Lesson 2/35 min
The Ilyas Shahi dynasty
The first three sultans
| Sultan | Years | To remember |
|---|---|---|
| Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah | 1342–1358 | About 16 years; united all Bengal; ‘Shah-i-Bangalah’ |
| Sikandar Shah | 1358–1390 | Ilyas Shah's son; Adina Mosque (Pandua), Kotwali Gate (Gaur) |
| Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah | died 1411 | Patron of literature; corresponded with the poet Hafiz |
Ilyas Shah
- First ruler of the whole of Bengal; with the capture of Sonargaon (1352) its three parts were united
- The Delhi historian Shams-i-Siraj Afif calls him ‘Shah-i-Bangalah’ and ‘Shah-i-Bangaliyan’
- The name ‘Bangalah’ came into use from his time
- Moved the capital from Gaur to Pandua
Azam Shah
- Called the most popular sultan of the period
- When he invited the poet Hafiz to Bengal, Hafiz sent back a poem instead
- In his time Shah Muhammad Sagir wrote the poem ‘Yusuf Zulekha’
Watch out: One book gives Azam Shah's rule as 1393–1411. Banglapedia gives 1389–1410 and his death in 1411. The starting year is disputed, so remember his death in 1411.
The interlude: Ganesh and Habshi rule
| Phase | What happened |
|---|---|
| Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah (in power from 1415) | Son of Raja Ganesh; took this name on accepting Islam; titled ‘Khalifatullah’ |
| Habshi rule (1487–1493) | Called the ‘dark age’ of Bengal's history |
Watch out: One book calls Raja Ganesh the zamindar of Bhaturia in Dinajpur; according to Banglapedia he was an influential noble at the Ilyas Shahi court in Pandua. The sources also differ on the last year of Jalaluddin's rule (1431 in a book, 1433 in Banglapedia), so it is left out here. Some give 1494 for the end of Habshi rule.
Check yourself
Who was called ‘Shah-i-Bangalah’?
At a glance
- 1
Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah (1342–1358) united all Bengal; the name ‘Bangalah’ began in his time.
- 2
Ilyas Shah moved the capital from Gaur to Pandua.
- 3
Sikandar Shah (1358–1390) built the Adina Mosque at Pandua and the Kotwali Gate at Gaur.
- 4
Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah (died 1411) corresponded with the poet Hafiz.
- 5
Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah, son of Raja Ganesh, took the title ‘Khalifatullah’.
- 6
Habshi rule lasted 1487–1493 and is called the ‘dark age’.