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Eternal India
encyclopedia
LURE - THRU THE AGES
Bengal Sultans
1336-1576 A.D.
In 1324 Ghyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the
Delhi Sultan, defeated Ghyas-ud-din Ba-
hadur Shah, the ruler of Bengal and divided
the province into three independent admin-
istrative
divisions
with
capitals
at
Lakhauti, Satgaon and Sonargaon respec-
tively.
His successor Mohammad Bin Tughlaq was
unable to assert his authority over Fakru-d-din
Mubarak Shah (1336-49) of Sonargaon. In
North Bengal Ala-ud-din Ali Shah (1339-45)
declared himself independent. Bengal was
finally united under one independent rule by
Ala-ud-din's foster brother, Shams-ud-Din
Ilyas Shah (1345-58). His reign was marked
by the development of an impressive coinage
system and the number of monuments erected.
Kashmir
1346-1589 A.D.
1339 : Shah Mir founded the dynasty. As-
sumed name Shams-ud-din. He changed
the Hindu feudal framework to the Turkic
system. He fixed the land tax at 17 per cent
on the gross produce.
1343-54:
Ala-ud-din transferred his
capital from Indrakot to Ala-ud-din pur
(Srinagar).
1354-73 :
Sultan Shihabu-d-din con-
quered Pakhli, invaded Gilgit, defeated the
Kashghari, Mongols and penetrated Ladakh
and then Nagarkot, conquered regions from
Kishtwar to Jammu. 1373-89 : Sultan Qutb-
ud-din conquered Punch.
Jaunpur
1394-1479 A.D.
1394: Malik Sarvoar (Sultanu sh-sharqi)
appointed Governor of Jaunpur by Muham-
mad Shah, Firuz Shah Tughlak's younger
son.
1401-40: Ibrahim Shah Sharqi younger
brother of Sultanu sh-Sharqi, invaded Ben-
gal and removed Hindu ruler Ganesa.
Gujarat
1391-1583 A.D.
1391: Zafar Khan founded independent
kingdom of Gujarat with the title
Muzaffar
Khan.
1391-1411: Reign of Muzaffar Khan who
assumed the name Muzaffar Shah.
1411-42: Reign of Ahmed Shah. In 1416
he crushed a rebellious confederacy of
Rajputs.
1442-51: Rule of Muhammad Shah.
1451-59: Qutubdin Ahmed Shah II.
SAYYIDS
Ghyas-ud-din Azam Shah (1390-1410) estab-
lished diplomatic and cultural relations with
China and the growth of the port of Chittagong
stimulated the increase in trade with the Far
East.
In 1415 Raja Ganesa of Dinajpur assumed
royal power. At the request of the outraged
'ulama'
and
'sufis',
Ibrahim Shah Sharqi from
the neighbouring Jaunpur invaded Bengal.
Ganesa's 12- year-old son, Jadu was converted
to Islam and proclaimed king as Jalal-ud-din.
Ganesa returned and ruled in his son's home
until 1418. The Ilyas Shahi dynasty was re-
stored in 1437. The second Ilyas Shahi
ruler, Rukh-ud-din Barbak Shah (1459-74) or-
ganised a militia of Ethiopian slaves and re-
cruited Arab soldiers as his palace guards. He
was a patron of Bengali literature.
1389-1413:
Sikandar saved Kashmir
from Mongol invasion by diplomatic nego-
tiations with the invaders. He tried to Is-
lamise Kashmir by oppressing Brahmins
and destroying temples.
1420-70: Sultan Zay, nu' 1-Abidin rebuilt
temples and permitted Brahmins to return.
Patron of education and learning, estab-
lished a department to translate Sanskrit
works into Persian. Translation of Ma-
habharata and Kalhana's Raja Tarangini into
Persian was his most outstanding achieve-
ment.
Kashmir became an important centre of
paper making and book binding. Crafts like
1440-57: Mahmud Shah Sharqi. In 1452 he
captured Delhi but later lost it.
1457-1505: Rule of Husayn Shah Sharqi.
Made peace with Lodis; forced Orissa and
Gwalior to submit to him.
1483: Bahlul Lodi conquered Jaunpur.
1494: Sikander Lodi defeated him again
near Benaras.
1459-1511: Reign of Mahmud Shah. The
ruler of Khandesh sought his assistance in
repelling an invasion by Mahmud Khalji of
Malwa and defeated the Muslim ruler of
Jalor in Rajasthan. Conquered the port of
Daman. In 1466 he extracted tribute from
the Yadava prince of Girnah, later annexed
Gimah. He founded a new town at the fort
of Gimar hills, Mustafabad. In 1473 he
sacked Dwaraka. His supremacy was
threatened only by Portuguese. In 1509 the
Gujarat fleet was routed by the Portuguese.
In 1487 Ilyas Shahi dynasty was over
thrown
by Sultan Shahzada Benbak Shah, the
commander of the Ethiopian guards. The
Ethio-
pians were overthrown by an Arab Ala-ud-din
Husain Shah (1494-1519). His generosity to
both Hindus and Muslims made him a hero.
The principal feature of Husain Shah's rule
was a tendency towards unity among all
classes
stone polishing, stone cutting, bottle mak-
ing, window cutting and gold beating devel-
oped in Kashmir.
1540: Mirza Haydar Dughlat captured
Kashmir.
1551: Mirza Haydar killed while quelling
a rebellion.
Mahmud realised that the Portuguese were
invincible at sea and opened negotiations
for. peace with Governor Albuquerque.