is AD 749. According to Abdullah Minapin (who is in his late 80s),his relatives moved to the land ruled by the king of the time Shiri Badad,who appointed his ancestor to the position of minister (wazir)...