MEDIEVAL BENGAL (AD 1204 – 1757)

(Delhi and Independent Sultans of Bengal)

Three periods:
Delhi Sultanate (1204-1342)
Independent Sultanate (1342-1538)
Mughal empire (1538-1757)

The period began with Bakhtiar Khilji defeating Laksmansena in AD 1204 and ended when Nawab
Sirajuddowla was defeated by the British in AD 1757.

We have significant historical information of the medieval Bengal from the following sources:
1. Tabaqat-i-Nasiri (1260) by Minhaj-i-Siraj. It is an essential sourcebook for reconstructing the history of
the foundation of Muslim rule in Bengal. The history of the first fifty years of Muslim Rule in Bengal is
found only in this text.
2. Rihlah (c. 1353) by Ibn Batuta
3. Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi (1357) by Ziauddin Barani
4. Akbarnamah (has 3 parts, part 3 is Ain-i-Akbari, 1590) and by Abul Fazl ibn Mubarak
5. Tabaqat-i-Akbari (1592) by Nizamuddin Ahmad
6. Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh (c. 1600) by Abd al-Qadir Badauni. Describes the early Mughal history.
7. Riyaz-us-Salatin (1788) by Ghulam Husain Salim Zaidpuri. It is the first complete history of Muslim
Rule in Bengal. Written in Persian, it covers the Muslim Rule in Bengal from Bakhtiyar's conquest of
Nadia in 1204-05 to the Battle of Palashi in 1757, though there are gaps in various places.

Delhi Sultanate (1204-1342)

The Delhi Sultanate was a Muslim kingdom based primarily in Delhi that stretched over large parts of the
Indian Subcontinent for 320 years (1206–1526). This rule can be divided in periods ruled by Mamluk,
Khilji, Tughlaq and Sayyid dynasties of Turki origin from Central Asia, and Lodi dynasty of Afghan origin.
Despite the origins, all official documents were written in Persian language.

Mamluk Dynasty
Muhammad of Ghor or Muhammad Ghori ruled North India via his trusted generals. Qutb-al-din Aibak
(1206-1210), a former slave and general of Muhammad Ghori, was in charge of the northern India. After
Muhammad Ghori was assassinated, Aibak took control of Delhi. This marked the beginning of the
Mamluk Dynasty rule in India. The Mamluk Dynasty ruled until 1290. “Mamluk” means non-Arab
slave-soldiers or freed slaves in high ranks.

Shamsuddin Iltutmish (1210-36) conquered large areas of northern India. His daughter Razia Sultana
took control from 1236 to 1240.

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Khilji or Khalifi Dynasty (1290-1320)
Afterward, the Khilji dynasty was also able to beat most of West-Central India but failed to unite the
Indian Subcontinent. During Alauddin Khilji’s (1296-1316) rule the land revenue was fixed at half of the
crop produced; soldiers were paid salaries in cash rather than “tax collection” or iqtas.

This dynasty ended when Khasru Khan (not “Amir Khusru”) claimed the title for two-months. (Khasru
has an interesting history. He was a Hindu and was captured in a battle by Sultan Alauddin Shah in 1305.
Later he became a Muslim and a homosexual partner of Mubarak Shah -son of Alauddin Shah.)

Amir Khusru
Abu'l Hasan Yamīn ud-Dīn Khusrau (1253–1325 AD), better known as Amīr Khusru, was
an Indian Sufi singer, musician, poet and scholar who lived during the period of the Delhi
Sultanate. He was a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi. He wrote poetry primarily in
Persian, but also in Hindavi. Khusrau is sometimes referred to as the "voice of India" or
"Parrot of India" (Tuti-e-Hind) and has been called the "father of Urdu literature”.

Khusrau is regarded as the "father of qawwali" (a devotional form of singing of the Sufis)
and introduced the ghazal style of song into India. Khusrau was an expert in many styles
of Persian poetry. He wrote in many verse forms including ghazal, masnavi, qata, rubai,
do-baiti and tarkib-band. His contribution to the development of the ghazal was
significant. Khusrau is credited for the invention of the table and sitar.

Tughlaq Dynasty: Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq did not recognize Khusrau Khan as Sultan. He defeated and
killed Khasru, and became the Sultan of Delhi. The Delhi Sultanate reached its peak in terms of
geographical reach during the Tughlaq dynasty, covering most of the Indian Subcontinent. However,
their power was fort-based and different provinces broke off the central control.

History written in Persian, Tawarikh, criticized the Delhi Sultans for appointing the “low and base-born”
to high offices. The generals and governors did not have loyalty towards their Master’s children or heir
to the thorn.

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 Bengal Sultanate: The Independent Sultans (1342-1538)
Ikhtiyaruddin Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji was a Turkish adventurer. The ruler of Oudh Husamuddin
gave him “jaigir” of two parganas near Mirzapur. Bakhtiyar Khalji raised a small army and began to
conquer surrounding areas including “Odantapuri Bihar”. In 1204, with only 18 horsemen, he entered
the palace of Laksman Sen (the last Sena King) at Nadia unnoticed and captured the throne. Later
Bakhtiyar Khalji captured Bikrampur where Laksman Sen was hiding.

