93-669: (Redirected from Ahmed Shah ) Ahmed Shah or Ahmad Shah is the name of: Monarchs [ edit ] Shamsuddin Ahmad Shah ( r. 1433–1435), Sultan of Bengal Ahmad Shah Durrani ( r. 1722–1772), founder of the Durrani dynasty and also known as Ahmad Shah Abdali Ahmad Shah I Wali ( r. 1422–1436 ), ninth Sultan of the Bahmani Sultanate Alau'd-din Ahmad Shah ( r. 1436–1458 ), tenth Sultan of
186-405: A Mamluk sultan who had gifted Jalaluddin with investiture, a robe of honour and a letter of recognition. Jalaluddin had died before his own gifts could be dispatched to Barsbay, and so the job was left for Ahmad Shah to complete. Ahmad Shah had slightly delayed the dispatching but nevertheless sent the initial gifts of his father off whilst also adding more gifts of his own. In total, the package
279-679: A 1513 inscription from Sonargaon indicates that Hussain Shah annexed a part of the Twipra Kingdom . The Pratapgarh Kingdom came under Bengali suzerainty . Hussain Shah also waged several campaigns against the Gajapati rulers of Orissa. Hussain Shah extended Bengali territory in the west beyond Bihar, up to Saran in Jaunpur . The Sultan of Jaunpur took refuge in Bengal after an invasion by
372-666: A Pashtun general, he regained control of his country during the Reconquest of Arakan . The restored Arakanese realm became a vassal state of Bengal. A war with Arakan in 1459 led to the defeat of Bengali Sultan Rukunuddin Barbak Shah . The Arakanese developed an alliance with Portuguese Chittagong against Bengal. Despite achieving independence from the Sultans of Bengal, the Arakanese kings continued to fashion themselves after
465-564: A confederation of twelve aristocrats of the former sultanate, who became known as the Baro Bhuyans . Their leader was Isa Khan , a zamindar and a former nobleman of the sultanate through his mother Princess Syeda Momena Khatun . The confederation was made up of petty kingdoms . The Mughal government eventually suppressed the remnants of the sultanate in the Bhati area and brought all of Bengal under full Mughal control. The Bengal Sultanate
558-626: A flourishing shipbuilding industry was part of the evidence that Bengal enjoyed significant seaborne trade. The expansion of muslin production, sericulture and the emergence of several other crafts were indicated in Ma Huan's list of items exported from Bengal to China. Bengali shipping co-existed with Chinese shipping until the latter withdrew from the Indian Ocean in the mid-15th century. The testimony of European travelers such as Ludovico di Varthema , Duarte Barbosa and Tomé Pires attest to
651-558: A period of instability. As Sultan, Hussain Shah ruled until 1519. The dynasty he founded reigned until 1538. Muslims and Hindus jointly served in the royal administration during the Hussain Shahi dynasty. This era is often regarded as the golden age of the Bengal Sultanate, in which Bengali territory included areas of Arakan , Orissa , Tripura , and Assam . Under the order of Hussain Shah, Shah Ismail Ghazi commanded
744-400: A prosperous kingdom. Due to the abundance of goods in Bengal, the region was described as the "richest country to trade with". The Bengal Sultanate left a strong architectural legacy. Buildings from the period show foreign influences merged into a distinct Bengali style. The Bengal Sultanate was also the largest and most prestigious authority among the independent medieval Muslim-ruled states in
837-540: A tribute to the Delhi Sultan. Despite losing control of many conquered areas, Ilyas Shah remained in firm control of Bengal. Ilyas Shah founded the Ilyas Shahi dynasty which ruled Bengal for fifteen decades. His son and successor Sikandar Shah defeated Delhi Sultan Firuz Shah Tughluq during the second Siege of Ekdala Fort in 1359. A peace treaty was signed between Delhi and Bengal, with the former recognizing
930-628: A vassal king in 1430. However, conflict later emerged between Arakan and Bengal based on the control of Chittagong . Arakan asserted its independence as a coastal power. Under Alauddin Husain Shah , Bengali sovereignty was restored in Chittagong and northern Arakan. However, the Arakanese persisted to fight over Chittagong, often allying with Portuguese pirates . During Husain Shah's rule, Bengali control over Assam reached its zenith. Under
1023-468: Is a partial listing of mint towns: Vassal states were a number of tributary states and protectorates on the periphery of the Bengal Sultanate under the suzerainty of the Sultan of Bengal. Direct control was not established over these territories for various reasons. Vassal states had Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist rulers. The following illustrates the most notable vassal states. In the southeast, Arakan
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#17327983455871116-614: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Shamsuddin Ahmad Shah Shamsuddīn Aḥmad Shāh ( Bengali : শামসউদ্দীন আহমদ শাহ , Persian : شمس الدین احمد شاه ; r. 1433–1436) was the last Sultan of Bengal belonging to the House of Ganesha . He was the son and successor of Sultan Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah . After his father's death, he ascended
