Lesson 3/35 min
The Hussain Shahi dynasty and the end
The Hussain Shahi sultans
| Sultan | Years |
|---|---|
| Alauddin Hussain Shah | 1493–1519 |
| Nasiruddin Nusrat Shah | 1519–1532 |
| Alauddin Firoz Shah | 1532–1533 |
| Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah | 1533–1538 |
Alauddin Hussain Shah
- The greatest of Bengal's independent sultans; capital Gaur
- His rule is called the ‘golden age’ of Muslim rule in Bengal
- Kabindra Parameshwar translated the ‘Mahabharata’ into Bengali
- Sri Chaitanya preached Vaishnavism in Nadia; Hussain Shah was generous to the Vaishnavas
- Annexed Kamrup-Kamata; the poet Vijaygupta praised him as ‘Nripati Tilak’ and ‘Jagat Bhushan’
- The Chhota Sona Mosque at Gaur was built in his reign
Watch out: One book names Hussain Shah as the builder of the Chhota Sona Mosque. According to Banglapedia the inscription names Majlis Mansur Wali Muhammad bin Ali as builder; the mosque dates from Hussain Shah's reign.
Nusrat Shah
- Hussain Shah's eldest son; came to power in 1519
- The Baro Sona Mosque (Barduari) and Kadam Rasul building at Gaur are counted among his works
- Dug wells and ponds to ease his subjects' water shortage
The end of the sultanate
- Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah (1533–1538) was the last independent sultan of Bengal
- He asked the Portuguese for help against Sher Shah
- On 6 April 1538 the Afghans took Gaur, ending the independent sultanate
Memory trick: Start and end: 1338 Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah (first) → 1538 Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah (last).
Check yourself
Who was the last independent sultan of Bengal, and to whom did the sultanate fall?
At a glance
- 1
Alauddin Hussain Shah (1493–1519) was the greatest of the independent sultans; his reign is the ‘golden age’.
- 2
In Hussain Shah's time Kabindra Parameshwar translated the Mahabharata into Bengali; Sri Chaitanya preached Vaishnavism in Nadia.
- 3
Nasiruddin Nusrat Shah (1519–1532): the Baro Sona Mosque and Kadam Rasul building.
- 4
The last independent sultan of Bengal was Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah (1533–1538).
- 5
In 1538 Sher Shah took Gaur and the independent sultanate came to an end.