Bakhtiyar Khalji died in 1206 after his return from a failed mission in Tibet. A period of confusion and
hostility ensured after the sudden death of Bakhtiyar Khlji in 1206. Ali Mardan Khalji, a close associate
of Bakhtiyar, declared himself an independent sultan of Bengal and assumed the title “Sultan Alauddin.”
He died in 1212, and the power shifted between governors under Delhi Sultanate.

In 1238, Fakhruddin Mobarak Shah proclaimed independence from Sonargaon. This was the beginning
of the independent Bengal Sultanate. Ibe Batuta, the famous traveler from Morocco, visited Bengal
during this time, and later wrote his observations in Bengal.

The Sultanate of Bengal was the dominant power of the Ganges–Brahmaputra basin, including Assam,
Tripura, Arakan, Jaunpur, and Varanasi. The Bengal Sultanate was a Sunni Muslim monarchy with a
mixture of Turkic, Bengali (local), Arab, Abyssinian, Pashtun, and Persian elites. They adopted the
customs of the land and remained loyal to its development and defense. The Ilyas Shahi and Hussain
Shahi Sultans were the two most prominent dynasties. Its decline began with an interval by the Suri
Empire, followed by the Mughal conquest and disintegration into small kingdoms.

Ilyas Shahi Dynasty (1342-1415)

The first independent Muslim ruling dynasty in Bengal; their capital was in Pandua (today’s Hoogly)

Shamsuddin Iliyas Shah (1342-58): The founder of the dynasty, was born in Sistan
(Iran). He was the governor of Satgaon (in presentday India, west of Khulna Division
border). He defeated the rulers of Delhi, Sonargaon, Nepal, Orissan and Assam.

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 Sikandar Shah (1358-90): Defeated Firuz Shah Tughlaq in 1359. Constructed Adina
Mosque, Pandua (in India; West of Naogaon District). Largest mosque at that time in the
subcontinent!
Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah (1390-1411): Established relations with the Ming Empire of
China. Ramayana was translated in Bengali. Ma Huan, a Chinese traveler visited Bengal.
Chittagong was an important port. Sonargaon was the capital.

Ganesha Dynasty (1414-35)

It started with Raja Ganesha (1414-15). Their capital was Gaur. He was a Hindu Brahmin zamindar,
who took advantage of the weakness of the first Ilyas Shahi dynasty and seized power in Bengal. His
son Jadu became a Muslim, named Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah.

Resumption of Ilyas Shahi Dynasty (1435-87)

Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah: Maladhar Basu, the compiler of Sri Krishna Vijaya, was granted the
title of Gunaraja Khan.

Habshi Dynasty (1487-93): The Habshi also came into the power of Bengal. In 1487
they killed Fateh Shah, the last sultan of the Ilias Shahi dynasty, and captured the
throne of Bengal. Four Habsi Sultans (originally African) ruled Bengal for about Six
years. In 1493, the last Habsi Sultan Shams uddin Mozaffar Shah, was killed.

Hussain Shahi Dynasty (1494-1538):

Alauddin Husain Shah (1494-1519), the founder of this dynasty, was a “wazir” under Ilyas Shahi
Dynasty. Bijay Gupta wrote his Manasamangal Kavya during this reign. Kavindra Parameshwar,
the court poet under Paragal Khan (Chittagong), composed the first Bangla Mahabharata in
1515. He is known as the “Akbar of Bengal.”

Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah (1533-38):

He has permitted Portuguese to establish factories in Chittagong. Sher Shah Suri defeated
Ghiyasuddin and his Portuguese allies in 1538.

Karrani dynasty (1564-76): It was a short-lived dynasty. They were originally from Afghanistan.

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Achievements of the Bengal Sultans:
1. The empire was known for its religious pluralism, where non-Muslim communities co-existed
peacefully.
2. Bengali first received court recognition as an official language (Persian was the official language).
3. It was the richest Sultanate in Aisa. According to the written records of Chinese visitors, it was a
prosperous trading nation.
4. Sonargaon and Chittagong became busy commercial hubs. Trading of metal, fine textile, spices, etc.
5. Mint towns (produced silver coins) included Sonargaon, Mymensingh, Satgaon, Chatgaon, Jessor,
Dinajpur.
6. Architecture combined Persian and local styles. Kusumba mosque (Naogaon), Darasbari and Choto
sona mosques (Chapainawabganj), Bagha mosque (Rajhshahi), Mosque city of Bagerhat (Khulna),
Shankarpasha Shahi Masjid (Habiganj), Majidbaria Shahi Mosque (Patuakhali), etc.
7. Extensive ship-building industry

Baro-Bhuyan confederacy

The Baro-Bhuyan confederacy in Bengal came into prominence when the Bengal Sultans declined and
the Mughals attempted to enter eastern Bengal. In time of war, the Bhuyan-raj supported one
another. But they remained sovereign entity during a time of peace. The confederacy of landlord-
soldiers was led by Isa Khan of Sonargaon.