1209-800: The Ghiyasia Madrasa and Banjaliah Madrasa. Taqi al-Din al-Fasi , a contemporary Arab scholar, was a teacher at the madrasa in Makkah. The madrasa in Madinah was built at a place called Husn al-Atiq near the Prophet's Mosque . Several other Bengali Sultans also sponsored madrasas in the Hejaz . In Africa, Sultan Ashraf Barsbay of Egypt sent the Bengali Sultan a robe of honour and a letter of recognition. There are also records of envoys from
1302-462: The Ilyas Shahi , House of Ganesha and Hussain Shahi. The kingdom was known for its religious pluralism where non-Muslim communities co-existed peacefully. While Persian was used as the primary official, diplomatic and commercial language, it was under the Sultans that Bengali first received court recognition as an official language. The cities of the Bengal Sultanate are termed as Mint Towns where
1395-608: The Ilyas Shahis , the inaugural ruling dynasty of Bengal. Sultan of Bengal The Bengal Sultanate ( Middle Bengali : বাঙ্গালা সালতানাত , Classical Persian : سلطنت بنگاله was a late medieval sultanate based in the Bengal region in the eastern South Asia between the 14th and 16th century. It was the dominant power of the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta , with a network of mint towns spread across
1488-653: The Kingdom of Mrauk U conquered Chittagong. The late 1480s saw four usurper Sultans from the Abyssinian mercenary corps. Tensions between different Muslim communities often affected the sultanate. Alauddin Hussain Shah gained control of Bengal in 1494 when he was prime minister. Alauddin Husain Shah founded the Hussain Shahi dynasty which had Sayyid of Arab or Afghan origin. He brought end to
1581-796: The Lodi dynasty of Delhi. The Delhi Sultan attacked Bengal in pursuit of the Jaunpur Sultan. Unable to make headway, the Delhi Sultan withdrew after concluding a peace treaty with Bengal. Under Nasiruddin Nasrat Shah , the Sultanate pushed into the Mithila region and annexed the ruling Oiniwar dynasty in 1526 with the ruler of the Oiniwars, Laksminathasimha, being killed in battle. Embassies from Portuguese India frequented Bengal after
1674-628: The Ming dynasty . He sent ambassadors in 1405, 1408 and 1409. Emperor Yongle of China responded by sending ambassadors to Bengal between 1405 and 1433, including members of the Treasure voyages fleet led by Admiral Zheng He . The exchange of embassies included the gift of an East African giraffe by Sultan Shihabuddin Bayazid Shah to the Chinese emperor in 1414. China also mediated an end to
1767-647: The converted Sultan Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah received recognition from Al-Mu'tadid II , which strengthened Jalaluddin's legitimacy in the eyes of the clergy. Many coins minted by the Bengal Sultanate bore the names of both the Bengali Sultans and the Abbasid Caliphs. Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah sponsored the construction of madrasas (Islamic theological schools) in the pilgrimage cities of Makkah and Madinah . The schools became known as
1860-652: The history of Bengal . Bengal was gradually absorbed into the Delhi Sultanate during the 1200s. It began with Bakhtiyar 's conquest of Gauda between 1202 and 1204 during the reign of Muhammad of Ghor . This saw the beginning of the rise of Turko - Afghans in the Indian subcontinent. Bakhityar Khalji served as a military general of the Ghurid ruler Muhammad of Ghor. He formed the Khalji dynasty of Bengal . After
1953-411: The jagirdar system of land ownership. The production of silver coins inscribed with the name of the Sultan of Bengal was a mark of Bengali sovereignty. Bengal was more successful in perpetuating purely silver coinage than Delhi and other contemporary Asian and European governments. There were three sources of silver. The first source was the leftover silver reserve of previous kingdoms. The second source
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#17327983455872046-846: The 16th century, the Lodi dynasty of Delhi again attacked Bengal in pursuit of the Sultan of Jaunpur. The Lodis eventually agreed to a peace treaty with Bengal. The Jaunpur Sultanate attacked Bengal during the 15th century. With diplomatic help from Ming China and the Timurid ruler of Herat , Bengal fended off the Jaunpuri invasion. Arakan and the Brahmaputra Valley was often subjected to Bengali invasions. The Bengal Sultanate defeated Burmese forces in Arakan and restored Min Saw Mon as
2139-609: The Abyssinians. Muslim poets were writing in the Bengali language by the 15th century. By the turn of the 16th century, a vernacular literature based on concepts of Sufism and Islamic cosmology flourished in the region. Bengali Muslim mystic literature was one of the most original in Islamic India. And with the three washers [cups of wine], this dispute is going on. All the parrots [poets] of India have fallen into
2232-528: The Bahmani Sultanate Ahmad Shah Bahadur ( r. 1748–1775), a Mughal emperor of northern India Ahmad Shah Qajar ( r. 1898–1930), last ruler of Iran's Qajar dynasty Ahmad Shah (Sultan of Malacca) Rulers of Pahang Ahmad Shah I of Pahang ( r. 1475–1495) Ahmad Shah II of Pahang ( r. 1590–1592) Ahmad Shah of Pahang ( r. 1974–2019), 5th Sultan of modern Pahang and one of
