The Political condition of Bengal during 12th Century

The Political condition of Bengal during 12th Century

Bengal was conquered and brought under the Sultanate of Delhi by Ikhtiyar-ud-Din Muhammad-bin-Baktiyar Khalji during the last decade of the 12th century A.D. However, his successors tried to assert their independence.

They were encouraged to do so by the fact that Bengal was far away from Delhi and was also very rich. Sultan Balban was able to re-establish his suzerainty over Bengal after putting down the rebellion. He also appointed his son Bughra Khan as the Governor of Bengal. However, Bughra Khan declared himself independent after some time.

Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughluq tried to solve the problem of Bengal by dividing it into three independent administrative divisions with their capitals at Lakhnauti, Satgaon and Sonargaon. After coming to the throne, Muhammad bin-Tughluq appointed Qadar Khan incharge of Lakhnauti, Izz-ud-Din Azam-ul-Mulk that of Satgaon and Ghiyas-ud-Din Bahadur Shah to that of Sonargaon.

However, in spite of partition, the situation did not improve. Ghiyas-ud-Din Bahadur revolted and issued coins both from Sonargaon and Ghiyaspur. However, he was defeated and killed. Bahram Khan became the sole Governor at Sonargaon.

When he died in 1336, his armourbearer named Fakhr-ud-Din declared himself ruler of Sonargaon and took up the title of Fakhr-ud-Din Mubarak Shah. Ala-ud-Din Ali Shah declared himself independent in north Bengal and shifted his capital from Lakhnauti to Pandua. He ruled for about 10 years and was succeeded by Ikhtiyar-ud-Din Ghazi Shah.

About the year 1345, Haji Iliyas made himself and independent ruler of the whole of the province of Bengal. He annexed the eastern kingdom of Sonargaon in 1352. He got tributes from the kingdoms of Orissa and Tirhut and proceeded as far as Banaras.

As his activities threatened the Delhi Sultanate, Firuz Tughluq tried to subdue him but failed. Haji Iliyas died in 1357. There was peace and prosperity during his reign. This is attested by the inauguration of a national and typical coinage and the growth of a taste for the arts of peace, especially architecture.

Haji Iliyas was succeeded by Sikandar Shah. He ruled from 1357 to 1393. During his reign, Firuz Tughluq made another attempt to recover Bengal, but he failed. A magnificent mosque was built at Adina during his reign. We have also got a large number of coins of various designs of his reign.

Sikandar Shah was succeeded by Ghiyas-ud-Din Azam. He had a profound regard for law. He received an embassy from China in 1403 and himself sent one to China in 1409. He died in 1410 after a reign of 17 years.

Ghiyas-ud-Din Azam was succeeded by his son Saif-ud-Din Ham/a Shah. At this time, Raja Ganesh, a Brahman Zamindar, came into prominence and Hamza Shah ruled for one year and a few months as a nominal king.

The view of the Muslim historians is that Ganesh ruled Bengal as an independent king and abdicated if favour of his son Jadu who later on became a Muslim and took up the title of Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Shah. As no coin of Raja Ganesh has been found, it is suggested that he never became a sovereign and contented himself of rule the country in the name of some descendants of Iliyas Shah.

Dr. Bhattasali is of the view that Raja Ganesh is the same person as Danujamardana Deva whose name has been found on coins. However, this identification is not accepted by many writers. It appears that the rule of the dynasty of Raja Ganesh did not last long. Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Shah died in 1431 and he was succeeded by his son Shams-ud-Din Ahmad who reigned from 1431 to 1442.

The new ruler was extremely unpopular on account of his tyranny and no wonder he fell a victim to a conspiracy organised against him. There was some confusion for some time and ultimately Nasir-ud-Din, a grandson of Haji Iliyas, was put on the throne. He took up the title of Nasir-ud-Din Abul Muzaffar Mahmud Shah.

The new ruler ruled for about 17 years. He built a few buildings at Gaur and a mosque at Satgaon. Rukn-ud-Din Barbak Shah succeeded to the throne after the death of his father Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah. He kept a very large number of Abyssinian slaves. He “was a sagacious and law-abiding sovereign.” He died in 1447 A.D.

