The Emergence of Provincial Kingdoms
The attack on Delhi by Timorlane and flight of Tughlaq king from his capital, exposed the weakness of the Delhi Sultanate that encouraged a number of Provincial Governors and autonomous principalities to declare their independence.
Many provincial dynasties emerged in India in the 15th and 16th centuries AD, Kashmir in the Centre, Bahmani, Malwa, Gujarat and Mewar in the West and Bengal, Odisha and Jaunpur in the East and the Vijayanagara empire in South India.
BENGAL
Bengal was made a part of Delhi Sultanate by Ikhtiyar-ud-din Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji 1204 AD. However, it remained a problem area for the Sultans of Delhi due to its distance from the capital. In 1345, Haji Iliyas became the ruler of Bengal under the title of Sham-ud-din abu Muzaffar Iliyas Shah. After Haji Iliyas, his son Sikandar Shah succeeded the throne. He ruled Bengal for about 30 years and died around 1390 AD.
He was succeeded by his son Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah (1390-1410 AD). He sent an ambassador to China. He was also famous for his respect for law and justice. His death was followed by political instability. His son, Saifuddin Hamza Shah was murdered by his slave. In 1415 AD, a Hindu ruler named Raja Ganesh took advantage and assumed power in Bengal. He took the title of Danujmardan Dev. After Raja Ganesh his son Jadu’ converted to Islam and ruled as ‘Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Shah. During his reign, Bengali became a court language alongwith Persian. He patronised Brihaspati Mishra who wrote commentaries on the Raghuvansha, Meghaduta and the Amarakosha.
Jalal-ud-din’s son, Shamshudin Ahmad Shah was murdered by his slave, Nasir Khan, who ascended the throne. This made the nobles outraged and they killed him and restored the Iliyas Shahi dynasty by installing Nasiruddin Mahmood Shah grandson of Haji Iliyas (1442 AD). He ruled for 17 years and during his reign Bengal was greatly extended. Nasiruddin was succeeded by his son, Rukunuddin Barbak Shah but died soon. After Rukunuddin death. some of his slaves created political instability between 1487-1493 AD.
A period of unrest was finally brought to an end when a noble of Arab origin named Sayyed Husain assumed power (1494 AD) and entitled himself as Alauddin Husain Shah. Thus the Hussain Shahi dynasty was established. Alauddin Hussain Shah ruled from 1494-1519 AD and was the most popular ruler of Bengal. It was during his reign, that Bengali language witnessed considerable growth. He was succeeded by Nasiruddin-Nasrat-Shah. Chaitanya preached Vaishnavism in his reign. He concluded a peace treaty with Babur, but died in 1532 AD. He built Bara Sona and Qadam Rasul mosque. The portuguese made their first appearance in Bengal.
He honoured poet Maladhar Basu, compiler of Srikrishna Vijay, with the title of Gunaraja Khan.. during rule of Nasrat Shah the Mahabharat was translated in Bengali. After weak successor’s of Nasrat Shah Bengal occupied by Sher Shah Suri in 1538 AD.