2325-534: The Bengal Sultanate until the reign of the Hussain Shahi dynasty , when it was formally annexed by the sultanate. In the northeastern Barak Valley , the ruler Bazid of the Pratapgarh Kingdom declared himself as a Sultan on par with the Sultan of Bengal. This invited the retribution of Alauddin Husain Shah , who dispatched Sarwar Khan to suppress the newly formed sultanate in Pratapgarh. Bazid
2418-609: The Bengal Sultanate's territory extended from Koch Bihar in the north to Puri in the south and from the Son River in the west to the Brahmaputra River in the east. The Mughals became determined to bring an end to the expansionism of the Bengal Sultanate; while eager to absorb the Bengal region for its riches. The Battle of Tukaroi in Orissa saw Mughal forces led by Akbar overwhelm the Bengal Sultanate's forces led by
2511-473: The Bengal-Jaunpur War after a request from Sultan Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah. Ming China considered Bengal to be "rich and civilized" and one of the strongest countries in the entire chain of contacts between China and Asian states during the 15th century. Sino-Bengali contacts was the main feature of relations between China and the Indian subcontinent during the 15th century. The Bengali language
2604-598: The Bengali Sultans by copying clothes, coins, titles and administrative techniques. Bengali Muslim influence on Arakan lasted for 350 years. In the Indian Ocean, the Bengal Sultanate was involved in trading with the Maldives where Bengali rice was exchanged for Maldivian shell currency. Historians have focused on Bengal's relations with Ming China during the early 15th century. For example, Trade and Diplomacy in India-China Relations: A Study of Bengal During
2697-658: The Bengali forces in the Conquest of Kamata , conquering large parts of Assam. After overthrowing the Hindu Khen dynasty , Prince Danyal was appointed the governor of the new region. Hussain Shah also restored Bengali sovereignty in Chittagong and northern Arakan after the Bengal Sultanate–Kingdom of Mrauk U War of 1512–1516 . Hussain Shah minted coins with the proclamation "conqueror of Kamrupa, Kamata, Jajnagar and Orissa". According to historian Jadunath Sarkar ,
2790-945: The Delhi Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq reorganized the province into three administrative regions, with Sonargaon ruling eastern Bengal; Gauda ruling northern Bengal; and Satgaon ruling southern Bengal. Even this arrangement broke down. By 1338, the three administrative regions had separatist Sultans , including Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah in Sonargaon; Alauddin Ali Shah in Gauda, and Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah in Satgaon. Fakhruddin conquered Chittagong in 1340 and
2883-594: The Delhi Sultanate and the Jaunpur Sultanate. The Delhi Sultanate initially received tributes from the Bengal Sultanate between 1353 and 1359. Tributes stopped after a war and peace treaty in 1359. Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam sent envoys to the neighboring Jaunpur Sultanate . He sent elephants as gifts to Sultan Malik Sarwar Khwajah-i-Jahan. The two sultanates fought a war between 1415 and 1420. The end of
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2976-557: The East African city-state of Malindi being hosted in the Bengali court. Animals constituted a significant part of tributes in medieval courts. The East African envoys brought giraffes, which were also noticed by the Chinese envoys in Bengal. In Central Asia, there are records of contacts between Sultan Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah and Sultan Shahrukh Mirza of the Timurid Empire. In Southeast Asia, European accounts refer to
3069-630: The Fifteenth Century chronicles the relationship between the Bengal Sultanate and Ming China. This relationship was also noted by Indian independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru in his book The Discovery of India . Political relations between China and the Indian subcontinent became nonexistent after the decline of Buddhism in India. In the 15th century, the Bengal Sultanate revived the subcontinent's relations with China through regular contacts. Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah began sending envoys to
3162-689: The Governor, he ordered for the arrest of all members of the Bengali embassy, the confiscation of their envoy's merchandise, and banned them from ever travelling to Cairo again. Ahmad Shah ruled for only 3 years and had no heirs. His reign was marked with chaos and anarchy including an invasion led by Ibrahim Shah Sharqi . He was buried in the Eklakhi Mausoleum with his mother and father. Contemporary historian Firishta mentions that one of Ahmad Shah's attendants, " Nasir ad-Din Ghulam ", seized
3255-523: The Indian Ocean, and Europe through maritime links and overland trade routes. The Bengal Sultanate was a major trading center on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. It attracted immigrants and traders from different parts of the world. Bengali ships and merchants traded across the region, including in Malacca, China, and the Maldives. The Bengal Sultanate was described by contemporary European and Chinese visitors as
