Eternal India Encyclopedia

LURE - THRU THE AGES

Eternal India encyclopedia

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. 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 1389-1413: 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.

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- 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. ud-din conquered Punch. Jaunpur 1394-1479 A.D.

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.