He was succeeded by his son Shams-ud-Din Yusuf Shah. He was a virtuous, learned and pious ruler. He ruled from 1447 to 1481. Sylhet was was conquered by the Muslims during his reign. He was succeeded by Sikandar II. As he was found to be of defect intellect he was deposed and Jalal-ud-Din Fateh Shah a soil of Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud, was put on the throne.

The new ruler realised the danger of the increase in the power of the Abyssinians and tried to check the same. However, he himself was murdered in 1486. He was succeeded by Barbak Shah, Sultan Shahzada but the latter was murdered within a few months by. After son hesitation Adil Khan became the ruler of Bengal and took up the title of Saif-ud-Din Firuz. He was an able administrator and commander. He gave a lot in charity. He died in 1489. He was succeeded by Nazir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah II.

However he was ousted in 1490 by Sidi Badrwho took up the title of Shams-ud-Din Abu Nasir Muzaffar Shah. He ruled for a little more than three years. As he was a tyrant, there was a lot of discontentment. He was besieged in Gaur for four months in course of which he died. He was succeeded by Ala-ud-Din Husain Shah.

Husain Shah ruled from 1493 to 1518. He was an enlightened king. He was the most popular ruler of Bengal. He suppressed the power of the palace guards who had become too powerful. He turned out the Abyssinians from Bengal as their presence had become a menace. He welcomed Husain Shah Sharqi of Jaunpur in Bengal when he was driven from his kingdom by Sikandar Lodi.

He also tried to recover the lost territorial possessions of Bengal. He extended the limits of his territorial up to the borders of Orissa in the South. He recovered Magadha from the control of the Sharqis of Jaunpur. He invaded Ahom kingdom of Assam. In 1498, he captured Kamatapur. He also captured Assam.

He built a large number of mosques and alms houses in different parts of his territory. According to Dr. V. A. Smith, “His name is still familiar throughout Bengal and no insurrection or rebellion occurred during his reign of 24 years. He died at Gaur (Lakhnauti) having enjoyed a peaceable and happy reign, beloved by his subjects and respected by his neighbours.”

Husain Shah was succeeded by his son Nasib Khan who took up the title of Nasir-ud-Din Nusrat Shah. He was a prince of gentle diposition and strong natural affections. He not only refrained from slaying, mutilating or imprisoning his brothers but also doubled the provision which his father had made for them.

He was a patron of art, literature and architecture. He was responsible for the construction of Bara Sona Masjid and Kadam Rasul at Gaur. He invaded Tirhut, slew its king and put his own relatives in charge of its administration.

Nusrat Shah was succeeded by son Ala-ud-Din Firuz Shah. He ruled for about three month and was killed by his uncle, Ghiyas-ud-Din Mahmud Shah who was the last king of the dynasty. He was turned out from Bengal by Sher Khan.

Dr. V. A. Smith points out that some of the Muslim kings were not indifferent to the merits of Hindus literature. A Bengali version of the Mahabharat was prepared under the orders of Nusrat Shah.

There are frequent references in old Bengali literature to Emperor Husain Shah and he was held in high esteem and trust by the Hindus. It is pointed out that “the patronage and favour of the Muhammadan emperors and chiefs gave the first start towards the recognition of Bengali in the courts of the Hindu Rajas who, under the guidance of their Brahman teachers, were more inclined to encourage Sanskrit.”

Sir Wolseley Haig points out that “Bengal, whether as a province of Delhi or as an independent kingdom, was not a homogeneous Muslim state. Great Hindu landholders held estates which were, in fact.

Principalities and their allegiance to a Muslim ruler, like his to a Sultan of Delhi, depended on the ruler’s personality. The general attitude of the rulers of Bengal to their Hindu subjects was tolerant but it is evident, from the numerical superiority in Eastern Bengal of Muslims who are certainly not the descendants of dominant invaders that from time to time waves, proselytism swept over the country.”