3348-587: The Islamic world, the sultanate pledged allegiance to the contemporary Abbasid Caliphate , which was at the time held by the Mamluk Sultan of Cairo . The Abbasid caliph was still considered to be the symbolic leader of Sunni Islam at the time, despite dwindling territory under direct caliphate rule. For the Bengali Sultans, relations with the caliphate provided legitimacy among the Muslim clergy. For example,
3441-595: The Maldives, based on rice and cowry shells, was probably done on Arab-style baghlah ships. Chinese accounts point to Bengali ships being prominent in Southeast Asian waters. A vessel from Bengal, probably owned by the Sultan of Bengal, could accommodate three tribute missions- from Bengal, Brunei and Sumatra- and was evidently the only vessel capable of such a task. Bengali ships were the largest vessels plying in those decades in Southeast Asian waters. All large business transactions were done in terms of silver taka. Smaller purchases involved shell currency . One silver coin
3534-445: The Middle East. The Bengal Sultanate had robust foreign relations . Records show that the Bengal Sultanate exchanged embassies with states in China, Europe, Africa, Central Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Diplomatic allies helped Bengal to fend off invasions from neighbouring kingdoms. For example, the Timurid ruler of Herat and the Ming emperor of China helped bring an end to the Bengal Sultanate–Jaunpur Sultanate War . Bengal
3627-517: The Middle East. In 1406, Ma Huan found Sonargaon as a large metropolis. Other Chinese envoys provided descriptions of a fortified walled city. Sonargaon was a center of Sufi education and Persian literature and Azam Shah even invited Hafez to settle there. The institutions founded by Abu Tawwama during the Delhi Sultanate were maintained by his successors in the Bengal Sultanate, including the Sufi preachers Ibrahim Danishmand , Saiyid Arif Billah Muhammad Kamel, Saiyid Muhammad Yusuf and others. During
3720-431: The Mughals and Bengal Sultans. Humayun later took refuge in the Safavid Empire in Persia. Sher Shah Suri succeeded in conquering Bengal, forming the Sur Empire , which was of Afghan origin. During this period, the Grand Trunk Road was renovated, while the Sur rulers placed successive governors in Bengal. The third governor Muhammad Khan Sur declared independence after the death of Islam Shah Suri . Muhammad Khan ended
3813-478: The Persian poet Hafez . The Bengal Sultans pledged nominal allegiance to the Abbasid Caliphate in Cairo. The coins of the Bengal Sultans often bore the name of the contemporary Abbasid Caliph. Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah held his court in the central Bengali city of Sonargaon, in addition to Pandua. The travel accounts of Chinese envoys state that the Sultan lived in a palace near the river port of Sonargaon. The river port had shipping links to China, Southeast Asia, and
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3906-416: The Sultan of Delhi attacked the newly formed Bengal Sultanate. After the siege of Ekdala Fort, Bengal agreed to pay a tribute to the Sultan of Delhi. In 1359, Delhi again invaded Bengal after the previous peace treaty collapsed. However, negotiations ultimately resulted in a new treaty in which Delhi recognized the independence of Bengal. The Bengal Sultans also received support from South Indian allies. During
3999-432: The Suri Empire. The invasion prompted the Mughal Empire to occupy parts of Bengal. Both the Mughals and Bengal Sultanate were overrun by the Suri forces. Bengal regained its independence after Suri governors rebelled and re-established the sultanate. The first Mughal emperor Babur turned his sights on Bengal after the Battle of Panipat in 1526. At the Battle of Ghaghra in 1529, Bengal reached a peace treaty with Babur. During
4092-440: The Tripuri throne. Tripura was a prominent vassal of Bengal. In the southwest, Orissa was prominent in the military history of the Bengal Sultanate. The first Bengali Sultan Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah defeated the rulers of Orissa and extended his realm up to Chilika Lake . He raided Jajpur and Cuttack. Ilyas Shah returned to Bengal with plunders from Orissa, including 44 elephants. During the reign of Alauddin Hussain Shah, Orissa
4185-414: The agricultural land was controlled by Hindu zamindars , which caused tensions with Muslim taluqdars . Bengal became the eastern frontier kingdom among medieval Islamic states. In the 14th century, Islamic kingdoms stretched from Muslim Spain in the west to the Indian subcontinent in the east. The Islamic kingdoms had multiethnic elites. Persian and Arabic were used alongside local languages. Persian
4278-402: The architecture and governance of the sultanate. He was initially loyal to the Abbasid Caliph but later declared himself as the Caliph in a sign of Bengali Muslim independence. The Ilyas Shahi dynasty was restored in 1432. Nine kings ruled Bengal from Pandua over the course of ten decades. They built palaces, forts, bridges, mosques, and mausoleums. Chinese envoy Ma Huan described the city at
4371-514: The assassination of Bakhtiar Khalji by his own officer Ali Mardan in 1206, Bengal was administered by various Maliks belonging to the Khalji tribe (except a brief interregnum by Ali Mardan himself) until Delhi Sultan Iltutmish sent forces under his son, Nasir-ud-din Mahmud, to bring Bengal under the direct control of the Delhi Sultans. Iltutmish declared Bengal as a province of Delhi in 1225. The Delhi Sultans attempted to govern Bengal through appointed governors, however, Delhi could not succeed given
4464-433: The capital from Pandua to Gaur in 1450. One of the probable reasons behind the move was a change in the course of nearby rivers. The reign of Mahmud Shah witnessed greater control over the Sundarbans . The governor of the Sundarbans, Khan Jahan Ali , built the mint town of Khalifatabad . Like many other officials, Khan Jahan had settled in Bengal after Timur 's sack of Delhi. During the reign of Rukunuddin Barbak Shah ,
4557-447: The considerable overland distance with Bengal. Ambitious governors rebelled and ruled as independent rulers until being suppressed militarily by the Delhi Sultanate. However, there were capable rulers among the rebels, including Yuzbak Shah (1257), Tughral Khan (1271–1282), and Shamsuddin Firoz Shah (1301–1322). The latter achieved the Conquest of Sylhet and established a strong administration in eastern and south-western Bengal. In 1325,
4650-452: The early 15th century, the Ilyas Shahi rule was challenged by Raja Ganesha , a powerful Hindu landowner, who managed to place his son (a convert to Islam), Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah , on the throne. Jalaluddin had a relatively short-lived but significant reign, during which he helped an Arakanese king to achieve the reconquest of Arakan . Jalaluddin established control over Fatehabad . Jalaluddin also promoted more native Bengali elements into
4743-419: The east, and Jaunpur and Varanasi in the west. It was reputed as a thriving trading nation and one of Asia's strongest states. Its decline began with an interregnum by the Suri Empire , followed by Mughal conquest and disintegration into petty kingdoms. The Bengal Sultanate was a Sunni Muslim monarchy with Bengali , Turco-Persian , Afghan and Abyssinian elites. The most prominent dynasties were
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#17327983455874836-441: The eastern subcontinent. He conquered eastern Bengal and northern Bihar. He led the first Muslim army into Nepal , raided the Kathmandu Valley , and returned to Bengal with treasures. He controlled an area stretching from Assam in the east to Varanasi in the west. In 1353, Ilyas Shah was defeated by Delhi Sultan Firuz Shah Tughluq in the Siege of Ekdala Fort during the Bengal Sultanate-Delhi Sultanate War . Bengal agreed to pay
4929-459: The focus of Operation Red Wings Ahmad Shah Khan , claimant to the abolished throne of Afghanistan Ahmad Shah Massoud (1953–2001), leader of the Afghan Northern Alliance Ahmed Shah (Afghan cricketer) born 1983, Afghan cricketer Ahmed Shah (Indian cricketer) born 1995, Indian cricketer See also [ edit ] Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah I (reigned 1480–1509, died 1510), Nizam of Ahmadnagar [REDACTED] Topics referred to by
5022-411: The heads-of-state of Malaysia Rulers of Gujarat Sultanate during the rule of Muzaffarid dynasty were named Ahmad Shah Ahmad Shah I (1411-1442) who founded Ahmedabad, India Ahmad Shah II (1451-1458) Ahmad Shah III (1554-1567) Other individuals [ edit ] Ahmad Shah (Taliban) ( nom de guerre Mohammad Ismail, died 2008), Taliban leader in northeastern Afghanistan;
5115-425: The historical taka was minted . These cities were adorned with stately medieval buildings. In 1500, the royal capital of Gaur was the fifth-most populous city in the world. Other notable cities included the initial royal capital of Pandua , the economic hub of Sonargaon , the Mosque City of Bagerhat , and the seaport and trading hub of Chittagong . The Bengal Sultanate was connected to states in Asia, Africa,
5208-429: The houses of the rich during dawn and play music; and they would be rewarded with wine, food and money during breakfast hours. Some men would have performances with a chained tiger. The Hindu minority did not eat beef. The streets and markets included bathing areas, eating and drinking places, and dessert shops. Betel nut was offered to guests. The population included royalty, aristocrats, natives and foreigners. Many of
5301-437: The independence of the latter. Firuz Shah Tughluq gave a golden crown estimated to be worth 80,000 taka to Sikandar Shah. The peace treaty ensured Bengal's independence for two centuries. Sikandar Shah's reign lasted three decades. The Adina Mosque was built during his reign. The mosque's design was based on the Great Mosque of Damascus - a style used during the introduction of Islam in new areas. During this time, much of
5394-419: The interrupting period of Delhi's rule and re-established the Bengal Sultanate under the Muhammad Shahi dynasty, which was also of Afghan origin. The Afghan Karrani dynasty was the last ruling dynasty of the sultanate. According to the Riyaz-us-Salatin , Sultan Sulaiman Khan Karrani shifted the capital from Gaur to Tanda in 1565. Sulaiman Khan Karrani annexed large parts of Orissa. During his reign,
5487-400: The invasion of Sher Shah Suri, the second Mughal emperor Humayun occupied Gaur . The third Mughal emperor Akbar launched a war against Bengal at the Battle of Tukaroi in 1575. Akbar finally defeated the last Sultan of Bengal at the Battle of Raj Mahal in 1576. The economy of the Bengal Sultanate inherited earlier aspects of the Delhi Sultanate, including mint towns, a salaried bureaucracy and
5580-446: The landing of Vasco Da Gama in the principality of Calicut. Individual Portuguese merchants are recorded to have lived in the Bengal Sultanate's capital of Gaur. Portuguese politics played out in Gaur as a reflection of contradictions in contemporary Portugal. The Portuguese provided vivid descriptions of Gaur. They compared the affluence of Gaur with Lisbon . The city included a citadel, a royal palace and durbar , mosques, houses for
5673-406: The last Sultan Daud Khan Karrani , resulting in the Treaty of Cuttack . Mughal rule formally began with the Battle of Raj Mahal when the last reigning Sultan of Bengal was defeated by the forces of Akbar. The Mughal province of Bengal Subah was created. The eastern deltaic Bhati region remained outside of Mughal control until being absorbed in the early 17th century. The delta was controlled by
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#17327983455875766-419: The military command of Shah Ismail Ghazi , the Bengali army overthrew the Kamata Kingdom 's Hindu Khen dynasty in 1498, extending the Sultanate as far as Hajo and preparing to advance towards central Assam. Assamese Bhuyans eventually overthrew the local administrations within a few years and restored local rule. Bengal was overwhelmed during the pan-Indian invasion of Sher Shah Suri and became part of
5859-412: The political affairs of the country. The chief of the admiralty had various responsibilities, including shipbuilding , river transport, to fit out strong boats for transporting war elephants; to recruit seamen; to patrol the rivers and to collect tolls at ghats. The efficiency of the navy eroded during the Hussain Shahi dynasty. The Sultans also built forts, including temporary mud walled forts. In 1353,
5952-457: The presence of a large number of Bengali merchants in the Malacca Sultanate . The merchants were wealthy shipowners. It is yet to be ascertained whether these merchants had a significant role in the Sultan's court. Ship-owning merchants were often royal envoys. Contacts between Bengal and the Bruneian Empire and the Sumatran Aceh Sultanate are recorded in Chinese accounts. Within the subcontinent, Bengal had both tense and peaceful relations with
6045-408: The presence of a large number of wealthy Bengali merchants and shipowners in Malacca . Historian Rila Mukherjee wrote that ports in Bengal may have been entrepots , importing goods and re-exporting them to China. A vigorous riverine shipbuilding tradition existed in Bengal. The shipbuilding tradition is evidenced in the sultanate's naval campaigns in the Ganges delta. The trade between Bengal and
6138-450: The region. The Bengal Sultanate had a circle of vassal states in the Indian subcontinent , including parts of Odisha in the southwest, Arakan in the southeast, and Tripura in the east. The Bengal Sultanate controlled large parts of the eastern South Asia during its five dynastic periods, reaching its peak under Hussain Shahi dynasty . Its raids and conquests reached Nepal in the north, Brahmaputra valley (modern-day Assam ) in
6231-541: The rich built ships and went abroad for trade. Many were agriculturalists. Punishments for breaking the law included expulsion from the kingdom, as well as bamboo flogging. Bengal received settlers from North India, the Middle East and Central Asia. They included Turks, Afghans, Persians and Arabs. An important migrant community were Persians. Many Persians in Bengal were teachers, lawyers, scholars and clerics. Mercenaries were widely imported for domestic, military and political service. One particular group of mercenaries were
6324-448: The rich, and bustling bazaars. Portuguese historian Castenhada de Lopez described the houses of Gaur as being one-storeyed with ornamental floor tiles, courtyards, and gardens. Gaur was the centre of regional politics. The Sultan of Bengal gave permission for establishing the Portuguese settlement in Chittagong . During the period of the Iberian Union , there was no official Portuguese sovereignty over Chittagong. The Portuguese trading post
6417-404: The same term This disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ahmad_Shah&oldid=1243571332 " Category : Human name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
6510-459: The throne after his death. 18th-century historian Ghulam Husain Salim claims that Ahmad himself was killed by two of his attendants, Shadi Khan and Nasir Khan , who fought amongst themselves with Nasir Khan usurping control. The nobles of Bengal managed to depose Khan within his short reign of either seven days, half a day or a few hours. The nobles subsequently installed to the throne a farmer named Mahmud , after realising that he descended from
6603-427: The throne at 14 years of age. The Muazzampur Shahi Mosque , adjoining the dargah of Shah Alam Shah Langar, in Muazzampur, Sonargaon was built during the reign of Ahmad Shah. The Persian inscription mentions officers by the name of Firuz Khan and Ali Musa Sultan. According to Firishta , he followed the liberal policy of his father and was known for justice and charity. His father had good ties with Barsbay ,
6696-623: The throne at the age of 14. Ahmad was born into the ruling family of the Bengal Sultanate , during the reign of his father Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah in 1419. They belonged to the Ganesha dynasty , and Ahmad's grandfather was Raja Ganesha , a Bengali Hindu . Ahmad's father had become a Muslim in 1415 and so Ahmad was born a Bengali Muslim . Ahmad's father died in Rabiʽ al-Thani 837 AH (November/December 1433 CE) and so Ahmad ascended
6789-503: The time in his travel accounts, which state that "the city walls are very imposing, the bazaars well-arranged, the shops side by side, the pillars in orderly rows, they are full of every kind of goods". Pandua was an export center for cloth and wine. At least six varieties of fine muslin and four types of wine were found in Pandua. High-quality paper was produced from the bark of Pandua's mulberry trees. Sultan Mahmud Shah of Bengal shifted
6882-455: The title of Shah and minting coins in Arabic and Bengali inscriptions. A close cultural and commercial relationship developed across the Bay of Bengal. Eventually, Arakan asserted its independence. The Kingdom of Mrauk U became a formidable coastal power. In southern Bengal, the island of Chandradwip hosted remnants of the pre-Islamic Hindu Deva dynasty . The kingdom was a vassal state of
6975-495: The usefulness of elephants, though very slow, could not be minimised. The navy was of prime necessity in riverine Bengal. In fact, the cavalry could ensure the hold over this country for a period of six months whereas the boats backed by the paiks could command supremacy over the other half of the year. Since the time of Iwaz Khalji, who first organised a naval force in Islamic Bengal, the war boats played an important role in
7068-426: The vital part of the Bengal infantry during this period. There were occasions when the paiks also tackled political situations. The particular battle array of the foot-soldiers who used bows, arrows and guns attracted the attention of Babur. War elephants played an important part in the Bengal army. Apart from carrying war materials, elephants were also used for the movement of the armed personnel. In riverine Bengal
7161-524: The war brought a long period of peace between the neighbouring states. In 1494, the Jaunpuri Sultan Hussain Shah Sharqi was given refuge in Bengal after being defeated by the Lodi dynasty of Delhi. On the coastline of the Bay of Bengal, the Bengal Sultanate became influential in the control of Arakan. Min Saw Mon , a deposed Arakanese king, fled to Bengal after a Burmese invasion. With the support of Bengali forces led by
7254-575: The world traded in the Bay of Bengal . Cotton textile exports were a unique aspect of the Bengali economy. Marco Polo noted Bengal's prominence in the textile trade. In 1569, Venetian explorer Caesar Frederick wrote about how merchants from Pegu in Burma traded in silver and gold with Bengalis. Overland trade routes such as the Grand Trunk Road connected Bengal to northern India, Central Asia and
7347-412: The year in Bengal. The cavalry was probably the weakest component of the Bengal Sultanate's army, as the horses had to be imported from foreign countries. The artillery was an important section. Portuguese historian João de Barros opined that the military supremacy of Bengal over Arakan and Tripura was due to its efficient artillery. The artillery used cannons and guns of various sizes. The paiks formed
7440-476: Was a prominent vassal of the Bengal Sultanate. In 1430, the Bengal Sultanate restored the Arakanese throne in Mrauk U after driving out Burmese invaders who came from Bagan . The Kingdom of Mrauk U paid tributes to the Sultan of Bengal for a sustained period, with the timeframe ranging between estimates of a century or a few decades. Arakanese rulers replicated the Sultan's governing techniques, including adopting
7533-644: Was a vassal state of Bengal. Northern Orissa was directly ruled by Bengal. During the Karrani dynasty, Orissa was the scene of the Battle of Tukaroi and the Treaty of Cuttack between the Mughals and Bengal Sultanate in 1575. The Sultans had a well-organised army, including cavalry, artillery, infantry and war elephants; and a navy. Due to the riverine geography and climate, it was not feasible to use cavalry throughout
7626-482: Was also active in regional diplomacy. For example, the ship of the Bengali embassy to China also transported the envoys of Brunei and Aceh ( Sumatra ) to China. Bengal gave consent to envoys from Portuguese India for setting up Portuguese trading posts in coastal areas. Other European visitors included Niccolo De Conti , Ludovico di Varthema and Caeser Fredrick from the Republic of Venice and Bologna . In
7719-465: Was an absolute monarchy , and took influence from Persianate traditions. Its revenue system was maintained in the Bengali language throughout the course of its history. The government employed both Muslims and Hindus, promoting a form of religious pluralism. In addition to the royal family and government body, the Sultan also relied on the support of the ulama (Islamic scholars). The Sultanate
7812-462: Was defeated and agreed to pay a tribute to the Sultan of Bengal. He was also made to relinquish his claims over Sylhet , which was under direct Sultanate rule. In the east, Tripura was vital to Bengal for the supply of gold, silver and other commodities. Tripura had coarse gold mines and mountain trade networks linked to the Far East. In 1464, the Sultan of Bengal helped Ratna Manikya I assume
7905-406: Was divided into administrative subdivisions such as arsa and iqlim , which were further divided into mahals , thanas and qasbas . Mint towns consisted of royal and provincial capitals where taka coins were minted, thus developing the areas as important economic urban centres within the Sultanate. With the expansion of the empire, the number of mint towns increased gradually. The following
7998-472: Was dominated by pirates who allied with the Arakanese against Bengal. The absorption of Bengal into the Mughal Empire was a gradual process. It began with the defeat of Bengal forces under Sultan Nasiruddin Nasrat Shah by the first Mughal ruler Babur at the Battle of Ghaghra. The second Mughal ruler Humayun occupied the Bengal capital of Gaur during the invasion of Sher Shah Suri against both
8091-495: Was made in Bengal from the bark of mulberry trees. The high quality of paper was compared with the lightweight white muslin cloth. Europeans & Ming Chinese referred to Bengal as "the richest country to trade with". Bengal was the eastern pole of Islamic India. Like the Gujarat Sultanate in the western coast of India, Bengal in the east was open to the sea and accumulated profits from trade. Merchants from around
8184-603: Was succeeded by his son Ikhtiyaruddin Ghazi Shah in 1349. Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah (or just Ilyas Shah ) defeated Alauddin Ali Shah and secured control of Gauda. He then defeated Ikhtiyaruddin of Sonargaon. By 1352, Ilyas Shah emerged victorious among the Bengali triad. Ilyas Shah established his capital in Pandua . He unified the delta of Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers into the Sultanate of Bengal. Ilyas Shah waged wars and raids against several city-states and kingdoms in
8277-437: Was the most spoken language while Persian was an administrative and commercial language. Men wore white shirts, cotton fabrics of various colors, turbans, sarongs, lungis, dhutis, leather shoes, and belts to wrap their robes on the waist. Women wore cotton saris. Upper-class women wore gold jewelry. There were various classes of artisans, as well as physicians and fortune tellers. There was a class of musicians who would gather by
8370-416: Was the tribute payments of subordinate kingdoms which were paid in silver bullion. The third source was during military campaigns when Bengali forces sacked neighboring states. The apparent vibrancy of the Bengal economy in the beginning of the 15th century is attributed to the end of tribute payments to Delhi, which ceased after Bengali independence and stopped the outflow of wealth. Ma Huan 's testimony of
8463-561: Was used as a diplomatic and commercial language. Arabic was the liturgical language of the clergy. In Bengal, the Bengali language became a court language and was the main vernacular language under Muslim rule. The third Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah began expanding Bengal's influence abroad. He began to send embassies to Ming China , which continued as a tradition during the reigns of his successors. Ghiyasuddin also sponsored construction projects in Arabia . He exchanged letters and poetry with
8556-696: Was worth 10,250 cowry shells. Bengal relied on shiploads of cowry shell imports from the Maldives. Due to the fertile land, there was an abundance of agricultural commodities, including bananas, jackfruits, pomegranate, sugarcane, and honey. Native crops included rice and sesame. Vegetables included ginger, mustard, onions, and garlic among others. There were four types of wines, including coconut, rice, tarry and kajang . Bengali streets were well provided with eating establishments, drinking houses and bathhouses. At least six varieties of fine muslin cloth existed. Silk fabrics were also abundant. Pearls , rugs and ghee were other important products. The finest variety of paper
8649-524: Was worth over 12,000 red tankas and included clothes, cotton, ginger , myrobalan and other spices. The envoy, travelling from Bengal to Cairo via the Indian Ocean , sank whilst at Jeddah 's coast. In 1436, the Governor of Jeddah sent some men to search the Red Sea for the gifts and they came back with the textiles although the spices were damaged by the water. After Barsbay was informed of this by
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